Guest guest Posted September 1, 2007 Report Share Posted September 1, 2007 (after all, it's what we do with an 'enlightened life'....)From a member of my Middle East Peace ForumThank you,Anna Ruiz How can we possibly explain to a ten year old child that he has lost his arm or leg because he picked up an innocuous colorful ball from the ground ? How can we possibly explain to a ten year old child that he has lost his arm or leg because he picked up an innocuous colorful ball from the ground? The answer is: we can't. Indeed, that is the tragedy of cluster munitions; they look so deceptively harmless and yet, cause the most damaging mutilations and deaths. But what can the people who are concerned about human life, the welfare of loved ones, and the security of the future generations do to prevent more harm from cluster bombs? We could try to warn people against them or, better still; take a step in the right direction and say let us work together to ban the use of the cluster bomb. True, all weapons kill and destroy but cluster munitions are especially dangerous because they are indiscriminate. These hollow containers or shells carry up to 2000 explosive bomb lets that are dropped by aircraft or launched by land-based artillery. Cluster bomb sub munitions are unguided and cover one square kilometer with explosions and shrapnel, causing death, mutilation and incredible human suffering to the military as well as civilians who are very often women and children. In addition, their wide-area coverage and poor targeting mechanisms almost guarantee that unintended victims will die or be injured. Because the amount and density of unexploded ordnance from a cluster bomb strike are much higher than from any other weapon, they continue to threaten civilians long after fighting has ended.It is not an exaggeration to say that the deadly effect of cluster bombs can last for a lot longer than we can possibly imagine. Vietnam is an excellent example of this; until today, people are still killed as a result of unexploded left over bomb lets that were dropped during a war that ended more than 40 years ago! More recently, in Lebanon, following the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon, UN experts estimate that there are approximately one million unexploded sub munitions scattered all over the southern part of the country. Unfortunately, there is no international treaty that bans the use of cluster munitions, and although in 1976 thirteen countries called for such a ban, this request did not receive the support it merits, and cluster bombs are still widely used today in many conflicts. Moreover, despite the CCW (Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons) adopted in 1980, it is said that in more recent conflicts thousands of people have lost their lives because of cluster bombs in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Lebanon and Iraq. Because human life is so precious, we need to take a stand and call for the banning of this destructive weapon. Let us follow the example of Belgium, the first country in the world to ban the manufacture and use of the cluster bomb in 2006; let us join hands and endorse the Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions in February 2007 which seeks to devise an international mechanism to ban cluster munitions. Let all those who seek a more peaceful and secure future for a world that is increasingly becoming more violent join hands and take a positive stand by campaigning to ban the use of this deadly weapon. Support a World of Healthy ChildrenSupport Children's Right to Live without FearSupport PeaceSupport the Banning of the Cluster BombAct Now - and sign your name below Contact us:ipsFax: +(203) 4820479 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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