Friends Committee on Federal Legislation – 2007-11-04 22:59:34

http://www.banclusterbombs.org

WASHINGTON (November 4, 2007) — Why ban cluster bombs?Cluster munitions pose a danger to civilians during and after conflict. When used, they scatter over wide swaths of land. After use, malfunctioning bomblets become de facto landmines.

In the last 10 years, the U.S. has used cluster bombs in civilian-populated areas of the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq. The U.S. arsenal includes nearly 1 billion bomblets.

The time to ban U.S. cluster bombs is now. Urge your senators to ban cluster bombs.Please remember to call your senators today, November 5, and ask them to cosponsor the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S. 594).

Call toll-free, 1-800-352-1897, and ask for one of your senators by name. Once directed to the office, ask for the legislative assistant who deals with military and national security issues. Urge your senator to become a cosponsor of the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act and to work for its passage in the coming year. Then call back and ask for your other senator.After you’ve made your call, please spread the word and ask your friends to call as well:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/EHEAHUXCRT/ATGOHVATKB/1531962381.

The Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S. 594) would prevent the U.S. military from using cluster bombs in areas where civilians are known to be present. But the Bush administration says the military benefits outweigh the civilian costs. The bill currently has 12 cosponsors. We need many more-from both parties-to move this bill to a vote in the coming year.

• More about the call in day:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/EHEAHUXCRT/FWVWHVATKC/1531962381

• More about the movement to ban cluster bombs: www.banclusterbombs.org.

Thank you for joining in the call to ban cluster bombs!

Kathy Guthrie
Friends Committee on National Legislaton, Field Program Secretary