As Maine Goes, So Goes The Nation!
Maine is the 1st State in the US to Have its Entire Congressional and Senatorial Representatives Sign on to The Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act.
July 19, 2008
Senator Susan Collins signed on top S.594, uniting Maine in its opposition to the use of cluster bombs. We would like to thank her staff and all of the participants of the Maine Campaign who have supported our work.
Visit Peace Action Maine during July at The Meg Perry Center, 644 Congress St, and View the Art Exhibit Calling for a Ban of Cluster Bombs by Portland Artist Alana Saleeby.
July 7, 2008
Senator Susan Collins met with representatives of The Maine Campaign to Ban Cluster Bombs in Washington DC today. She said that she will be taking a hard look at the bill this week with her staff and will give us a clear, definitive answer soon.
Sign the [Ban Cluster Bombs Signature Ad Today!]
June 13, 2008
Statement of Congressman Mike Michaud
Cluster munitions employ small explosive sub munitions the size of Coke cans, which can send hundreds of shards of steel at ballistic speeds over a wide area. They can pose a serious danger to civilians.
The Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act, which applies to both U.S. forces and any force to which the United States transfers cluster munitions, requires that these munitions only be used against military targets and not in areas where civilians are known to be present. The legislation also requires the president to develop a plan for cleaning up cluster munitions and sub-munitions which fail to explode and continue to pose a hazard to civilians.
It is critical that the United States maintain its international moral authority, and uphold the highest standards. The responsible and judicious use of our munitions is an important step towards achieving this goal. As a cosponsor of this legislation, I will do all that I can to ensure that this bill moves forward.
June 11,2008
Read A Cluster of Fallacies By Daniel Allen.
June, 8, 2008
This week, Rep. Tom Allen joined Rep Mike Michaud and Senator Olympia Snowe (the 1st Republican Senator to sign) in signing on to S.594 The Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S. 594 and H.R. 1755)- a common-sense bill which prevents the U.S. military from using cluster bombs in areas where civilians are known to be present.
Tom Allen was also an original cosponsor to the House version of the Declaration of Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions, H. J. Res. 91 Rep Allen stated, “Because their remnants, scattered over a wide area, are lethal even years after a conflict has ended, cluster bombs are especially deadly to civilian populations. Like landmines, they are responsible for alarming numbers of deaths and crippling injuries among women and children scavenging on former battlegrounds. I believe that the U.S. has a moral responsibility to lead the international movement to eliminate them from arsenals around the globe.”
Maine is waiting for Sen Collins to join the rest of Maine in calling for an end to the use of cluster bombs. Call Senator Susan Collins today, (207) 945-0417, and ask her to join Senator Snowe in protecting civilians and Maine soldiers.
Lynn Bradach tells the story of her son, Travis Bradach -Nall, who was killed by a U.S. cluster submunition while serving in Iraq. Watch this video
March 20, 2008
Senator Snowe Signs On TO S.594, the First Republican in the Senate to Sign!
Cluster Bomb Treaty’s Moral Force May Deter US
Opposition to Cluster Bombs Builds as US Policy Treads Water
National Call-in Day to Legislators in Advance of Global Cluster Bomb Negotiations
Nations Working to Ban Cluster Bombs
Children are Forty Percent of Cluster Bomb Casualties
What’s Good: Progress in the Work to Ban Cluster Bombs
Continuous War: Iraq and Lebanon
Sign on and circulate our Clergy Sign on letter
Did you know that civilians, not soldiers, account for 98% of the casualties due to cluster bombs over the past 40 years?
In the last 15 years, U.S.-made cluster bombs have been used in civilian-populated areas in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Former Yugoslavia, and Lebanon. These deadly bombs disperse smaller bomblets that are designed to kill all living creatures within a specific area that is often as large as several football fields. Used in populated areas, they are an indiscriminate killer of civilians. Depending on the type of munitions and the delivery system, one cluster bomb can scatter dozens to hundreds of bomblets over an area a large area. Many of these bomblets, from 5 to 25%, fail to detonate and form de facto minefields with devastating and long lasting effect. The cluster bombs the U.S. dropped 40 years ago in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam are still killing people today. These deadly remnants of war continue to kill civilians long after the conflicts end and children are often the victims. In Southeast Asia at least 60% of the casualties of unexploded cluster munitions are children.
The Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S. 594 and H.R. 1755)_ is a common-sense bill which prevents the U.S. military from using cluster bombs in areas where civilians are known to be present. This bill will: Immediately prohibit the use of cluster bombs in or near populated or urban areas; prohibit the use, sale and transfer of U.S. made cluster bombs containing submunition failure rates of more then 1%?to ensure that a large minefield of bomblets is not left behind; requires the U.S. to clean up all of the unexploded bomblets. This bill represents a practical solution to a serious humanitarian threat, and it would bring the U.S. into line with the emerging international consensus against the misuse of these highly indiscriminate weapons. As the world community moves towards a treaty to ban cluster bombs in the next several months, the time for U.S. action is now.
November 5, 2007
Thousands of people around the country called their senators and asked them to co sponsor the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S. 594). Nationally, Mainers made the second highest number of calls: 129 calls to Senators Collins and Snowe. Only Pennsylvanians made more. This was a great state wide effort but we need to keep the pressure on. The toll free number is still available through this week and *your call will make a difference. *It takes less then 5 minutes. Call today and ask one friend or colleague do the same. Together we can ban cluster bombs.
This is an Ongoing Campaign!
Call Anytime and Ask Senators Collins to cosponsor S. 594
800-352-1897*
How to Make Your Calls Senator Susan Collins 202 Harlow St., #204 Bangor, ME 04402 Phone: (207) 945-0417 Fax: (207) 990-4604
- *Call your senators using a special toll free number: (800) 352-1897 *
- This number connects you to the Capitol Switchboard. You will need to ask for your senator by name.
- Once you are directed to the office, ask to speak to the legislative assistant who deals with military and national security issues. For Senator Collins, this is Mark Winter.
- After you call one senator’s office, call back and ask for your other senator.
- If lines are busy, don?t give up it means that we are making it happen.
Resources
National Campaign to Ban Cluster Bombs at FCNL: http://www.banclusters.org
What would a cluster bomb do to your neighborhood? Interactive map: http://www.fcnl.org/weapons/cluster_attack2.htm
If you or your organization would like to join the Maine Campaign to Ban Cluster Bombs or for more information contact: Mary Trotochaud, mtrotochaud [at] earthlink [dot] net or 207-342-2251
The Washington Post published a multimedia presentation and a print article on cluster bombs in South Lebanon featuring teenager Rasha Zayoun who lost her leg. ATFL also sponsored a photo-shoot in Lebanon by photographer Kike Arnal including a narrative photo portrait of Ms. Zayoun.
Please take a moment to see these by clicking on the following links:
http://tinyurl.com/3x87wr multimedia presentation.
Continuous war: Cluster bombs in South Lebanon http://tinyurl.com/2wjbrz by Jahi Chikwend.
Photo-portrait of Rasha Zayoun http://tinyurl.com/2ll9tr by Kike Arnal (sponsored by ATFL).
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| ClusterBombPCVert.pdf | 135.24 KB |
| clergy sign on letter.doc | 25.5 KB |
