No, I'm not talking about that fifth Christmas cookie...but something much easier to say no to - the use of cluster bombs! Over the past week, Will and I met up with Clear Path Int. and Handicap Int. in Vietnam and Lao to interview UXO victims and mine ban advocates. I know, this isn't a subject we often here about back at home - luckily, we aren't faced with the constant reminder of limbless people in the street, nor do UXO accidents regularly appear in news headlines...but they should. Long after war has ended, UXOs continue to maim, harm, and kill people, innocent people, all over the world.
This past week, we listened to the stories of a number of people not much younger than us who had lost limbs and loved ones at the hands of a war-time weapon used nearly 30 years ago. I couldn't help but look at them and imagine my own siblings, or Will's siblings, in their place. How lucky we are not to live in countries where this is a daily threat... Though, while I'm thankful that Americans don't have to worry about finding a cluster bomb in their backyard or accidentally stepping on a landmine, I'm furious that my country is responsible for such incidents abroad. Especially, when we know that over 60% of casualties are civilians...people like you and me. So why are we still using them??
We learned a lot about the international effort to ban landmines and cluster munitions, movements that started at the grassroots level and have since blossomed into a beautiful step forward for humanity. Yes we can! Well, actually others seem to be able to, but not us. Even though 108 Countries have signed, and 49 have ratified the cluster munitions ban that was launched this August, the US, along with China and Russia, has yet to show their support.
The last interview we did in Laos was with a boy about 20 years old who had lost both his forearms and his eyesight. He kept saying that he couldn't believe this had happened to him. Since the accident, his friends had become distant and his ability to help support his family has basically diminished...When we asked our usual question, what is your dream? He said that he used to dream of being a leader, but since the accident, he no longer knows how. These are the types of people, caring and ambitious, that are being affected by these weapons. It's time to put an end to that.
In his honor, and the thousands of other UXO victims around the world, I urge everyone to get behind the campaign to stop the US from manufacturing, stockpiling, and using cluster munitions. It is an unnecessary weapon that can't discriminate between civilian and military targets, and thus continues to harm newborns to ninety year olds long after a war has ended. I wish my government would step up and be an example to other countries that have yet to join the convention, but we can't wait around for them to change - it’s up to us to persuade them!!An interesting insight on the Obama administration's position on landmines is this article on The Guardian online: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/nov/26/obama-landmine-ban-treaty
The initiative by 68 american senators to incent the Obama administration to sign the Min Ban treaty in May 2010 is analysed here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/05/07/AR2010050705089.html
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