03 November 2008
Global Week of Action to Ban Cluster Bombs - Update Day 7
Sunday, 2 November 2008Cambodia press coverage of the Ban BusArticle from the Phnom Pen Posthttp://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2008103022399/National-news/Cluster-munitions-in-the-spotlight-as-groups-seek-ban-on-bombs.htmlEthiopia launches media campaignCampaigners from RaDO and LSN Ethiopia hosted a press conference on 31 October in Addis Ababa. The event was very well and was attended by both local partner organizations of LSN and RaDO and the local media. Bekele Gonfa, Director of LSN Ethiopia and Yiberta Taddesse, Executive Director of RaDO gave compelling statements that stressed the need for Ethiopia to be in Oslo on 3 December to sign the CCM. A press release was distributed to major national newspapers, calling on the government to sign the convention in Oslo. The press pack included information on the cluster bomb attack on Ayder Elementary School, Mekele and the gain depot in Adigrat on 5 June 1998. A letter has been drafted by the directors of LSN and RaDO to the Prime Minister, The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Ethiopian Parliament. A communiqué has also been issued to the embassies of Austria, Ireland and Norway in Addis Ababa requesting their support in holding a joint meeting to engage the Ethiopian government and encouraging them to sign the Convention in Oslo. Similar letters have also been submitted to the UNDP country office and to ICRC.India stages human chain protest in New Delhi outside ParliamentOn 31 October campaigners from the Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI) held a public meeting at New Delhi's India International Centre to call on the Indian government to announce its support for the Oslo process. The meeting was inaugurated by Mr Kirip Chaliha, Member of Parliament. Several NGOs, lawyers, women's groups, media, students and members of Indian civil society participated in the event. A film called "A Time to Act" by ICRC was also screened. The day ended with a human chain formation at Parliament Street and a "Lie Down" action at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, an historic place where protests are often held. Participants distributed pamphlets to the public on cluster bombs. Around 10 Indian members of parliament and over 1,000 Indian citizens signed the People's Treaty calling on the government of India to support a global ban on cluster munitions. The event was covered in the Nagaland Post and featured on the 8 o'clock news of the two TV channels NE TV and KV News. More media reports are expected in next few days.For photos click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clustermunitioncoalition/sets/72157608616709882/India - Public marches staged in different locations around the countryElsewhere in India, campaigners from IIDPED held a public rally through the main roads of Central India's biggest city, Nagpur. The rally culminated in the city square near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Cmapign members and volunteers distributed more than 4,000 CMC leaflets in English and Hindi and 6,534 public signatures were collected for the People's Treaty. On 31 October, a and 2 November similar public events were arranged in Hyderabad (South India), Sri Gangangar in Rajasthan and Jammu in Kashmir where further signatures have been collected.Please follow this link for photos of the march in Nagpur:http://www.flickr.com/photos/clustermunitioncoalition/sets/72157608616709882/Korea meeting with Foreign Minister confirmedIn Korea, campaigners have released a statement signed by 28 member organizations calling on the Republic of Korea to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Chair of the Korean Campaign to Ban Landmines has also sent a letter to the Prime Minister to appeal that Korea signs the Convention in Oslo and to request a meeting with the Korean Foreign Minister and Minister of Defence. An appointment has been confirmed for 10 November.Peru holds a photo exhibitionBetween 27 and 31 October campaigners ran a stall and photo exhibition at a local fair in the University Ricardo Palm of File. Leaflets were also handed out at all the universities in Lima to raise awareness and asking students to sign the People's Treaty. A press release was also printed in the University magazine which has a circulation of 25,000 and is distributed free to embassies, universities, state agencies and civil societies. Photos of the exhibition have been added to this link:http://www.flickr.com/photos/clustermunitioncoalition/sets/72157608474677026/Senegal panel discussionPhotos from the workshop that was written about in the 30 October update can now be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clustermunitioncoalition/sets/72157608534986300/Sudan holds workshop for government ministersOn 29 October, JASMAR Human Security Organization on behalf of Sudan CBL organised a one day workshop on the Convention at the Ministry of Social Welfare in Khartoum. A film produced by ICRC about the harm caused by cluster munitions was also screened at the event. About 50 participants attended the workshop including high level government delegates from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Defence, Social Welfare and Human Affairs, as well as national and international NGOs, SRC & ICRC, disabilities unions, representatives from the UN and the media. The workshop featured the same day on Sudan TV on the 10'oclock news and has also been picked up by several newspapers. The workshop and subsequent media coverage has put pressure on the government who are yet to make a decision with regards to signing the treaty in Oslo. The main conclusion is that while the Sudanese government stigmatises the use of cluster munitions, it is unclear whether they will sign in Oslo, or at a later date. This is mainly due to the decision-making process within the government.For photos and newspaper coverage of the workshop follow this link:http://www.flickr.com/photos/clustermunitioncoalition/sets/72157608613442106/Switzerland arrival for Ban Bus in time to protest against the CCWThe European Ban Bus arrived in Geneva today in time for the start of the CCW. Campaigners covered the famous broken chair to protest in the Palais des Nations calling on governments to "Ban Cluster Bombs in Oslo or Legalise them in Geneva".For photos of the protest in Geneva click on this link:http://www.flickr.com/photos/clustermunitioncoalition/sets/72157608614641212/Tajikistan photos from round tablePhotos from the workshop that was written about in the 30 October update can now be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clustermunitioncoalition/sets/72157608621454713/Togo launches media campaignOn 27 October campaigners from West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and Handicap International launched banners across Lomé. Between 29 and 31 October, WANEP participated in 2 radio shows on Radio Nostalgie and further radio transmissions on cluster bombs and the treaty were run on Kanal FM and international station (West Africa Democracy Radio: www.wadr.org ) which is listened to in Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Niger, C'ote d'Ivoire and online. Articles were published on cluster munitions in two national newspapers.Follow this link for media coverage:http://www.flickr.com/photos/clustermunitioncoalition/sets/72157608624555055/TAKE ACTION! Help encourage countries that have not yet decided whether they will sign the Convention in Oslo by sending a letter. Download the letters and information on how to send it here: http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/take-action/Let us know who you have sent letters to so that we can add you to the list!CMC animation: Your Signature Can Save Lives!CMC has launched an animation for campaigners to use on their websites throughout the Global Week of Action and in the run up to Oslo to encourage visitors to sign the People's Treaty and call on all governments to ban cluster bombs and save lives. Please let us know if you have put it on your website. 330 people have watched it so far!You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/CMCInternationalThe animation is also on Google Videohttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1065944403665509098and MeView http://meview.co.uk/?id=38128Contact Natalie Curtis for instructions on how to upload it onto your website natalie@stopclustermunitions.org
