To: Militarism and Asia Advocates
From: Valerie Ong, MCC Washington Office
Date: April 7, 2008
Re: April Action against Cluster Bombs

Issue:

April 30th marks the 33rd anniversary of the United States withdrawal from Vietnam. Join the national effort to mark this anniversary by supporting legislation that would limit United States use, sale and transfer of cluster munitions.

Background:

On April 30, 1975, Saigon fell to North Vietnamese forces, finally ending United States involvement in the Vietnam War. However, the United States left millions of weapons behind that continue to kill.

Between 1964 and 1973, the United States dropped 260 million cluster bomblets on Vietnam's neighbor, Laos, in 580,000 bombing missions-equivalent to one planeload every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 years.

Thirty-three years later, more than 10 million cluster submunitions still litter the land, waiting to explode in the hand of a curious child or at the foot of a subsistence farmer.

The Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act S.594 & H.R.1755 seeks to limit United States use, sale and transfer of cluster munitions.

Faith Reflection:

All that kills abundant living, let it from the earth be banned: pride of status, race, or schooling, dogmas that obscure your plan. In our common quest for justice may we hallow life’s brief span (From the hymn, For the healing of the nations).

Action:

• Organize an Event:
  • Show the movie "Bombies" and invite your friends.
  • Get your church involved or partner with other faith groups in your community.
  • Have a party as part of Adopt-a-Minefield's "Night of a Thousand Dinners."
• Attend an Event:
  • See what events are already planned.
• Contact your Congressperson:
  • Ask your Congressperson to co-sponsor the legislation, if they are not already on board.
  • www.senate.gov
  • www.house.gov

* This Hotline was adapted from the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), a Quaker partner on Capitol Hill.