Message from a Nobel Laureate

 

--- A message to GetUp members from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jody Williams ---
As the founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, I saw ordinary people like you and me step up and do what many people thought unthinkable - to ban land mines once and for all. We need to step up once again.

This week, the Australian government is set to vote on key legislation that will allow them to ratify the international treaty to ban cluster bombs. While this sounds like a victory - it's sadly not.

The legislation the Government has introduced allows Australian troops to directly and actively assist countries who have not ratified the treaty in the use of cluster bombs. It also allows those countries to transport cluster bombs through Australian ports, airspace – and even stockpile them on Australian soil. Australia would be better off not ratifying the treaty than making such a mockery of it.

The Australian Senate is set to vote on the legislation this week. Please click below to call your Senator -- ask them to support amendments that ensure that Australia can never be complicit in the use of cluster bombs:

http://www.getup.org.au/banclusterbombs?t=dXNlcmlkPTQ1MzA5LGVtYWlsaWQ9MTg4

Each cluster bomb contains small, sometimes brightly coloured mini bombs. A high proportion of these remain unexploded for years only to be found by children who confuse them with toys. That's why one third of the victims of unexploded cluster bombs are children.

Sadly on this issue your politicians won't act unless they have to.

We only have hours to make sure that the Government knows we are watching - and we won't stand for the treaty designed to ban cluster bombs to be circumvented and weakened by our legal loopholes.

Can you call your Senators and make sure Australia doesn't become the weakest link when it comes to banning cluster bombs?

http://www.getup.org.au/banclusterbombs?t=dXNlcmlkPTQ1MzA5LGVtYWlsaWQ9MTg4

The actions of the Australian Government will have far-reaching consequences around the world. Of the 108 countries that have signed the treaty to end the use of cluster munitions, only half have ratified it. This Australian legislation will set a precedent for how countries such as Canada approach their ratification process from here on.

Click here to make sure we do our bit to ban these bombs once and for all.

Thank you for all that you do,
Jody Williams
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines