Association of Concerned Africa Scholars
November 25, 1997
Members of ACAS have given strong support to the campaign to ban landmines and remove the 100,000,000 mines from the ground in 66 countries of the world, mostly developing countries where women and children (mostly people of color) are the casualties. The time has come for a final showdown in favor of a total ban.
Over 100 nations are ready to sign such a treaty in Ottawa, Canada, on Dec. 2-3, 1997. Unfortunately, the US is not one of them. Rather, as a grandiose public relations move, the US has announced its leadership in a major demining effort over the next decade, but refuses to sign the treaty that would stop most of the source of anti-personnel landmines. As a “ban bus” crossed the US this past month, citizens everywhere rallied in support of the ban. NGOs have taken the lead, as symbolized by the recent Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Retired military leaders have supported the ban. Congress, though time prohited final passage, was ready to pass legislation to support the ban. ONLY THE PENTAGON OPPOSES THE BAN….and that without reference to their own documentation which shows them to be counter-productive.
THUS, ACAS members are encouraged to make a final attempt themselves…and through their influential contacts…to persuade President Clinton to sign the treaty! Send a strong message in support of the ban, through whatever means you wish, before December 1st.
President Clinton’s e-mail address is: president@whitehouse.gov
The White House comment web site is: http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Mail/html/Mail_President.html
And on Dec. 2nd, phone the white house opinion line 1-202-456-1111
Maybe your comment will be the one to swing his position to that of the rest of the world. You might want to praise him for his demining initiative….and point out that 20 times as many new mines are placed each year, than removed. Why not stop the source???