Take Action
PROTEST RUSSIA’S USE OF CLUSTER BOMBS IN GEORGIA
The Aotearoa New Zealand Cluster Munition Coalition deplores the decision by the Russian Federation to drop cluster munitions in Georgia in August 2008 causing the deaths of at least 12 civilians and injuring dozens more.
Tell Russia to stop using cluster bombs and start assisting in clean-up of the cluster duds that continue to threaten civilians.
Embassy of the Russian Federation
Attn: Mr. Andrey Kornyukhin, Chargé d’Affaires
57 Messines Road, Karori
Wellington 6012
Resources:
* ANZCMC Letter to Hon. Phil Goff, 22 August
* HRW Press Release & Photographs, 21 August
* Download ANZCMC Letter to Russian Embassy in Wellington
* View Photographs of ANZCMC protest at Russian Embassy in Wellington
* Download Campaign Messages in Russian Language
* View Human Rights Watch Press Release
In August 2008, the Aotearoa New Zealand Cluster Munition Coalition launched a campaign in support of the newly created Convention Banning Cluster Munitions that will be opened for signature in Oslo, Norway on 3 December 2008 (the international day for people with disabilities). There are four actions that YOU can take…
1. Make sure your government signs the Convention Banning Cluster Munitions on 3 December 2008.
Call, write, and/or meet the politician that you think can make this happen. In New Zealand, tell our Minister of Arms Control and Disarmament Hon. Phil Goff that New Zealand must sign the Convention this December…
2. Tell your parliamentarians to support the ban on cluster munitions and swiftly approve ratification of the Convention.
In New Zealand, our parliament is about to adjourn for the election period so tell your political candidates to support the cluster munition ban and introduce and vote in support of legislation to ratify the Convention.
3. Get your friends to support the campaign against cluster munitions.
Tell them to support the Convention Banning Cluster Munitions! Download and print our flyer and distribute it in your workplace, school, neighbourhood…
4. Link to our website and sign the online People’s Treaty petition in support of the cluster munition ban.
If you are not in New Zealand check out the global campaign’s website to find out what is happening in your country.
Please help us prevent civilian casualties by ensuring your country joins the Convention Banning Cluster Munitions!
CHRONOLOGY OF CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES
Public support has been critical in our campaign’s achievements including the highly successful Wellington Conference and the Super Fund’s decision to divest from companies that produce cluster munitions. Our campaign actions and successes are listed below.
2008
May 30: The Convention on Cluster Munitions is adopted in Dublin, Ireland by 107 states including New Zealand. New Zealand’s Ambassador Don MacKay and ANZCMC Coordinator Mary Wareham played important roles in ensuring the creation of this new agreement.
Apr. 19: In support the second Global Day of Action, ANZCMC members hold a demo urging the Super Fund to divest now, a statement by 86 faith representatives is published in the Sunday Star Times, and a new film by the ANZCMC’s award-winning agency DraftFCB is released on the campaign’s YouTube site.
Apr. 4: Following campaigning by members of the ANZCMC, the Board of Guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund announces that it will start to divest from companies that manufacture cluster munitions after the ban treaty is opened for signature at the end of 2008.
Feb 22: A total of 82 governments endorse the Wellington Declaration committing them to negotiate a cluster bomb treaty in Dublin, Ireland in May 2008.
Feb. 20: More than 1,000 members of the public and many conference delegates participate in a chalk silhouette petition-gathering event in Civic Square, Wellington to express their support for the cluster bomb ban. Later that night at Parliament, the delegation of cluster bomb survivors handed over a total of 3,367 petitions to the Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control Hon. Phil Goff.
Feb 18: The week-long Wellington Conference on Cluster Munitions opens at the Town Hall. The ANZ CMC hosts the international civil society delegation, comprised of 147 campaigners from 43 countries.
Jan: A group of Australian NGOs united to form the Cluster Munition Coalition Australia.
2007
Dec. 7: At the conclusion of the Vienna Conference, NZ CMC Coordinator Oxfam NZ issues a press release challenging New Zealand to host a curcial global meeting of the Oslo Process in February 2008.
Nov. 8: Australian photographer John Rodsted completes a speaking tour of New Zealand after talking to audiences in Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland about his experience documenting civilian casualties to the weapon in in 2006.
Nov. 5: On the global day of action against cluster bombs, the ANZCMC launches its public campaign with a stunt over Wellington involving an airplane drop of thousands of cluster bomb shaped petition flyers.
Mar 22: New Zealand NGOs meet and agree to form the Aotearoa NZ Cluster Munition Coalition (ANZCMC) appointing Mary Wareham of Oxfam NZ as their coordinator.