PSALM: Proud Students Against Landmines and Cluster Bombs recognized the International Day of Peace by hosting a Peace One Day celebration and awareness event by releasing balloons symbolizing their hopes, dreams and prayers for a more peaceful and just world. PSALM students are dedicated to educating others about the dangers of landmines and cluster bombs and prevent future casualties through service projects. PSALM students are committed to educating the public about the devastation caused by landmines and cluster munitions and recognize the indiscriminate nature of these weapons leading to the destruction of innocent life, especially children, after wartime hostilities have ceased. PSALM students challenge others, including our political leaders to join us in working for peace and justice and eradicate these weapons from the world. The International Day of Peace is not only about creating peace between nations, it’s about non-violence in our homes, communities and it is about justice. Campaigning for a world free of landmines and cluster munitions is one of many ways to do that.Therefore Peace Day is relevant to every human being on the planet.
PRESIDENT OBAMA URGED TO GO FURTHER ON LANDMINE BAN
In a letter to President Obama, WVCBL/PSALM joined the US Campaign to Ban Landmines welcomes the US statement of intent to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty in the future and its commitment not to produce or acquire antipersonnel landmines ever again as positive steps in the right direction. But the nationwide coalition says additional measures are needed to ensure that landmines are never used again and suggests a number of steps the Obama administration should undertake as it concludes the review. This includes an explicit moratorium on use and accelerated destruction of existing stocks of antipersonnel mines, a vote in favor of the annual non-binding United Nations General Assembly resolution on the Mine Ban Treaty, and preparing the accession documents for President Obama to send the Mine Ban Treaty package to the Senate for its advice and consent before he leave office on January 21, 2017. Campaign chair Human Rights Watch has also issued a Questions and Answers paper reviewing the main elements of the new US landmine policy. See the Letter and Q & A.
LETTER: http://www.uscbl.org/fileadmin/content/images/Letters/USCBL_Letter_t o_Obama_12Sep2014.pdf
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/08/04/new-us-landmine-policy-questions-and-answers
