[Peace] Call Durbin/Obama toll-free today on cluster bombs

[Robert Naiman]

Neither of our Senators have yet agreed to co-sponsor S. 594, the
Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act. Today there is a Global Day
of Action and a call-in day to the Senate, co-sponsored by many groups
(including Just Foreign Policy.)

FCNL has established a toll-free number: (800) 352-1897, that gets you
to the Capitol switchboard, then you can ask to be transfered to
Durbin or Obama's office.

When I called a few minutes ago, a machine answered in both offices,
"due to high call volume." In Obama's office, I was able to leave a
message on the machine.

Alternatively, you can send an email here:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/ban_cluster.html


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
<uscampaign at mail.democracyinaction.org>
Date: Nov 5, 2007 9:37 AM
Subject: Call Your Senators Today, Day of Action on Cluster Bombs
To: naiman.uiuc at gmail.com




Call Your Senators Today,
             Day of Action on Cluster Bombs



Today, Monday, November 5, the US Campaign to End the Israeli
Occupation joins the Friends Committee on National Legislation,
Amnesty International USA, United for Peace and Justice, and many
other organizations in a global day of action on cluster bombs.

During its war on Lebanon last summer, Israel dropped 130,000 cluster
bombs containing 1.2 million cluster bomblets in 498 locations in
villages throughout the south of the country. Unexploded cluster
bomblets subsequently have injured and killed civilians.  Only 20% of
Israel's unexploded cluster bombs have been cleared in Lebanon because
Israel has refused to turn over cluster munitions strike data to the
UN.  These cluster bombs are given to Israel by the United States and
paid for by U.S. taxpayers like you.

When countries gather in early December to continue negotiating a
global cluster bomb ban treaty, the U.S. will be conspicuously absent.
The U.S. should not isolate itself on yet another issue of global
concern. Congress needs to pass the Cluster Munitions Civilian
Protection Act (S.594) next year to bring the U.S. into line with the
emerging global consensus against the use of a weapon which
overwhelmingly kills civilians. Call your senators on November 5 and
ask them to support this bill.
Who Should You Call?

Do you live in California or Vermont? Both your senators are
already supporting this bill, so you don't need to call them today.
But      you can write      to your representative and urge her or him
to cosponsor the companion      bill in the House.
Do you live in Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico,      Ohio,
Rhode Island,      Washington, or Wisconsin? One of your senators has
already      cosponsored, so please call your other senator! Senators
that need calls      are Charles Grassley (IA), Ben Cardin (MD), John
Kerry (MA), Pete Domenici      (NM), George Voinovich (OH), Jack Reed
(RI), Patty Murray (WA), or Herb      Kohl (WI).
Do you live in any other      state?      You should call both of your
senators and ask them to cosponsor the bill!
How to Make Your Calls

Call your senators using      FCNL's special toll free number: (800)
352-1897
This number connects you to the Capitol Switchboard.      You will
need to ask for your senator by name. Find out who your      senators
are.
Once you are directed to the office, ask to speak to      the
legislative assistant who deals with military and national security
  issues.
After you call one senator's office, call back and      ask for your
other senator.
Script for your Call

Please feel free to improvise and add additional information.

My name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY, STATE].Thanks      for taking
my call.
I'm calling to encourage Senator [SENATOR'S NAME] to      cosponsor S.
594, the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act. Will that      be
possible?
Thank you.

The administration's position is that the military benefits outweigh
the civilian costs. We disagree.
Day of Action Cosponsors

Adopt A Minefield, American Friends Service Committee, UNA-USA,
American Task Force for Lebanon, Amnesty International USA, Just
Foreign Policy, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Maine Campaign
to Ban Cluster Bombs, Massachusetts Peace Action, Mennonite Central
Committee (Washington Office), Oregon Peace Works, Peace Action New
York, Peace Action West, United for Peace and Justice, U.S. Campaign
to End the Israeli Occupation, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Veterans for
Peace, WAND.              More about Banning Cluster Bombs



US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

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-- 
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org