[Peace] Urge Sen. Duckworth to sign on re restoring prohibition against landmines.

[Stuart Levy]

(from WinWithoutWar)

Apr 23, 2020 6:02:05 PM Michael Galant <info at winwithoutwar.org>:

We need answers from Secretary of Defense Esper.
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Stuart:
In early 2020, the Trump administration quietly ended existing U.S. prohibitions against the use of landmines. This is a huge and dangerous step backwards.
As hospitals around the world are overwhelmed with the coronavirus crisis, the Trump administration is removing prohibitions on landmines that kill and injure tens of thousands of people every year in Afghanistan, Burma, Cambodia, Egypt, Somalia, Iran, Laos, and beyond.
Thankfully, Senator Pat Leahy and Representative Jim McGovern are leading a bicameral letter demanding Secretary of Defense Esper answer questions about the policy reversal and its implementation. It closes at the end of the month, meaning we have just days left to get as many members of Congress on board as possible.
Stuart, Senator Tammy Duckworth has yet to sign on and ask Secretary Esper to explain and defend the decision to end landmines prohibitions.
Will you send a letter NOW urging her to sign? [https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/esper-must-answer-questions-on-landmines?source=em20200423&t=6&akid=6213%2E431130%2Ed8KgHQ]
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Landmines don’t understand a ceasefire. They’re there until they are triggered, exploding everyone and everything within a 27-meter radius.
Landmines don’t discriminate. They don’t know whether a child, an animal, or a servicemember is stepping on them, putting everyone — especially children — at risk of harm.
23 years ago, the United States failed to sign onto the Mine Ban Treaty in 1997 and condemn the use of anti-personnel landmines. In 2014, however, positive progress was made when President Obama announced that the United States would restrict deploying landmines outside of the Korean Peninsula (an unacceptable exception!).
And that was U.S. policy until January 31, 2020, when the Trump administration announced the United States would end existing prohibitions against the use of landmines — with little explanation and contrary to expert opinion.
We deserve answers.
Nearly 60 members of Congress have already signed Senator Leahy and Representative McGovern’s letter questioning the rationale and implications of this decision.
Will you urge Sen. Duckworth to add her name? [https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/esper-must-answer-questions-on-landmines?source=em20200423&t=8&akid=6213%2E431130%2Ed8KgHQ]
Ending landmine prohibitions was ill-advised and unnecessary in January, and it’s especially ill-advised and unnecessary now — as the world reels from an unprecedented public health crisis that has sickened millions and left at least 179,000 dead.
Over the past 30 years, the number of landmine casualties has plummeted around the world. Trump’s decision reverses years of progress and countless lives saved. And we refuse to go backwards.
Thank you for working for peace,
Michael, Abbey, Tara, and the Win Without War team
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