1. International News
Jonas Gahr Støre and Steffen Kongstad Voted 2008 “Arms Control Persons of the Year”
Norway’s Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and his ministry’s Director-General for Security Policy and the High North, Steffen Kongstad, were voted “2008 Arms Control Person of the Year” in an online poll conducted by the Arms Control Association.
Related Contents: CMC Newsletter
(Washington, DC, 10 February 2009) - Leaders from 67 national organizations today called on President Obama to reconsider U.S. opposition to global treaties prohibiting the production, transfer, and use of antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions. The signers include the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the head of Evangelicals for Social Action, the CEO of CARE, two former U.S. ambassadors, and one former senator.
Related Contents: U.S.
1. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Convention on Cluster Munitions Signing Conference, 2-4 December 2008
The CCM Signing Conference was one of the most important international events of 2008, an historic moment to remember forever. 94 countries signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions at the Signing Conference in Oslo. Signatories of the treaty include dozens of users, producers and stockpilers and affected states including Afghanistan (in a surprising last-minute decision by President Karzai), Lao PDR, and Lebanon.
Related Contents: CMC Newsletter
While the general debate and signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions took place inside the City Hall of Oslo on 3 December, many CMC campaigners resisted snow and rain to promote the Convention in the City of Tents outside.
Related Contents: Oslo Signing Conference
On 1 October 2008 the Ban Bus embarked on an eight-week, 10,000 kilometer campaign trail through 18 countries in Europe to convince all governments to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo on 3 December 2008. Beginning in Serbia and ending at the signing ceremony in Norway, the Ban Bus rallied public support for the treaty and turned the eyes of the world on governments who are resisting putting pen to paper.
Related Contents: Ban Bus