| Development and Peace Joins Prominent International Religious Leaders in the Global Campaign to Ban Cluster Bombs |
| April 18, 2008 Montreal |
| Prominent international religious leaders are launching an appeal in favour of the protection of human life and of peace, inviting all governments to put an end to the fabrication, transport, storage and use of cluster bombs. The appeal also calls for a treaty banning this type of weapon.
Development and Peace is joining voices with Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Sister Emmanuelle of France, Bishop Pierre Morissette of Canada, and many others in this campaign, led globally by the Cluster Munitions Coalition and Pax Christi International, and in Canada by Antennes de Paix. For more than 40 years, cluster bombs have killed and wounded innocent people, causing inhumane suffering, loss and hardship for thousands. Like anti-personnel landmines, cluster bombs have indiscriminate wide-area effects, detonating during conflicts or long afterwards. According to Pax Christi International, during the last four decades, 34 countries are known to have produced such weapons, 75 countries are still stockpiling them, and at least 13 countries have used them in 29 countries and territories. The religious leaders press the Canadian government and all governments to actively support the International Treaty banning cluster bombs, which will be discussed during the Dublin Conference May 19 - 30, 2008. One month before the beginning of the Conference – on Saturday, April 19 – citizens around the world will participate in the Global Action Day to Ban Cluster Bombs, organised by the Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC). |
 |
| For over 40 years, Development and Peace has worked directly with organizations made up of or representing the poor and marginalized in the Global South, and has provided over $515 million to more than 15,000 projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. We are presently active with 200 partners in 33 countries. In Canada, we are a democratic movement for international solidarity - educating the public about the root causes of poverty and mobilizing social action for change - with 13,000 members from coast to coast. Development and Peace is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis. |
| - 30 - |
| MEDIA CONTACT: |
|
| Eleonore Fournier-Tombs |
| Development and Peace |
| 514 257-8710, ext. 307 |
| eleonore.fournier@devp.org |
|
| Gisèle Turcot |
| President of Antennes de paix |
| 514 389-1300 |
| turcogi@bonconseil.ca |
|
| Cluster Munitions Coalition website |
| http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/ |
|
| Pax Christi International document on cluster bombs |
| http://storage.paxchristi.net |