Friday, September 07, 2007

Random Fact regarding Cluster Bombs

  • Cluster Bombs have been produced, sold, stockpiled, and used by a number of countries.
  • Some notable users are the US, Britain, France, Israel, Russia, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia.
  • Over half of the European Union member states produce cluster bombs
  • Six of the eight G8 nations produce cluster bombs. Other notable producers include India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, South Africa, Brazil, and Argentina.
  • 75 countries stockpile cluster bombs
  • 24 areas of the world have been affected by cluster bombs. Among the worst are Vietnam, Cambodia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon.
  • Vietnam still averages 300 civilian deaths because of unexploded cluster bombs.
  • Lebanon has experienced over 150 civilian casualties due to cluster bombs.
  • The Oslo Process, launched in February 2007, is an international attempt to ban cluster bombs. 75 countries have stated a goal to do so, but results are yet to surface. The US has not signed
  • Belgium is the only country to completely ban cluster bombs from production, stockpiling, exportation, and use. I used to live in Belgium..Yay Brussels!
  • A cluster munitions amendment was voted on in the House and the Senate in the Fall of 2006. The amendment would prohibit any funding from going to cluster munitions unless it could be proven that they would not be used near civilian populations.
  • The vote passed through the House 407-19, but failed in the Senate 30-70.
  • No Republican voted in favor of the amendments adoption.
  • Amongst notable Democrats opposed were Senators Clinton, Biden, and Dodd.

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