The April issue of PeaceSigns included an excellent and informative article by Titus Peachy (<http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/m.pl?a=605>) describing the problem of cluster bombs and the Mennonite Central Committee-sponsored cluster bomb postcard campaign. This issue is one that on the surface seems insurmountable, but is one that each of us can do something about.

Consider the following facts about cluster bombs:

• Cluster munitions or cluster bombs are air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapons that eject smaller submunitions: a cluster of bomblets. (<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_bomb>)

• [Cluster bombs] typically explode in the air and send dozens, even hundreds, of tiny submunitions or bomblets over an area the size of a football field. These often fail to explode on impact, acting like landmines and posing a danger to civilians for years. (<http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/29/us-out-step-cluster-bomb-ban>)

• Some dispensers contain over 600 bomblets, and a salvo of twelve rockets from a Multiple Launch Rocket System would pepper a wide area with over 7,000 bomblets in a matter of minutes. (<http://mcc.org/clusterbombs/faq>)

• Since the Vietnam War, cluster bombs have been used in more than 25 countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon. (PeaceSigns, April 2009 <http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/m.pl?a=605>)

• The global stockpile of cluster bomb submunitions totals approximately 4 billion, with a quarter of these in U.S. hands. (<http://mcc.org/clusterbombs/faq>)

• Experts believe that there are likely 75 million ... bomblets in the ground waiting to be found. (PeaceSigns, April 2009 <http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/m.pl?a=605>)

• One-third of all recorded cluster munitions casualties are children. 60% of cluster bomb casualties are injured while undertaking their normal activities. (<http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/the-problem>)

• A total of 96 countries have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions since December 2008, including 20 of the 28 NATO members. (<http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/29/us-out-step-cluster-bomb-ban>)

• [S]ome major users of cluster munitions, notably the United States, Russia, and Israel, have not signed the treaty. (<http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/29/us-out-step-cluster-bomb-ban>)

• Why Ban Cluster Bombs? Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL): <http://www.fcnl.org/weapons/clusters>

• Ban Cluster Bombs: Join the Treaty: <http://www.stopclustermunitions.org>

• Ban Cluster Bombs Handicapped International United States: <http://www.clusterbombs.us>

• U.S. Out of Step on Cluster Bomb Ban Human Rights Watch: <http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/29/us-out-step-cluster-bomb-ban>

• Cluster Bombs Mennonite Central Committee: <http://mcc.org/clusterbombs>

• Obama takes U.S. closer to total ban on cluster bombs The Guardian, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/13/us-national-security-obama-administration>

• Cluster bomb ban treaty approved BBC News: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7423714.stm>

• Cluster Bomb Postcard Campaign: PeaceSigns April 2009 <http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/m.pl?a=605>.

• Advocate for a ban on the use of cluster bombs. Write your congressman or senator, participate in the MCC Cluster Bomb Postcard Campaign, inform others with a bulletin insert. (<http://mcc.org/clusterbombs>)

• Contact your government, sign a petition, engage in multi-faith action (<http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/take-action>)