Ban Landmines - A Message from Avaaz

Avaaz is an amazing site that I'm always blown away with in how they use real online coming together in a way that actually works. Your signature doesn't just dissapear into a database somewhere like many other, but they actually back it up with lobbying and action that creates change. Please consider reading the item below, and sign up to
their mailing list. They're not so intrusive and just create great opportunities for you to help change with the simple action of showing your support.

Message below:

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Dear friends,

Mao Sopheap was orphaned by a landmine. Then, when she was 16, she
stepped on one herself -- her left leg was blown apart and had to be
amputated. During an interview she cried:



"That mine has given me a future of tears until the end of my life."

Outrageously the U.S. has not signed the decade-old global treaty to
ban landmines. But last week, 68 U.S. Senators wrote to the President
to support the ban, giving Obama the two-thirds majority he needs to
ratify.

The Mine Ban Treaty was driven through by a global citizens movement
-- now if enough of us support the Senate's move, we could get the
Obama administration to sign it! Click below to take action now and
forward this widely, the petition will be delivered to the White House
when we reach 200,000 signers:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/obama_ban_mines/97.php?cl_tta_sign=de20ac3ae54c41a838...



Some military advisers are resisting the ban, but their argument
that a ban would reduce security is tenuous -- the United States has
not used landmines since 1991, has had an export ban in place since
1992, and has not produced any since 1997.



Since 1999, 156 countries have signed the global treaty banning
their use and production and the reduction in the number of lives lost
from mines has been tremendous. But significantly the U.S., China and
Russia have not, and without the U.S. there's little chance of a
comprehensive global ban, crucial to eliminate these indiscriminate
killers.



Last week's letter from the Senate brings the U.S. one step closer
to signing. But to counter military hesitation, a massive global wave
of support is needed for the President to ratify the global ban. Sign
the petition below, then forward this email to friends and family.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/obama_ban_mines/97.php?cl_tta_sign=de20ac3ae54c41a838...

Mao Sopheap's life and hundreds of lives per month have been destroyed
by these malicious and obsolete bombs. Let's raise our voices together
for those victims and send President Obama a clear message that the
world will no longer accept U.S. delays and excuses. Sign the
petition:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/obama_ban_mines/97.php?cl_tta_sign=de20ac3ae54c41a838...


With hope,

Alice, Iain, Pascal, Raluca, Mia, Ricken, Luis, Paul and the entire Avaaz team