Alternatives is very happy that 107 countries have agreed to sign the Cluster bomb ban treaty in Oslo, Norway. Canada is among them. Alternatives hopes that the Canadian government wil ratify this treaty as soon as possible.
According to Handicap International, as many as 100 000 people have been victims of this type of bombs since 1965. 98% of those people are civilians. 27% are children. These weapons have been used on a massive scale in the recent conflicts in Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Once it comes into effect, in early 2009, this convention will permanently prohibit the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. All types of cluster munitions which have ever been used will therefore be banned.
However, Alternatives is very disappointed that the main countries using those weapons have refused to sign the treaty. Those countries are the USA, Russia, Israel and China
You can watch the Handicap International video on the treaty:
