Stigmatization Campaign Update #2

Stigmatization Campaign Update #222 JUNE 1998

This Update brings an analysis of where the stigmatization campaign fits given the signing of the Mine Ban Treaty and recent U.S. policy developments. It also brings news from the Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin - some of the local lobbying efforts underway around the country.

Background:
In April 1997, Human Rights Watch Arms Division released Exposing the Source, a comprehensive expose of U.S. companies involved in the manufacture of antipersonnel mine components. Following correspondence prior to the report's release seventeen of the forty-seven corporations identified agreed to renounce all future involvement in antipersonnel landmine production. HRW in cooperation with the US
Campaign to Ban Landmines launched a "stigmatization campaign" against the remaining 30 recalcitrant companies and grassroots pressure resulted in two companies renouncing their involvement by the end of 1997, Unitrode Corporation in New Hampshire and Thiokol Corporation in Utah (See Stigmatization Campaign Update #1: 12 Jan. 1998). The 1997 Ban Bus to Ottawa drew attention to the stigmatization campaign by
stopping and participating in demonstrations outside manufacturers in Colorado, Maine and Minnesota.

Mine Ban Treaty:
To date 126 nations have signed the Mine Ban Treaty and 19 have ratified it. This agreement is establishing a global norm against the use, development, production, stockpiling, and transfer of antipersonnel mines. The very existence of this treaty sets a legal, political and moral benchmark against which users, exporters and producers of the weapon must defend their continued involvement regardless of whether their government has signed the treaty. The emergence of a widely accepted international standard outlawing antipersonnel mines is a strong argument which can and must be made against U.S. landmine producers.

U.S. Policy:
Refusal of companies to renounce involvement in landmine production makes even less sense in light of new U.S. policy endorsing the treaty. Last month, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright stated that the United States will sign the treaty by 2006 if alternatives can be found to antipersonnel mines. HRW contends that alternatives to antipersonnel mines already exist and that the 126 nations who signed the ban treaty did so indicating their willingness to give up the weapon now and to use alternatives already in existence. HRW welcomes the new U.S. commitment to the treaty, but believes that eight years is too long to wait. The U.S. should sign now and U.S. companies should get out of the landmine business NOW.

LOCAL UPDATES

COLORADO - Capco Inc.
The Grand Junction Peace and Justice Office has been in contact with the CEO of Capco Inc, Steven Wood and its vice-president, Mr. John Younger. In a telephone conversation on 2 June,, Younger said he was surprised that Capco hasn't received much notoriety since Exposing the Source was published - "only a couple of phone calls and four or five letters." Following her conversation with Younger, Bev Goodrich of the GJ P & J said she thought he was "proud of Capco's involvement in the
landmine industry and feels it is patriotic work." Younger dismissed the Mine Ban Treaty and argued for continued use of landmines as a defensive weapon.

Action:

Help out the local activists by lobbying Capco to renounce its involvement and future involvement in landmine production. Capco has produced components for the Gator CBU-89 & CBU-78, Volcano M87 antipersonnel mines.

Write/Phone/Fax:
Steven Wood, President
John Younger, Vice-President
Capco Inc.
1323 Winters Ave
Grand Junction CO 81501
Tel. 970-243-8750
Fax. 970-243-8481

Local Contact:
Bev Goodrich
Director
GJ P & J
St. Joseph's Church
P.O. Box 246
253 White Ave.
Grand Junction CO 81502
Tel. 970-243-4378

MAINE - Vishay Intertechnology Inc.
After continued attempts to initiate a dialogue between local
campaigners and management at the Sanford-headquarters of Vishay Intertechnology Inc failed, the Maine Coalition to Ban Landmines announced in March that it will conduct a public demonstration on the first Friday of each month from noon to 1pm outside the plant. Vishay has been identified as manufacturing components for the Volcano M87 and Gator BLU-92/B antipersonnel mines.
Action: Help out the local activists by lobbying Vishay to renounce its involvement and future involvement in landmine production.

Write/Phone/Fax:
President/CEO
Vishay Intertechnology Inc.
PO Box 231
207 Main St.
Sanford ME 04073

Local Contact:
Paul C. Christian
Social Justice & Peace Services

Catholic Charities Maine
562 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101-3323
Tel. +207-879-1130, ext. 279
Fax. +207-871-1243
email: pchristian-at-ccmaine-org

MINNESOTA - Alliant Techsystems
Weekly vigils at 7am every Wednesday morning outside the main entrance to Hopkins-based Alliant Techsystems continue two years on (they started on 7 May 1996) by the Minnesota Campaign to Ban Landmines.
There are anywhere from 15 - 40 people every week in rain, shine, sleet or snow! The last big demo was held in April with several dozen arrests. This time they have decided not to prosecute. There is a plan to demonstrate at Alliant annual meeting again (last year it was in August) and also when 50/50 Tour comes through. At the next weekly vigil, this Wednesday June 24, the demonstrators will be joined by 12 Indochinese exchange visitors, including 4 Cambodians.

Action:

Alliant Techsystems is the biggest munitions manufacturer in the
U.S. and its refusal to renounce future AP mine production has generated the biggest response from non-governmental organizations. Show your support for the incredible efforts of local activists by lobbying Alliant's CEO.

Write/Phone/Fax:
Richard Schwarz
Chief Executive Officer
Alliant Techsystems Inc.
600 Second St. NE
Hopkins MN 55343-8384
Tel. 612-931-6000
Fax. 612-931-5920

Local Contact:
Susan B. Walker
Handicap International
4400 Upton Ave Sth, Apt. 401
Minneapolis MN 55410
Tel. 612-925-9418
Fax. 612-928-1945
email. sbwhandicap-at-igc-apc-org
and
Rev. James Ketcham
Tel/Fax. +612-644-9073
email : jketcham-at-prodigy-net
and
John Harmon and Dee Logan
Tel.:+612-788-8727
email: harmonjw-at-freenet-msp-mn-us

VERMONT
The University of Vermont is actively joining the campaign to ban
landmines after finding that one million dollars of its $169 million
endowment portfolio is invested in companies identified by Exposing the Source as being involved in AP mine production. Consequently UVM's Board of Trustees endorsed a measure backing any shareholder resolutions urging those companies to get out of the landmine business. The Board declined to consider a stronger proposal supported by UVM Student Coalition to actually divest or sell of its holdings in the companies. UVM students say they will be back in the fall to pressure UVM to divest of its landmine-related companies including Alliant Techsystems, General Electric and Lockheed Martin.

Local Contacts:
Justin Francese
President, UVM Student Coalition
email. jfrances-at-zoo-uvm-edu
or
Gioia Thompson
UVM Environmental Council
590 Main St.
Burlington VT 05405
Tel. 802-656-3803
Fax. 802-656-9974
email. Envcncl-at-zoo-uvm-edu

WISCONSIN - Amron Corp.
Tom Seery of Milwaukee Peace Action reports that Amron Corporation of Waukesha, Wisconsin is "going out of business" on 1 July 1998. Amron was identified in Exposing the Source as supplying components for the manufacture of antipersonnel mines and was placed on the list of companies refusing to renounce their involvement in the landmine business after they refused to respond in writing to HRW.

Conclusion:

Engaging in a dialogue with companies that refuse to renounce their involvement is both helpful and educational. If a company refuses to talk with you then be creative and engage in public lobbying efforts.
Please share any media coverage, local updates and/or correspondence you receive from the companies with the coordinator of the US Campaign to Ban Landmines and with me at Human Rights Watch. Your efforts are very important and you are on the winning side of this issue: Good Luck!

Mary Wareham
Senior Advocate
Human Rights Watch, Arms Division
1522 K St. NW, #910
Washington DC 20005
Tel. +1-202-371-6592 (dir. 6599 x 103)
Fax. +1-202-371-0124
email. wareham-at-hrw-org
Exposing the Source is available from Human Rights Watch Arms Division
and is also on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/mines