1 March 1999, Entry into Force Day
TO: All landmine ban campaigners
FROM: Liz
RE: 1 March 1999, Entry into Force Day
DATE: 8 February 1999
As you know, 1 March the treaty enters into force and many campaigns are planning events around the world, including wide-spread bell- ringing as initiated by the UK Campaign. Below you will find a list of events by country for campaigns who have informed us of their activities. Please feel free to use this in your media work to show you are not alone, but people are ringing bells around the globe! Send in your events so we can add them to the list.
In addition, in a separate email I will send an updated ICBL Calendar of Events as well as an updated treaty signatory/ratification list for your use. At the end of this email are also some messages to consider as you visit
government representatives during this week.
Many campaigners will be ringing bells at 12 noon (local time). However, please feel free to choose any appropriate time according to preference or custom. Of course campaigns are free to design their own messages, but the common message is two-fold, symbolized by two peals: one of celebration for the historic day as well as remembering the people affected. Some campaigns are focusing on church/religious communities' bell-ringing, while others, such as Mines Action Canada, have encouraged all "to make a joyful noise on 1 March: by ringing bells (churches, schools, city halls,
legislatures), blowing horns, chiming chimes, and by every other means...Let's make a noise loud enough to shatter the cynical and dangerous consensus that we cannot create a more just and peaceful world."
MARCH 1, 1999
Ringing In the Landmine Ban Treaty
Celebrating the Historic Day *** Remembering the People Affected
On March 1, 1999, bells will ring around the world to celebrate the historic day that landmines are outlawed - and to mourn the past, present and future victims. All are asked to ring 2 sorts of peals on that day:
* Celebrate the Treaty -- Ringing the first peal will signal our rejoicing in the historic achievement of a total ban on landmines that will
legally oblige countries to stop the use, manufacture and trade of landmines
as well as destroy their stockpiles, and clear landmines from the ground.
* Remember the People Affected -- Ringing the second peal will send the vital message that the issue of landmines is not over. Although much
progress has been made we must send the message that the issue of landmines is as important now as it's ever been. Just because the Treaty will go into force, does not mean the problem goes away. The terror and danger of unexploded landmines is as real as it has ever been. The issue cannot be over until the casualty rate is brought to zero and land safely restored to
the people who depend on it.
We also encourage you to use this date/week to lobby your governments, as one last big internationally coordinated ICBL lobbying event before the Maputo Meeting of States Parties in May. In addition to ringing bells, invite government representatives, and/or ask for meetings with them that day/week. If your government has not yet signed the treaty, encourage them to do so. If they have signed but not yet ratified, encourage them to do so BEFORE the May Meeting in Maputo. We urge all campaigns to meet with your governments this week and tell them what we want before/for the Maputo meeting of States Parties. When we meet government representatives this week:
* as in our bell-ringing message, we wnat to acknowledge that although much progress has been made, much work remains to be done and the issue of landmines is not over, and we are not going away!
* we want to encourage ALL signatories to RATIFY by the Maputo Meeting of States Parties in May.
If your government has signed but not yet ratified, urge them to do so NOW. Encourage them to use every opportunity between now and May to encourage neighboring and allied governments to also do so =96 bilateral, multilateral meetings, summits, conferences, etc.
* we want to encourage all those who have ratified and signed to detail their plans for stock destruction, mine action, funding for mine action, victim assistance, transparency.
Encourage your governments to prepare specifics =96 in detail =96 of how they will implement all aspects/articles of the treaty.
* if your government has not yet signed, URGE THEM TO DO SO by May. If not, urge them at least take new steps in moving towards a ban by May. Urge them to attend as observers and report on how they intend to move towards a ban and outline their concrete steps.
* while this is not a conference (Maputo) to amend the treaty, we still can include our views on how the treaty can be strengthened.
Thank you for your hard work to make this day a successful celebration of what we have
accomplished and reminder of all that remains to be done =96 please keep us informed of how your events/meetings go and let us know if we can help in any other way.
Keep Bannin Em 1 MARCH 1999!!!
Liz
##
RINGING IN THE LANDMINE BAN TREATY:
Celebrating the Historic Day *** Remembering the People Affected
EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD 1 MARCH 1999 as the Treaty Enters into Force
BANGLADESH
<FontFamily><param>Times New Roman</param>Celebrations with NGO coalitions= and youth volunteers. Contact: +<bigger> Tel : 88-02-9557160 <smaller>Fax : 8802-9555321; email: <underline><color><par= am>0000,8000,0000</param>yadc-at-bangla-net<color><param>0000,0000,FF00</para= m> </underline></color>
<FontFamily><param>Courier New</param>BRAZIL
Bell-ringing throughout the country including support from leaders and congregations of Catholic, Protestant and other churches.
Distribution and screenings of "Spotlight on a Massacre" in Portuguese - with flyer and petition
entitled to the Brazilian government entitled "For whom the bells toll?" encouraging
ratification and funds for mine action/victim
assistance to 'subsidize the human damage that Brazilian mines are causing!' Contact: Tel/Fax: +55 61 321 6533; email: serpajbr-at-brnet-com-br
CANADA
Over 40 organisations from coast to coast are planning bell-ringings; activities include prayers for peace broadcast from a mosque, bells from town halls and churches, and distributing
bracelets of bells to students. Church leaders are enthusiastically on board, especially in Quebec. Contact: Tel: +1 613 241 3777 Fax:+1 613 244 3410; email: macmary-at-web-net
FRANCE
Bell-ringing throughout the country through religious and other organizations and bell- ringers associations (World Carillon Federation) throughout Europe. Contact: Tel: +33 1 43 14 87 00 Fax: +33 1 43 14 87 07; email:
hiparis-at-compuserve-com
GERMANY
Press Conference - Meeting of a catholic Bishop with Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer in Bonn.
Youth group will hand over symbolic over 500.000 signatures, demanding a complete ban on all landmines and more funds for mine-action.
Exhibition of Art-sculptures about the
"landmines". Contact: Tel: +49 6994 4380 Fax: +49 6943 6002; email: medico_international-at-t-online-de
ITALY
Wide-spread participation in bell-ringing in Rome as well as in towns and villages throughout the country. Stands with materials will be set up in the most visible point of the towns.
Cardinal Ruini has lent support, and will send letters to all of the Italian bishops inviting
their parsons to ring the bells of their parishes. Parsons will also be urged to talk about mines during homilies and pray for the victims during the mass. Pins will be produced in the shape of a bell with the message =93EUROPE'S BELLS FOR A MINE- FREE WORLD.=94 During this event they will also continue to launch the Afghanistan project -called "Afghanistan metreXmetre" - collecting Funds to be sent to Afghanistan to support mine action operations.
Contact: Tel: +39 131 232640 Fax: +39 131 235497; email: <underline><color><param>0000,8000,0000</param>maniteseroma-at-flashnet-it</underline></color>
JAPAN
Visit to Prime Minister Obuchi with 11 year-old primary school girl who won first prize in a JCBL poster competition. Contact:
Tel: +81 3 3834 2388 Fax: +81 3 3835 0519; email: shimizu-at-jca-ax-apc-org
NORWAY
Gathering of many ICBL members prior to a Landmine Monitor meeting.
Morning: Seminar at the Nobel Institute with ICBL, Norwegian academics, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Followed by a walk to the Oslo Main Church fo= r
12.00 - BELLRINGING
Evening - a public event with candles in remembrance of victims.
Contact: Tel: +47 22 03 77 00 Fax: +47 22 20 08 70; email: {
HYPERLINK mailto: chr-at-npaid-no
}
<underline><color><param>0000,0000,FF00</param>chrSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERnpaid.no
</underline></color>SRI LANKA
Bell-ringing in temples and churches throughout the country at 12:00 noon = local
time. Contact: Tel/Fax: +94 1 697879; email: cjpncc-at-eureka-lk
SWITZERLAND
Bell-ringing throughout the country, including in the Geneva cathedral, at=
12:00 local time. Contact: Tel/Fax: +41 22 328 0173; email: ereusse-at-worldc-om-ch
There will also be a morning ceremony celebrating this occasion in Geneva = at
the UN Palais des Nations, including messages by/from UN Secretary Gener= al
Kofi Annan, WHO, ICRC and the ICBL.
UK
Initiated the bell-ringing events world-wide. Widespread bell-ringing throughout the UK of two peals: The first peal to be celebratory; the
second peal reflecting upon the victims and survivors of mine-accidents, = and
the on-going horror that landmines exact upon innocent lives.
Contact: Tel: +44 171 281 6073 Fax: +44 171 281 8005; email: ukwglm-at-msn-com
USA
<FontFamily><param>Arial</param>"Ringing in of the Mine Ban Treaty". Celeb= rating the Historic Day and
Remembering the People Affected. Nearly 20 churches have <FontFamily><param>Times New Roman</param>already signed up to ring their = bells on March 1, and the Minnesota Campaign is also planning a photo exhibition. USCBL Contact: Tel: +1 617-695-0041 Fa= x: +1
617-695-0307 email:
{
HYPERLINK mailto:gcumming-at-phrusa-com
}
<underline><color><param>0000,0000,FF00</param>gcumming-at-phrusa-com </underline></color> or Tel: +1 202-483-9222 Fax: +1 202-483-9312 Email: <underline><color><param>0000,8000,0000</param>marissaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERvi.org</underline><= /color>
<FontFamily><param>Courier New</param>LSN is also organizing a visit by US= landmine
survivors to Washington DC to have meetings on Capitol Hill. The message to the Administration will be to sign the treaty now because landmines affect US citizens. Contact: Tel: +1 202 661 3537 Fax: +1 202 661 3529; email:
lsn-at-landminesurvivors-org
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