PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Urge the Obama Administration to sign the treaty to ban Land Mines
  1. Signatures
    4 out of 15,000
    Petitioning
    1. The President of the United States
  2. Created By
    Gavin McClurg
    Redmond, WA
About this Petition Petition Letter

The Obama Administration has just announced it's refusal to sign the treaty to end the use of anti-personel land mines, following in the footsteps of the Bush Administration.  In addition, the US is now the only country in the world that has openly admitted they WILL NEVER SIGN the treaty.  Nobel Peace Prize winner Stephen Goose, of of Human Rights Watch calls the decision "extremely disturbing".  While 156 countries (including Somalia) have signed the treaty, the US while calling themselves a "supplier of security" has refused.  Land mines are horrific weapons that continue to kill thousands of innocent civilians every year.  As President Obama announces his decision to escalate the number of troops in Afghanistan the hope felt around the world almost a year ago at his inauguration is rapidly fading.  What message is the US sending around the world?  These decisions propel terrorism and extremism by fueling anger.  Imagine watching your innocent child being maimed or killed by a land mine.  Is it any wonder the brother, uncle, father, mother of that child wants to strike back with violence?

Sign the petition to urge the Obama administration to sign the treaty to ban the use, production and distribution of land mines.

View a video on Democracy now:  http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/25/ahead_of_key_global_conference_us

Recent Signatures

Sign the treaty to ban Land Mines

Dear President Obama,

I was appalled at your recent decision to follow in the footsteps of the Bush Administration to not follow the other 156 countries of the world to sign the treaty to ban the use, production and distribution of anti-personnel land mines. As you travel this week to receive the Nobel Peace Prize hope that you have inspired around the world that the US would change its policy from one of war to one of peace is rapidly fading. I urge you to consider what message this decision sends. Last year more than 1200 people were killed and a further 4,000 were maimed in 70 countries by land mines. How will the family members of those people react when they learn the United States is complicit in their loved-ones horrific misfortune?

President Obama we, the people of the United States elected you because we believed you would help end terrorism and war through the actions of diplomacy and peace. Frankly, signing the treaty to ban land mines is a no-brainer. But not signing it, as you have refused to do sends a very loud and clear message that you are not truly on the front lines waging peace, but like Bush, another corporate puppet of war for profit.

[Your name]

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