I have devoted time to working on a grassroots education campaign and national action plan along with HI-US staff and other advocates from around the country and around the world. Through the grant, I was able to travel domestically and internationally to participate in events aimed at accelerating U.S. efforts towards joining the two conventions. I travel locally around the northwest, speaking about landmines and cluster munitions at meetings for several interfaith, service-based, and school groups.

I also participated in two high-level events. First, I campaigned with other CMC staff and representatives at the First Committee Meetings at the U.N. in New York this past October. I lobbied several state delegations to push for further universalisation of the treaties. I also made the closing statement at the plenary on behalf of the CMC. In November, I then attended the Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World, the second review conference of the Mine Ban Treaty. At the conference, I met with representatives from the U.S. delegation—Jim Lawrence, head of Weapons Removal and Abatement, and his deputy, Steve Costner. I helped coordinate the USCBL side briefing with the U.S. delegation, and I also participated in a private meeting with the delegation and survivors. I told my story and communicate to the delegation how important these two treaties are to U.S. citizens.

Now that the U.S. has announced that it will conduct a formal review of its landmine policy, the USCBL is now working diligently to ensure that the process is timely and inclusive. I am communicating with USCBL supporters to ensure grassroots support, connecting my story with the importance of the treaties. Although the USCBL was heavily involved with CMC efforts in New York to push forward the 30th ratification of the CCM, presently the USCBL is concentrating its public efforts solely on the Mine Ban Treaty—both because the U.S. is now reviewing landmine policy, and because the USCBL sees the Mine Ban Treaty as the wedge that can ultimately push open the door for a cluster bomb policy review and eventual CCM accession. For fear of exacerbating Defense Department objections, the USCBL is not stressing changes in cluster bomb policy right now or making efforts to connect the issues of landmines and clusters. However, the USCBL will return to the issue of cluster munitions in a more public sense as the CCM’s entry-into-force draws near. In preparation for this, I am also working hard to activate military contacts, both active and retired, to gain a solid military objection to cluster bomb use.

Lynn Bradach