The Sole of Africa

What are cluster bombs? Cluster munitions are large weapons which are deployed from the air and from the ground and release dozens or hundreds of smaller submunitions. Submunitions released by air-dropped cluster bombs are most often called "bomblets," while those delivered from the ground by artillery or rockets are usually referred to as "grenades."

What's the problem with this weapon? Air-dropped or ground-launched, they cause two major humanitarian problems and risks to civilians. First, their widespread dispersal means they cannot distinguish between military targets and civilians so the humanitarian impact can be extreme, especially when the weapon is used in or near populated areas. Many submunitions fail to detonate on impact and become de facto antipersonnel mines killing and maiming people long after the conflict has ended. These duds are more lethal than antipersonnel mines; incidents involving submunition duds are much more likely to cause death than injury.

Who has used cluster munitions? At least 14 countries have used cluster munitions: Eritrea, Ethiopia, France,Israel, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia (USSR), Saudi Arabia, Sudan,Tajikistan, UK, US, and FR Yugoslavia. A small number of non-state armed groups have used the weapon (such as Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006). Billions of submunitions are stockpiled by some 76 countries. A total of 34 states are known to have produced over 210 different types cluster munitions. More than two dozen countries have been affected by the use of cluster munitions includingAfghanistan, Albania, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia,Chad, Croatia, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Grenada, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Laos,Lebanon, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria,Tajikistan, Uganda, and Vietnam, as well as Chechnya, Falkland/Malvinas, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Western Sahara.

Why is a ban on cluster munitions necessary? Simply put, cluster munitions kill and injure too many civilians. The weapon caused more civilian casualties in Iraq in 2003 and Kosovo in 1999 than any other weapon system. Cluster munitions stand out as the weapon that poses the gravest dangers to civilians since antipersonnel mines, which were banned in 1997. Yet there is currently no provision in international law to specifically address problems caused by cluster munitions. Israel's massive use of the weapon in Lebanon in August 2006 resulted in more than 200 civilian casualties in the year following the ceasefire and served as the catalyst that has propelled governments to attempt to secure a legally-binding international instrument tackling cluster munitions in 2008.

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More than 100 countries have formally agreed to ban the use of cluster bombs.

However, the debate now moves to the loopholes that could benefit powers such as the United States, which refused to take part in the Dublin conference.

Along with the US, China, Russia, Israel, India and Pakistan have rejected the pact.

Cluster munitions contain "bomblets" that are scattered from planes or artillery shells and detonate like mines. Opponents say they cause indiscriminate injury, often lying unexploded for years. Children are frequently the victims.

Giji Gya from the Brussels based International Security Service said: "The main actors are the United States and the UK. You also have Israel, India, Pakistan and China as the main users."

U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the elimination of cluster bombs from U.S. stockpiles would put the lives of U.S. soldiers and those of their allies at risk.

"While the United States shares the humanitarian concerns of those in Dublin, cluster munitions have demonstrated military utility," he said.

Source:Euronews 31st May 2008

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UK Telegraph
By Aislinn Simpson
Last Updated: 3:54AM BST 31/05/2008

Britain has been given eight years in which to destroy its cluster bomb stocks, although it will have stop stop using them immediately under a deal being thrashed out in Dublin this week.
Britain and others among the 110 countries involved in negotiations have successfully resisted attempts to block nations' ability to fight alongside American troops armed with cluster bombs.

America has taken no part in the negotiations and will continue to use the weaponry.
The final cost of destroying our Armed Forces' stocks of the helicopter-mounted M73 and artillery-launched M85 cluster bombs is not yet known, but destroying another cluster bomb system, the more indiscriminate M26, cost £30 million.
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The cost will be boosted by a clause requiring signatories to clear and destroy remnants of cluster bombs in areas under their juristiction or control - for Britain this will entail a major clearance project in southern Iraq.

The convention was formally adopted in Dublin yesterday but it is understood that the Ministry of Defence will continue negotiations over a number of other weapons which anti-cluster bomb campaigners want banned.

Non-Governmental Organisations have fought for years to see cluster bombs, which are predominantly used in countries including Cambodia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon, banned because unexploded munitions have maimed thousands of civilians.
Britain's negotiating team in Dublin have emphasised that both the M85 and M73 were needed to protect British troops when confronted by an enemy in armoured vehicles and their removal from theatre will leave a gap in our defences

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FOOD + WATER + HEALTH AID + TECHNOLOGY + LAND RECLAIMING + EDUCATION + MICRO LOANS = "EXTREME MAKEOVER AFRICA" AND EMPOWERING ONE NATION AFTER ANOTHER TO BE SELF SUSTAINING = THE SOLE OF AFRICA CAMPAIGN 2007

If you visit Mozambique in East Africa you will witness a direct correlation between wars, earthquakes and floods and the children that stay hungry.

The need for aid is so great, but now there is clearly a solution that can change the way the history of Africa is to be written.

What America doesn’t see through its media is the very present beauty of Africa; vast fertile lands that for over 40 years have now remained un-ploughed because of a legacy of landmines; subsistence farmers that wake at dawn and toil to trade on the side of roads and children playing with eyes that mirror the fruits of their spirits.

Imagine your bank loaning you money without you guaranteeing any collateral. That’s what is now happening to millions of Africans. In Africa full repayment of these microloans to individuals totals 97%. A new economy has blossomed.

Today the most “Extreme “Makeover” you may ever witness has been birthed. It is for an entire Nation, and then another Nation and another.

However now more than ever we need to feed the starving children with nutritional meals.

The Sole of Africa is thrilled that the mega food agency, Nourish the Children, together with its worldwide empowered distributor team has joined forces to continue this quest to Make Poverty History. A child dies every 6 seconds from malnutrition, no food and dirty water.

For those of you that do not know Nourish The Children, SOA believes that it is the most complete Social Marketing program working in the world. So do a lot of other people. Since their unique business model was birthed, their growing "Force for Good" under the Chairmanship of legendary Lee Iacoca have now donated over 75,000,000 especially formulated and enriched Vitameals.

75,000,000 in only a few years!!!!!! Donated not by large fund raisers or governments but by people just like you. $20 a bag.

Today we ask for your help. It is needed now. Our immediate goal to stockpile 100,000 tons of food and donate 30,000,000 Vitameals.

-Nourish the Children donates additional funds and Vitameals to be used in the overall Sole of Africa plan.

-YOU earn commissions and rebates so that you can turn your dreams into reality, donate more food, make a trip to help “Build a Village” or simply pays bills

-Our community will embrace your visit and you can roll up your sleeves and work with NTC in Malawi and SOA in Mozambique on two week Adventure trips.

Click HELP NOW to join us today.

WE THANK YOU.

THE SOLE OF AFRICA CAMPAIGN

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John Paul DeJoria (JP) CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems and patron of The Sole of Africa, has led the way by donating funds to Maria to give her new prosthetic legs. JP traveled to Mozambique earlier this year with the Sole of Africa team to see first hand the plight of people affected by landmines. It was during this trip that Christo Schutte of Mineseeker SA introduced him to Maria.

JP was so taken by Maria's positive attitude and her resolution to running her own hair salon, that he personally committed to helping Maria with getting prosthetic legs on behalf of Paul Mitchell Systems.

In a moving moment on the beach, Maria presented JP with a wireframe model of a landmine victim.

Maria is currently in Pretoria, South Africa where she is at the Arwyp Medical Centre receiving treatment.




This was all made possible through the funding and support of JP de Joria, Paul Mitchell Systems, Dr Linda Steyn(Physiotherapist), Trevor Brauckmann of Brauckmann Inc, AMA (PTY) Ltd and the Rotary Club of Pretoria East..

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