MEDIA ALERT

Global Day of Action to Ban Cluster Bombs

One of Australia's leading authorities on landmines and an active campaigner on cluster munitions will join today's Global Day of Action to highlight international concern and raise public awareness of these devastating weapons.

Unexploded cluster munitions pose a grave danger to civilian populations in more than 20 countries. The bomblets can remain on the ground for years and often sit partially buried or hanging at head height in trees until disturbed. They contaminate land and in doing so hinder the development of affected communities.

November 5th has been designated The Global Day of Action to coincide with an international conference on Cluster Munitions in Geneva and comes just one month before the start of a major round of Cluster Munitions treaty negotiations in Vienna.

Austcare personnel will be in the Sydney C.B.D to highlight the extent of the problem and encourage concerned Australians to maintain the pressure on our politicians in the lead-up to the Federal Election.

Despite a recent Federal Government pledge that Australia would take a leading role in the fight to ban clusters, last month the Department of Defence revealed plans to spend $14 million dollars buying a new weapon that many experts say appears to fit current definitions.

TIME: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

DATE: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5th

LOCATION: PITT STREET MALL, SYDNEY (King St End)

Vision and stills of unexploded cluster munitions fields and survivors of accidental detonations are available upon request.

For further information contact: Daniel Barty Media Officer (02) 9565 9104 or 0430 464 954 dbarty@austcare.org.au