In June of 1995, CARE joined the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, a worldwide coalition of more than 60 national campaigns dedicated to a total ban on the use, stockpiling and production of anti-personnel landmines. Since that time, CARE has used its on-the-ground experience working in 39 of the 69 countries riddled with landmines to advocate that the U.S. government sign the so-called "Ottawa Treaty," which would have enacted a comprehensive ban on landmines by the year 2000. The Clinton Administration has not acted.

Andy Pugh, CARE's public policy advisor, explains "We are distressed at the U.S. government's continued approach to the landmine issue as a purely political and military problem. For CARE, the crisis is essentially a human one, with complex and far reaching social and economic consequences.

"CARE believes that the U.S. government needs to act decisively and do what is right. It is time to join the nations of the world seeking a new standard of international decency — to end the scourge of landmines. There is no time to lose."

What Can You Do?

• Support Demining and Mine Awareness Programs Around the World
• Ask your congressperson to support demining and mine-awareness programs.
• Call the White House, (202) 465-1111, or write to the President to urge him to support the Mine Ban Treaty and send it to the Senate for ratification. Additionally, urge him to increase support for demining and victim assistance programs, and ask the President to support demining and mine-awareness programs.
• Contact the United States Campaign to Ban Landmines, (617) 695-0041, ext. 228; banmines@phrusa.org; or www.banminesusa.org
• Contact the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, (202) 547-2667; icbl@icbl.org; or www.icbl.org

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CARE's Response