Protect The Human » arms trade

Cluster bombs: thanks and next steps

Anna — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:51:28 +0000

So last week was a good week to start working at AIUK, and witness the power of cumulative direct action to invoke a change that will have positive and far-reaching international repercussions. On 1 September, Amnesty welcomed the decision by the Royal Bank of Scotland to change its policy and cease investments in companies involved in cluster bomb production. We of course now need to make sure RBS honours these commitments in full.

Campaign background

It’s been a fast-moving campaign. Two weeks ago, we announced we were going to run a hard-hitting advertising campaign (similar to our Shell ad campaign earlier this year), to publicise RBS’s funding of companies producing cluster bomb components.

Despite a new international Treaty banning production, use and trade of cluster munitions, signed by the UK government, which came into effect just over a year ago, RBS has since poured $80million behind companies involved in the production of cluster bombs (scroll to p76 of this detailed report for full details). RBS were exploiting a loophole in the law, so whist technically not illegal, for a corporation 80% owned by British taxpayers, choosing to contribute to the funding of a highly destructive weapon whose victims are almost always civilians (98%) is absolutely unacceptable. We wanted to let the British public know.

To run the ad campaign, we needed your donations – and you gave generously: over a thousand of you donated to co-fund the ads and help expose RBS’s actions in British media. If you have donated to this campaign, we would welcome the funding for our continued work on arms trade regulation (read on to find out what we’re doing next), but if you would like a refund, we are happy to reimburse you.

We also needed you to let RBS know how you felt. An Amnesty-commissioned YouGov poll had found that 78% of the British public believed RBS’s actions should not be legal, and you certainly voiced your concerns: an amazing 11,000 Amnesty supporters and RBS customers have emailed RBS Chief Executive Stephen Hester to call for RBS to cease this activity in the last two weeks.

RBS reacts

Thanks to your emails and donations to run a high-profile ad campaign, in the space of just two weeks RBS has altered its stance completely.

RBS statement, 17 August

We do not invest in companies who produce cluster munitions and do not recognise the claims made in the IKV Pax Christi report. This is a serious issue and we have engaged with the writers of the report to understand these allegations.

(Have a look at our blog challenging RBS’ repeated denials.)

RBS statement, 1 September

RBS statement 01/09/11

After discussions with various NGO groups we have identified some defence sector clients whose activities could be considered to be outside the spirit of the Convention. As a result, we will be suspending all further services to any client where we cannot be certain that they are in compliance with our policy. We will seek to work with both the UK Government and NGO groups to create clarity on this issue, and encourage other banks to do the same.

Not only is RBS agreeing to cease investment in companies involved in the production of these weapons, it also now intends to join with others to take this issue to the UK government. It’s the legal loophole around cluster bombs that allowed banks to continually justify their funding of the producers of these weapons, and it’s the UK government that has the responsibility to address this.

The fact that RBS has stated it will work with the government on this is an important step. It’s not just RBS that’s at fault here: there are a number of other high street banks implicated in funding international cluster munitions producers. What we now need is a robust Code of Conduct for all banks to follow – one that sets clear policy guidelines to help banks cease their investments in the producers of cluster munitions.

Amnesty’s strength is its membership, and we absolutely could not have reached this outcome without your support. Whether you emailed RBS, donated to our ad campaign online or by text, or completed an action card, you have helped RBS change their policies. We are so grateful for every individual action. But we’re not quite done.

What we need you to do

We must ensure that the UK government push for an international Arms Trade Treaty to regulate weapon trade – including cluster munitions trafficking – on the global stage. There is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to bring this to fruition over the next year, with the UN Arms Trade Treaty, and a crucial opportunity for the UK government to stand strong on this (and encourage other governments to do likewise) at the 66th United Nations General Assembly in two weeks’ time.

Take action today

Email Foreign Secretary William Hague and push for the UK government to

commit to a robust and comprehensive Arms Trade Treaty

work to ensure that internal security and policy equipment (eg. crowd control ammunition and tear gas, internal security vehicles) are included within the scope of an ATT

lead by example: commit to a detailed, open and rigorous review to strengthen current UK export control decision-making.

We have seen the impact of collective action forcing a multinational bank to readdress its policy: please help us take this forward, and let the UK government hear your support for an international Arms Trade Treaty.

Want a refund?

We will use donations to fund our ongoing campaign for an international Arms Trade Treaty, but will happily reimburse your donation if you wish. Please email sct@amnesty.org.uk to request your refund.

Cluster bombs Facebook Q&A – transcript

Emerson — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:50:44 +0000

Verity Coyle, our lead campaigner for cluster munitions, and Thomas Nash from Article 36 held a live Q&A with our Facebook fans on 24th August.

Here’s a full transcript of the questions and answers. You can join our cluster bombs campaign by calling on RBS to stop investing in cluster bomb manufacturers, and by helping us fund an ad to publicly shame them.

Verity Coyle: Hello everyone, I’m Verity – the campaign manager at Amnesty International UK. How are we all today?

Thomas Nash: Hi there, my name is Thomas Nash from Article 36, one of the UK organisations campaigning against cluster bombs, I’ll be contributing to the Facebook chat today.

Amnesty International UK:Our live chat is starting now on our wall with Verity Coyle and Thomas Nash. Post your questions as new posts directly to our wall, and we’ll answer them as they arrive. First question is from Veronique, asking how banks are still funding cluster bombs…

Question: Hi, you’ve said that investing in cluster bomb is banned, how are banks still funding them?

Answer, Thomas: Hi Veronique, the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster bombs is banned, but different states interpret the provisions of the treaty differently. Most agree that direct investment in companies that make cluster bombs is banned, but some – like the UK – believe that indirect financing (giving general money to arms companies, but not specifically to their cluster bomb projects) is not banned.
Q: thank you Thomas. I find this crazy that total ban doesn’t also cover indirect funding.
A, Thomas: Yes we agree! We are asking the UK government to do something about this by convening a working group to address and put an end to all forms of financing to companies producing cluster bombs. The previous government said they would develop a code of conduct through a working group but so far nothing has been done. Even the banks tell us they want it, so we need the UK government to act.

Q: How do you respond to the defence that “company is fulfilling it’s contracts made before CCM 08″

A, Verity: Hi Greg, In RBS’s case In October 2010, Alliant Techsystems secured a US$1 billion five-year credit facility, comprising a US$600 million revolver and a US$400 million term loan. The proceeds were used for refinancing, to increase working capital and to finance capital expenditures and acquisitions. Royal Bank of Scotland was part of the 20-bank syndicate and provided US$80 million. This is a new agreement made after the CCM 08.
Q: thanks Verity. RBS says that they have i) engaged with the writers of the IKV & Pax Christie report and ii) have received assurances from defence(sic) sector clients that they are compliant with CCM. I would like to be able to respond to the reply RBS sent me.
A, Verity: It’s interesting that these reassurances from the defence sector clients are not public – we’d really like to see them.
You can see the full response we’ve developed to the RBS rebuttal here – http://pthblog.amnesty.org.uk/cluster-bombs-rbs-responds/ – we go into detail about each of their points, it should give you all the info you need to go back to them – thanks for taking action.
Q: Do you also feel that letters to UK Financial Investments Limited (UKFI) there to protect our investment in RBS can increase the pressure.
A, Verity: Indeed – the more people who can find ways to raise this issue the better – we’re currently gearing up to launch an advertising campaign to expose RBS’s practices but all options are on the table and we’d encourage you to take action

Q: Hi Verity and Thomas. It’s almost unbelievable that RBS is involved in funding the companies behind manufacturing cluster bombs. How realistic is it that RBS will change their position on this matter?

A, Verity: Amnesty is part of the international campaign to ban cluster bombs and its Explosive Disinvestments campaign, we have undertaken a series of actions and dialogue with UK banks on this issue since the campaign launch in 2010. HSBC changed and strengthened its policies and promised to withdraw all funding to companies that produce cluster bombs by 2012. This clearly shows that campaigning can influence banks behavior. RBS, committed to reviewing its cluster bomb policy, but as yet has not published this policy and, unfortunately, has decided to continue to fund companies which are involved in the production of cluster munitions. We hope that as a result of our current campaign, RBS will withdraw this funding and publish a strengthened policy on cluster bombs that will end its financial involvement with any company involved in the production of these weapons. We have met with Barclays bank, who has committed to strengthen policies, but as yet have not yet finalised this work. We are seeking follow up meetings with them.

Q: I am curious about the effectiveness of cluster bombs. My understanding is that they are a cheap force multiplier, hence their popularity, but with obvious consequences once hostilities cease. Presumably countries continue to use them because they feel they’re worth the collateral damage, which is tragic.

A, Thomas: Cluster bombs were really developed to face a Cold War scenario of massed columns of tanks and heavy armour rolling across the plains of Western Europe. In that sense they were a force multiplier. But obviously the Cold War never got hot, so they are pretty much obsolete. Their military effectiveness has never convincingly been put forward either.
Q: I always assumed they were used for cheap area denial, not just for tanks but for infantry too. Not a clue on their effectiveness which is why I posted. What about smart munitions? Should countries be developing cluster bombs with off switches? I’d remain concerned that there’s always a risk of “dud’s” that fail to go off in a timely fashion.
A, Thomas: There was a lot of discussion on cluster bombs with self-destruct mechanisms during the development of the treaty, but ultimately this was rejected because it was not a credible way of preventing the harm these weapons cause. And back to the effectiveness question, yes cluster bombs are also effective against personnel – they have a shaped charge to pierce armour and fragmentation sheath to kill people.

Q: At a visit to Lebanon, I saw big area’s where there were dropped clusterbombs by Israel years ago, the land can’t be used anymore until all explosive devices are dismantled, because of rain the particles of those bombs move to other locations…
Unfortunately Lebanon got the questionable honor to be blessed with many people who with the knowledge and skills to handle explosives but there are just too many of them and there are other priorities, the bigger bombs and grenades…
I have seen the results too: ‘People of all ages with missing legs or arms’…

A, Thomas: I was in Lebanon just after the ceasefire in 2006 and saw the devastation there, about 3 people were killed or injured everyday for the first 6 months after the conflict because of the hundreds of thousands of unexploded cluster bombs. This is exactly why banks should not be funding the makers of these weapons.

Q: which banks are involved? name and shame please

A, Verity: Some of the banks involved include Barclays, RBS and Lloyds, you can see the full report which has a hall of fame and a hall of shame here http://www.stopexplosiveinvestments.org/report’. The report is based on vigorous research of the banks finances. The report was put together by members of the Cluster Munitions Coalition (which Amnesty is also part of).
Q: thanks, any advice for bank customers?
A, Verity: We are exposing which banks continue to finance these weapons but it is the supporter’s choice who they bank with. Also, it is important to remember that banks do listen to their customers, so you do have an opportunity as a customer to tell the banks that their investments in companies that are involved in the production of cluster bombs is totally unacceptable.

Q: How are the banks directly funding these bombs? Are they funding UK companies or are they funding overseas companies? Surely if the manufacture of the bombs is still legal then in essence the banks do not think they are doing anything wrong? I am sure they fund weapons which the British Military are using without people worrying too much about it.

A, Thomas: Companies in the UK and every other country that has banned cluster bombs are no longer allowed to produce cluster bombs. But yes companies in other countries like the US are permitted to produce cluster bombs because they haven’t banned them. UK bank should not be financing those companies though, because that counts as assisting with production of cluster bombs and the treaty bans assistance with a prohibited act.
Q: Hi Thomas thanks for clearing that up. But if the treaty bans assistance with a prohibited act, does that mean that the UK Banks involvement is “illegal” in a criminal sense or just a moral/ethical sense? If it illegal then this should be a matter for the police/courts/parliament, but if it is unethical/immoral then in my mind that would include every person/company in the world financing/making/supplying/using weapons of any kind!
A, Thomas: Hi Alan, I understand your point! There is unfortunately a legal grey area here. But the government has said that the UK law prohibits direct investment in cluster munition production. The indirect investment is the grey area. This is why we need the government to develop a code of conduct to tighten up practice.

Q: Is the main reason for the bank’s involvement in the funding of cluster bombs one driven by profits? Why are they so profitable? Surely there must be alternative investments that would be just as profitable?

A, Thomas: Hi Eleanor, unfortunately the arms industry is a very lucrative business for everyone in involved, so yes it is driven by profits. But the reality is that cluster bombs are a weapon of the past not the future and even companies in the US (which is outside the treaty) are moving away from producing them. So it won’t be profitable for very long! And as you say, there are plenty of good alternative investments – look at the Cooperative Bank’s work on ethical investments.

Q: As a friend said the other day, we need to target the manufacturers. And ultimately the customers. Get to the source! Because you’ll never stop the bankers. They’ll only find cleverer ways, their legal dept. will seek out loopholes and the government doesn’t have the balls to enforce what most of us want to happen…

A, Verity: To ultimately stop the entire practice – which is what we want, we will be approaching the UK government to work with industry to write a code of conduct that stops all forms of indirect financing of this trade.

Q: Are there any other banks involved in these types of investments? I’m willing to bet RBS aren’t the only ones. Is this revelation part of a much bigger picture?

A, Verity: Hi Benji, some of the banks involved include Barclays, RBS and Lloyds, you can see the full report which has a hall of fame and a hall of shame here http://www.stopexplosiveinvestments.org/report’. The report is based on vigorous research of the banks finances. The report was put together by members of the Cluster Munitions Coalition (which Amnesty is also part of).

Q: Hi Verity and Thomas, Why are some countries continuing to make cluster bombs despite the ban?

A, Thomas: Hi Richard, in general, since most of the ban on cluster bombs in 2008, the trend is definitely moving away from production of these weapons. But there are still some countries that are holding out and producing. The arguments they give are usually around their national security or commercial interests. We are pretty sure though that cluster bombs are going to go the way of landmines: not every country has joined the 1997 landmine ban, but the use, production and transfer has almost entirely dried up. That’s because the weapons are stigmatised and a global norm has taken root.

Q: Does this mean that UK banks financing production in the USA are acting illegally? What about if their headquarters is based in the USA, or any other country for that matter?

A, Verity: It’s certainly the case that the funding and financial services which the RBS Group provides do not directly contravene the Convention.
The Convention prohibits assistance in the production of cluster munitions. To ban a weapon because of the humanitarian harm they cause, but to still allow for investments in their production is not morally acceptable. This goes for both direct as indirect investment. The UK law banning the production and trade of these weapons contains a loophole, because it would allow for indirect financing such as the provision of general loans and other banking and investment services for the companies that make these weapons. Amnesty International considers this to be a very serious loophole which can enable companies which have the capacity to make cluster bombs to carry on being funded by banks without running the risk of breaking the law. This runs the risk of making a mockery of UK law and the global Convention banning these weapons.
In the Campaigns view, if you provide money to producing companies, you are assisting and facilitating the production of cluster munitons.
A, Thomas: Hi Josh, unfortunately this is a bit of a legal grey area. We believe that UK banks funding the production of cluster bombs is prohibited under the treaty. Cluster munitions are also listed as prohibited items in the UK’s export legislation, which is another reason why banks in the UK should not be involved in financing them. But beyond the law, we want to get banks to realise that there is a brand risk for them here as well and that is why many of the banks have been responding to our efforts with new policies.
Q: [Could you] use the freedom of information act to find out if it is prohibited?
A, Thomas: Hi Josh, I am a fan of freedom of information requests too! We used them a lot during the cluster bomb ban process in the UK. But the government has made it clear that directly financing the production of cluster bombs is prohibited. It is the indirect financing of companies that is the grey area. And that is why we need the UK government to tighten up practice by introducing a code of conduct. I think it would be entirely reasonable to put in an FOI on what practical steps the government has taken to prevent indirect investment in cluster munitions since coming into office.

Q: What action is being taken apart from this wall-posting session? Any demonstrations planned, etc.?

A, Verity: Hi Szymon, sure – this is an opportunity for people to find out more but it’s part of a much larger campaign! Over 10,000 people have written to the Chief Exec of RBS so far – you can do this here www.amnesty.org.uk/rbs
We’re also gearing up to launch an advertising campaign to expose their involvement with companies that produce cluster bombs – you can donate towards this campaign here and see what we are planning.
A, Thomas: To get involved with the cluster bomb campaign in the UK you can write to me at thomas@article36.org. There are no big events happening in the UK in the near future, but I will make sure we keep you posted on any plans we have. In the bigger picture, the UK has actually been pretty good on cluster bombs since it signed the treaty in Oslo in 2008, we just need them to tighten up banks’ practice of indirectly investing in cluster bomb producers.

Q: Are you aware of what the take-up has been on the campaign so far ? I’ve been aware of the text to donate ads (including on FB) , but have you received much feedback either from AI members or the general public ? If so , supportive of the campaign or otherwise?

A, Verity: Over 10,000 people have taken email action to the Chief Exec of RBS in the last week. We’re halfway towards our fundraising target for the advertising campaign too. Feedback from supporters has been positive with lots of good ideas for future action that we’;re looking at for future use. We’ve had some negative feedback too, some people saying that we’re going to cause another financial crisis and should leave the banks alone.

Q: Hi there! Is it not possible to get these companies/banks on any human rights violation, or a code of practice on irresponsible/harmful investment? Should we therefore not be targeting the UK govt. to man up!?

A, Verity: good point! We are hoping to work with UK Gov and the banks to stamp out any funding of cluster bombs. The campaign hope to lead a negotiation process with the banks and the UK government to improve current legislation. We are also working worldwide as part of the International campaign to ban cluster bombs to get more countries– to sign up to the convention.
A, Thomas: absolutely right, we are calling on the UK to put in place a code of conduct to prevent all investments in cluster bombs. The previous government said it would do this but nothing has happened since the current government came to power.

Amnesty International UK: Thank you everyone for a great first live Q&A! We hope you’ve found it as interesting as we have. Verity and Thomas – any final comments you’d like to make to close our chat?

A, Verity: Thanks everyone for taking part – campaigns are successful when ordinary people come together to change something they care about. Clusterbombs are horrific weapons, banned under UK and International law – let’s stop any UK bank being involved with companies that still produce them. I look forward to working with you all on this.
A, Thomas: Thanks everyone for your posts and comments, the cluster bomb campaign is a testimony to the fact that with a little bit of organisation people can overcome really powerful forces to make positive change. And thanks to Amnesty and all Amnesty supporters for all the work you are doing!

You can join our cluster bombs campaign by calling on RBS to stop investing in cluster bomb manufacturers, and by helping us fund an ad to publicly shame them.

Stop RBS investing in slaughter – Updated

SamSam — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:01:21 +0000

WEEK TWO UPDATE:

Some of you may have received an email from RBS in response to our campaign to call on UK banks to cease all investment in any company involved in the production of cluster bombs. We are just checking the details and scope of their new commitments now.

This looks to be good news, and would never have happened without the 10,000+ Amnesty supporters and RBS customers who took action. Together we sent a powerful message to RBS that their policy was inadequate and unacceptable. Thank you to everyone who took time to express their outrage at a UK bank financing companies involved in production of these vile and indiscriminate weapons. Further updates will follow when we know more details about RBS’s revised policy

WEEK ONE UPDATE:

In just a week, we’re half way to raising what we need to run a hard-hitting advertising campaign. A massive thank you to the hundreds of you who have given so far.

We know that Royal Bank of Scotland are feeling the pressure – it’s vital that we now get our ad campaign into print.

This is one of those campaigns where to succeed we have to be as noisy and annoying as possible. And, in the best possible way, you’ve been incredibly noisy and annoying. Donate now and help us keep up the pressure.

98% of cluster bomb victims are civilians – 30% are children

Despite the UK being signed up to an international treaty banning cluster bombs, last year alone the Royal Bank of Scotland provided over $80million in funding to companies involved in their production. We want that to stop.

Donate now and let’s shame RBS publicly through our hard hitting ad campaign.

UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who has so far donated. For the time being we have stopped taking donations. Watch out for a further update soon.

Royal Bank of Scotland

Cluster bombs are made up of many small bombs that spread far and wide, killing and maiming anyone in the area. That is why 98% of all cluster bomb victims are civilians.

In the video above Chris Atkins reports from Laos on the carnage they unleash on their victims. This is the reality of funding strategies that involve companies that produce cluster bombs.

Taxpayer money

Remember, RBS is over 80% owned by the taxpayer after it received a £20 billion bail out. Whether you bank with RBS or not, it is our money that is being used to fund companies that produce a weapons system that our own government has outlawed.

With your help we will shame RBS into withdrawing their deadly investments.

Your money will be spent on an advertising campaign to shame RBS. Any donations received beyond our target will be used for other arms trade campaigning.

Cluster Munition Coalition

We are part of the Cluster Munition Coalition, an international civil society campaign working to eradicate cluster munitions, prevent further casualties and put an end to the suffering they cause.

The coalition works through its members in around 100 countries to change the policy and practice of governments and organisations and raise awareness of the devastation cluster bombs cause.

Want to know more?

Download the report ‘Worldwide investment in Cluster Munitions: a shared responsibility – May 2011 update‘ by IKV Pax Christi (the Netherlands) and Netwerk Vlaanderen (Belgium) (pdf)

*Texts costs £5 + standard network charge. Amnesty International receives £4.75. Under 18s, please obtain bill payer’s permission. Customer care 0844 847 9800. Charity No. 1051681. Read our full SMS terms and conditions

Cluster Bombs: RBS responds

SamSam — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:42:41 +0000

Since yesterday more than 7,000 of you have emailed the Chief Executive of RBS, Stephen Hester and they are having a very hard time ignoring our calls.

That is why they have sent some of you responses to your emails. If you have had a response from RBS you can find out what we think about it, line for line, after the break.

If you’ve not emailed Stephen Hester yet, just go to our action page and find out what this is all about.

Our response to their response

Here is our full response to RBS’s response to your emails. Let us know in the comments if you get an email from RBS.

RBS says:
“Thank you for your email addressed to our Group Chief Executive Stephen Hester.

“The RBS Group recognises the very serious issues surrounding the production and use of cluster munitions. RBS has followed the international governmental initiative to ban the use of cluster munitions closely, and reviewed the resulting United Nations’ Convention in detail. As a result, the Group has updated its defence sector position to clearly state that RBS will not knowingly support any application for funding or financial services worldwide that directly contravenes this Convention.”

We say:
It is certainly the case that the funding and financial services which the RBS Group provides do not directly contravene the Convention.

The Convention prohibits assistance in the production of cluster munitions. To ban a weapon because of the humanitarian harm they cause, but to still allow for investments in their production is not morally acceptable, and Amnesty considers it is not legally permissible either. This goes for both direct as indirect investment.

The UK law banning the production and trade of these weapons contains a loophole, because it would allow for indirect financing such as the provision of general loans and other banking and investment services for the companies that make these weapons.

We consider this to be a very serious loophole which can enable companies which have the capacity to make cluster bombs to carry on being funded by banks without running the risk of breaking the law. This runs the risk of making a mockery of UK law and the global Convention banning these weapons. In the Campaigns view, if you provide money to producing companies, you are assisting and facilitating the production of cluster munitons.

RBS says:
“We do not invest in companies who produce cluster munitions and do not recognise the claims made in the IKV Pax Christi report. This is a serious issue and we have engaged with the writers of the report to understand these allegations.”

We say:
There is evidence to show that in October 2010 the Royal Bank of Scotland agreed an US$80million loan to Alliant Techsystems, as RBS was part of a 20 bank syndicate which provided US$1 billion to this company.

Alliant Techsystems is a well known producer of cluster munitions. It is known for producing the CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munitions and it currently produces specialised components for cluster munitions produced by US Company Textron and its CBU-105 Sensor Fused Weapons systems that delivers 40 explosive sub munitions via the BLU-108 skeet warheads.

Each CBU-105 contains 10 BLU-108 skeets, which in term each contain 4 submunitions on each skeet. This weapon is clearly a cluster munition as defined under the Oslo Convention as it “disperses 40 submunitions that are designed to function by detonating an explosive charge prior to, on or after impact”

It would appear from RBS’s statement that it does not also include specially designed components for cluster munitions, components that are currently manufactured by Alliant Techsystems.

This would be another significant and serious failing of RBS’s policy in the area because clearly a cluster bomb is made up of parts, so it’s weak to argue that components are not integral to the production of these weapons.

The control of specifically designed components is a fundamental cornerstone of responsible export control systems, as evidenced by the new 2008 UK arms trade laws that expressly prohibited the export, transfer and trade in cluster bombs, including their components.

In addition to this, in 2008 Alliant Techsystems entered into a joint agreement with American Ordnance. This agreement is set to last for at least 10 years. American Ordnance’s products include the M864 Cluster munitions and the M74 APAM Grenade – a cluster bomb sub-munitions. Details of both these cluster munitions are freely available on American Ordnances website http://www.aollc.biz/pdf/M74APAMGrenade.pdf and http://www.aollc.biz/pdf/155mmM864DPICM.pdf

Lockheed Martin has a contract to produce MLRS in a configuration that would permit the launch of cluster munitions that does not expire before 2013. Until then, and until they publicly announce to stop future production, they are to be considered a cluster munitions producer.

There is no specific reference in the RBS defence sector policy that implies the policy extends to conglomerates or other legal, ownership or controlling arrangements that the company might have, such as joint ventures, subsidiary, holding companies or other cluster bombs producing companies that may form part of a defence company group.

This is again a serious failing, and fails to adequately address the realities of current defence production that, like the provisions of component, often involves a number of different companies across the supply chain.

Until Alliant Techsystems publicly announce that they are no longer and will no longer produce cluster munitions, and until they agree to stop engaging in a joint venture with American Ordnance, or have a public and verifiable statement from American Ordnance that it no longer produces or maintains the capacity to produce these weapons they will continue to be considered as producers of cluster munitions (because they retain the capacity to produce and have produced since 2008).

RBS says:
“Our policy, including definitions, in respect of cluster munitions is based on the Convention on Cluster Munitions which came into force in August 2010. RBS does not comment on matters pertaining to our clients as this is governed by statutory and contractual confidentiality obligations. However, we have a solid internal process in place for assessing our clients’ activities against a range of RBS position statements and policies. Through that process, we have received assurances from our defence sector clients that they are not in breach of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.’

“Yours sincerely
Sandra Gordon
Senior Manager, Executive Response Team“

We say:
In the Report, “A Worldwide Investments in Cluster Bombs: A Shared Responsibility” by CMC member organisations Netwerk Vlaanderen and IKV Pax Christi both Lockheed Martin and Alliant Tech Systems are identified as producers of cluster munitions.

We would welcome statements from these companies that they no longer produce these indiscriminate and illegal weapons; however any assurances made from any cluster bombs producer about the status of its products or its production capacity should be public and be subject to robust and verifiable scrutiny.

In the absence of this, and while there is evidence to show that they do we will continue to call on RBS to withdraw their investments and put in place a policy to prevent investments in other producers of cluster munitions.

Other financial institutions (like the Norwegian pension fund) that have decided to end their relationships with cluster producers list Alliant Tech and Lockheed Martin as producers of cluster munitions and have blacklisted them from future investments.

On this basis and considering existing evidence on their current and past production it would clearly be reasonable even as a precautionary basis to end investment in Alliant Tech and Lockheed Martin until it is clear that they are no longer engaging in activities supporting the production of cluster munitions.

Still not emailed yet?

Go to our action page to send your own email to Stephen Hester and help keep up the pressure on RBS

The long road to genuine human rights reform

Charlotte_K — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:06:24 +0000

As protests, uprisings, crackdowns and armed attacks continue across the Middle East and North Africa, we bring you up to date on events from a human rights perspective.

Libya
As the conflict in Libya rages on between Colonel al-Gaddafi’s forces, armed rebels based in Benghazi and international forces attacking from the air, we have issued a Q&A examining the human rights issues at stake.

Our crisis researcher based in Libya, Donatella Rovera, has published a new blog in which she describes how the situation has significantly deteriorated in Benghazi and elsewhere in eastern Libya in the past few days. You can also read our press team’s most recent blogs about Libya.

We have also issued a public statement calling on the Libyan authorities to release four Al Jazeera journalists held incommunicado since they were detained while trying to leave the country two weeks ago.

Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing violence and persecution in Libya and desperately seeking safety in neighbouring countries. Take action to protect refugees fleeing Libya.

UK arms might have played a role in the brutal crackdown in Libya and elsewhere in the region. Write to the foreign secretary to call for a robust arms trade treaty.

Bahrain
We have urged the Bahraini authorities to ensure the safety of people participating in peaceful protests and of all detainees after allegations of torture by demonstrators.

We have also called for the immediate release of eight prominent Bahraini opposition activists who were arrested following a violent dispersal of demonstrators in Manama. The eight activists, mainly leading members of Shi’a opposition groups prominent in the ongoing protests for reform, were arrested last Thursday in armed raids on their homes. The security forces did not produce arrest warrants and the authorities have not revealed where the detainees have been taken, or allowed them access to lawyers or their families.

Read our report on Bahrain – Bloodied but unbowed, or read our press team’s blog posts about this country.

Egypt
We have issued a statement calling on Egyptian authorities to investigate serious allegations of torture, including forced ‘virginity tests’, inflicted by the army on women protesters arrested in Tahrir Square earlier this month.

Egyptians have strongly backed constitutional changes that will allow the country to move quickly on to elections since the resignation of President Mubarak in February. Official results show that 77% of voters in Saturday’s referendum backed the changes. Pro-democracy activists said the changes did not go far enough.

Yemen
We have called on Yemen to stop its security forces using excessive force as protesters and journalists continue to be attacked at peaceful demonstrations around the country, and targeted in ‘night raids’ and sniper attacks.

Syria
We have called on Syrian authorities to launch an independent investigation into the deaths of at least six anti-government protesters during continuing unrest in the southern city of Dera’a. Protestors were calling for political freedoms, an end to corruption and the release of political prisoners. Scores more have been injured by bullets and tear gas and many more have been detained.

Is your bank funding cluster bombs?

ben — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:53:01 +0000

One third of all recorded cluster bomb casualties are children. Yet despite efforts to ban these indiscriminate weapons, 138 banks and other financial institutions continue to invest over US$20 billion in companies that produce them.

Cluster bombs are large explosive weapons that scatter dozens or hundreds of smaller submunitions over a wide area. They cannot distinguish between military targets and civilians. Many submunitions fail to detonate on impact and, like landmines, continue to kill and maim people long after the conflict has ended. Find out more about Dtar’s story by watching this short film.

The good

The global campaign to eradicate cluster bombs, spearheaded by the Cluster Munitions Coalition, reached a major breakthrough in 2008 when governments negotiated an international treaty to ban them. So far, 103 countries have joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions, including the UK.

The bad

Although the UK government has signed the ban and stopped production of cluster bombs, UK banks still invest in cluster bomb producers in countries that have not yet outlawed them. A ban simply can’t be effective if there is still funding for the production of these weapons.

The downright ugly

A recent report* finds that UK high street banks are lending or providing investment banking services to cluster bomb producers to the tune of:

– Barclays: US$274 million
– HSBC: US$657 million
– Royal Bank of Scotland (includes NatWest): US$64 million

That could be YOUR cash. And if there’s one thing banks can’t do without, it’s customers: tell your bank to stop this shameful practice once and for all. If you’re not a customer of these banks you can still contact them to let them know that you find their investment in producers of cluster bombs totally unacceptable.

Take action – email your bank now

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