wfn.org | Anti-Landmines Campaign Arrives in Philadelphia Nov. 20, 1997

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.apc.org>]

Mustafa Malik
Director of Media Relations
American Friends Service Committee
PH: 215/241-7060
FAX: 215/241-7275
E-MAIL: mmalik@afsc.org
http://www.afsc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 				
November 11, 1997

Contact:  David Gracie (215) 241-7162

Anti-Landmines Campaign Arrives in Philadelphia Nov. 20

PHILADELPHIA --  As part of a grassroots campaign to generate public
support for a treaty to ban land mines, a "ban bus" of six activists from
the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize-winning Campaign to Ban Landmines will visit
Philadelphia on Thursday, Nov. 20. 

The members of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines are traveling
cross-country by bus from San Francisco to Ottawa, Canada, where they will
attend the signing of the treaty, Dec. 3-4, by leaders of more than 100
nations.  The goal of the tour is to raise public awareness about the
devastating effects of land mines and urge President Clinton to sign the
historic treaty.

Events scheduled for Nov. 20 in Philadelphia:

· Press conference at Friends Center, 15 and Cherry Streets, 11 a.m.
· Vigil, featuring display of demining equipment, and speakout on the west
side of City Hall, noon - 1:30 p.m.
· Meeting at Roberts Hall, 3400 Chestnut Street on the University of
Pennsylvania Law School campus, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
· Meeting and slide show at Friends Center, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

The traveling campaigners include de-miners, a photographer and a mine
awareness instructor who have lived and worked in such countries as
Afghanistan, Angola and Bosnia, where land mines still threaten civilian
lives.  Mary Wareham, national director of the campaign, will also be in
Philadelphia for the day’s events. 

The U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines is a member of the International
Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), co-recipient, with campaign coordinator
Jody Williams, of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.  The ICBL spans 60 countries
and includes more than 1000 NGO members.

The events are being sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee,
the Philadelphia Bar Association and its International Human Rights
Committee, the Peace Committee of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of
Friends, the Philadelphia chapter of Veterans for Peace, and other groups. 

-30-

The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization which
includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice,
peace and humanitarian service.  Its work is based on the Quaker belief in
the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome
violence and injustice.