Foreign Policy magazine has reported that the Obama Administration has suspended US transfers of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia following concerns over civilian harm from their use in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been conducting a military campaign since March 2015. A senior U.S. official acknowledged reports that the Saudi-led coalition used cluster bombs "in areas in which civilians are alleged to have been present or in the vicinity." [1] Under U.S. law, countries that receive cluster bombs from the U.S. must agree that cluster munitions “will only be used against clearly defined military targets and will not be used where civilians are known to be present or in areas normally inhabited by civilians.” [2] Reps. Conyers (MI), Ellison (MN), Grijalva (AZ), Hank Johnson (GA), McGovern (MA), Lieu (CA), and Barbara Lee (CA) have introduced an amendment [3] to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 5293) which would permanently ban the transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia. On June 14, House Rules Committee agreed [4] that this amendment will be considered by the full House. Urge Congress to make the President's ban on transferring cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia permanent by signing our petition. References: 1. http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/05/27/exclusive-white-house-blocks-transfer-of-cluster-bombs-to-saudi-arabia/ 2. http://www.noclusterbombs.org/news/2016/05/28/transfers-ksa/ 3. http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/CONYER_063_xml613160925552555.pdf 4. https://rules.house.gov/bill/114/hr-5293

Guatemala's government has acted aggressively towards peaceful Belizeans in Sarstoon area and continues with its unfounded claim to Belizean territory. A temporary ban on importation of goods and services from Guatemala is proposed until such time that Guatemalan aggression ceases in Sarstoon area and peaceful Belizeans are able to travel unimpeded to Sarstoon Island.

To demonstrate that an understanding of the need to hold those responsible for funding terrorism accountable. Without accountability, there can be no justice. Ultimately, we hope to see this important legislation on the desk of President Obama for his swift signature.

We have been lied to about the causes of all these wars since 2008. Our men and women in arms have been injured and/or died, in great numbers, as a result of this endless warfare. Obama refuses to declassify the 28 Pages, even though he promised, the families of the victims, that he would. He threatens to not sign the JASTA Bill when it is sent to his office.

As Americans, we are proud of our history of freedom and representation. However, through the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. has funded the genocide of innocent Yemenis. It is time we investigate the use of the weapons we sell, as the U.K. has done, and end the funding of genocide in Yemen. Watch our advertisement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0MFtmTX1j0&feature=youtu.be

Amnesty International reports that US and Saudi-backed armed opposition groups in Aleppo are committing war crimes against Syria's Kurds, and have called on the US and other countries to "immediately block the transfer of arms to armed groups, including logistical and financial support for such transfers, where there is credible evidence that they have committed serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law." [1] The House of Representatives has a unique opportunity to do something about this in the coming days. Amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act [2] offered by Reps. Gabbard [3], Nolan [4, 5], and Yoho-Conyers [6] would end or limit the transfer of US weapons to combatants in Syria's civil war. Urge your Representative to support these amendments by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/05/syria-armed-opposition-groups-committing-war-crimes-in-aleppo-city/ 2. https://rules.house.gov/bill/114/hr-4909 3. http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/GABBAR_04251116080824824.pdf 4. http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/NOLAN_067_xml511160828282828.pdf 5. http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/NOLAN_068_xml511160824512451.pdf 6. http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/YOHO08851116092507257.pdf

I have spent several years in Brazil and have seen the slow yet positive changes that were occurring. I have seen the slow yet real recognition and empowerment of poor, Black and Indigenous communities, and women of all classes. I have seen and lived the beauty of the popular culture of Brazil. I have a Master's Degree in Latin American history. Democracy cannot be destroyed, yet again, in Latin America. When you study Latin American history, you understand that mass violence always follows in these anti-Democratic backlashes. Far too often, the USA has been complicit in this cycle. We must apply international pressure now. This new "government" of Brazil cannot be recognized or accepted by nations around the globe.

Reps. Conyers (MI), Grijalva (AZ), Ellison (MN), and McGovern (MA) have introduced an amendment [1] to the National Defense Authorization Act [2] which would prevent any money in the bill from being used to facilitate the transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has used U.S.-supplied cluster bombs in civilian areas in Yemen, killing and wounding civilians [3], in defiance of U.S. law. [4] Passage of this amendment would be a step towards compliance with Human Rights Watch's demand [5] that the U.S. stop the production and transfer of cluster bombs completely, consistent with the Convention on Cluster Munitions. [6] It would also be a step towards fulfilling the demands of Sens. Murphy and Paul [7] and Reps. Lieu and Yoho [8] that U.S. weapons transfers to Saudi Arabia be conditioned on efforts to limit casualties in the Saudi war in Yemen. Urge your Representative to support the Conyers-Grijalva-Ellison-McGovern NDAA amendment by signing our petition. References: 1. http://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/CONYER_06251116091703173.pdf 2. https://rules.house.gov/bill/114/hr-4909 3. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/06/yemen-saudis-using-us-cluster-munitions 4. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/06/dispatch-us-contradictions-landmines-and-cluster-munitions 5. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/06/yemen-saudis-using-us-cluster-munitions 6. http://www.clusterconvention.org/ 7. http://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-paul-introduce-legislation-to-set-new-conditions-for-us-military-support-to-saudi-arabia- 8. https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-lieu-introduces-bi-partisan-bill-establish-new-guidelines

President Obama will make history by becoming the first U.S. President to visit nuclear ground zero when he is in Japan during the G7 Summit on May 26 and 27. On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States ushered in the nuclear age when it dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing hundreds of thousands and changing the world forever. By visiting Hiroshima, President Obama will provide a reminder unlike any other that nuclear weapons pose a threat to global peace and security. But he should not stop there. He can and must take concrete steps during his waning days in office to advance his vision for a world without nuclear weapons. Like you, WAND has been both inspired and frustrated by the president’s nuclear weapons policies. He spearheaded a once-in-a-generation agreement to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon -- without firing a shot. Yet, he has also approved a plan to spend $1 trillion over the next 30 years that would lock in an excessive nuclear weapons arsenal for decades to come. We have urged the president to reverse those plans. Ben Rhodes, deputy communications director, explained the visit this way: “On May 27, the President will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a site at the center of the city dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing, where he will share his reflections on the significance of the site and the events that occurred there. He will not revisit the decision to use the atomic bomb at the end of World War II. Instead, he will offer a forward-looking vision focused on our shared future. … The President’s time in Hiroshima also will reaffirm America’s longstanding commitment -- and the President’s personal commitment -- to pursue the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. … The President and his team will make this visit knowing that the open recognition of history is essential to understanding our shared past, the forces that shape the world we live in today, and the future that we seek for our children and grandchildren." In addition, chief Iran Deal negotiator and former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, characterizes what a visit would mean in this way: "Polling by the Pew Research Center shows that younger Americans are already much less likely than their grandparents to think that the use of nuclear weapons was justified. "And, indeed, the trend is such that years from now, the majority of all Americans are likely to believe it was wrong. Future generations need to understand history in all of its dimensions. The President's focus, therefore, should be on remembrance, on the importance of never again going down the road to a World War. We too must remember what we did in August 1945 and the profound need to ensure there is never another Hiroshima."

The White House announced today that President Obama will be the first sitting US President to visit Hiroshima - a historic event, and one that will strengthen our all-important relationship with Japan. I am a member of the filmmaking team of Paper Lanterns, a documentary by Barry Frechette, which tells the stories of the 12 Americans who died in Hiroshima, and the man who was responsible for getting their names into the Hiroshima Peace Museum. For 40 years, these brave American soldiers were neglected and forgotten, but thanks to the perseverance of A-bomb survivor, Shigeaki Mori, they are now immortalized in a small memorial at the site of the Hiroshima Military Police Headquarters. The 12 Americans, and Mr. Mori, are deserving of Presidential recognition, which will take President Obama a mere 15 minutes or less, as part of his visit to Hiroshima.

Saudi Arabia has used US-made cluster munitions in civilian areas in Yemen, leaving behind unexploded submunitions, Human Rights Watch reports. HRW is calling on the US to end its production and transfer of cluster munitions to conform with the widely accepted international ban on these weapons. [1] More than 100 nations have joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions due to the unacceptable harm they cause to civilians. Cluster munitions have wide area effects without distinction between civilians and combatants. Cluster munitions leave behind unexploded ordnance that can kill and injure civilians and obstruct economic and social development for decades after use. [2] US law prohibits recipients of US cluster munitions from using them in civilian areas. But Saudi Arabia has used US cluster munitions in civilian areas of Yemen, killing and wounding civilians. US law also bars the export of cluster munitions if more than 1% of the weapons’ submunitions fail to explode upon impact. But a Human Rights Watch report shows CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapons, manufactured by US company Textron and used by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, delivered submunitions that failed to explode. [3] Urge your Representative to support any amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act which would end or limit the production or transfer of cluster bombs by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/06/yemen-saudis-using-us-cluster-munitions 2. http://www.clusterconvention.org/ 3. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/06/dispatch-us-contradictions-landmines-and-cluster-munitions

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) have introduced [1] legislation that would impose new restrictions on U.S. military support for Saudi Arabia (S.J.R. 32). [2] Companion legislation in the House (H.J.R. 90) [3] has been introduced [4] by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL). The legislation would require the President to certify that Saudi Arabia is cooperating with the U.S. against terrorism and protecting civilians in its war in Yemen before U.S. weapons could be transferred to Saudi Arabia. Urge Minnesota Senator Al Franken and Duluth Representative Rick Nolan to co-sponsor this legislation by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-paul-introduce-legislation-to-set-new-conditions-for-us-military-support-to-saudi-arabia- 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/32 3. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-joint-resolution/90 4. https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-lieu-introduces-bi-partisan-bill-establish-new-guidelines