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

We write to you because of the urgency of the situation in Darfur. We are gravely concerned about the genocide that began 13 years ago in Darfur and still continues today. Violence, rape, killing, burning of villages, arrests and torture has devastated the lives of innocent civilians in Darfur. Countless men, women, and children have lost their lives while the living under unimaginable suffering and have nowhere to turn. In spite of the alarming rate at which the violence continues to be perpetrated, world leaders have faced the situation in Darfur with silence. Those who have spoken up have not moved beyond words of condemnation. That is why we urge our representatives to speak up for Darfur and demand that the U.S. government make Sudan a priority to bring a lasting solution to the long-standing crisis in Sudan. We want our government to care and we need the U.S. Congress to help become our voice and the voices for the people of Darfur. As Darfuri living in the United States, we are deeply affected by the tragedy in Darfur, we have lost many immediate family members and many more still suffer while we have been forced to flee. Beginning in 2016 there has been a new surge of attacks against civilians in Darfur, Sudan. Over 150,000 people have been displaced in one month, children have been burned alive, and women and girls have been abducted and brutally raped while the bombing continues. The government of Sudan has isolated Darfur from the outside world, blocked information, and continues its crimes. In addition to over 3 million people who remained in camps for the past 13 years, violence escalates every day and humanitarian efforts are severely restricted. Rape and sexual violence have been used as a weapon of war and continue at an alarming rate in the displacement camps where women are the majority. Millions of Darfuris remain displaced and have been without a permanent home for 13 years while the number of newly displaced people continues to grow exponentially while the genocide continues unhindered. The president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, stands accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur yet he is still free to pursue his genocidal policies. The government of Sudan has recently stated its plan that it will end internal displacement in Darfur by 2017, which means wiping out those who are helpless in camps. A referendum in Darfur was recently conducted in mid-April of this year by the government to decide on the future of Darfur, even while Darfuri victims are under attack and still struggling for survival with no ability to vote; this is Sudan’s “Final Solution” within its genocide. What is going on in Darfur today is very systematic and directed towards a particular group whom the government has singled out for extermination. The U.S. Department of State expressed its concern, stating that “If held under current rules and conditions, a referendum on the status of Darfur cannot be considered a credible expression of the will of the people of Darfur”.(http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/04/255663.htm). This is why we need your voices to stand by our side and speak up against the genocide. The core of DWAG's mission is that in the face of genocide, we must not let our leaders turn a blind eye or look the other way. We need you to help us speak up for the suffering, make your voices heard and mobilize the masses to join us to ask Congress to speak up for Darfur. If we can reach out to more people, we will definitely compel our leaders to act promptly. We greatly appreciate the 120 members who have signed the bipartisan letter to president Obama , asking him to make Sudan a priority and we hope that all members of the house of representatives can speak up for the people of Darfur and Sudan at large. We are counting on you to add your voice. Sign this petition and help us spread the word.

President Obama has the chance to 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 can provide a reminder unlike any other that nuclear weapons pose a threat to global peace and security. But he can’t 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. Here are the words of Wendy Sherman, former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs on why President Obama should visit Hiroshima: "He should go to Hiroshima, not to apologize, but to serve our interests by showing allies in the region that we are willing to acknowledge the past in order to focus on the future. "Historians have debated America's use of nuclear weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and will continue to do so. And, although undoubtedly many, many American lives were saved by bringing the war to an early end, there is no denying the horrific impact of an atomic bomb dropped on thousands of civilians. "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."

Since cluster bombs release many small bomblets over a wide area, they pose heightened risks to civilians both during attacks and afterwards. During attacks, the weapons are prone to indiscriminate effects, especially in populated areas. Unexploded bomblets can kill or maim civilians long after a conflict has ended, and are costly to locate and remove. That's why more than a hundred nations have joined the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of these weapons. [1] Saudi Arabia has used cluster bombs in its war in Yemen, according to Human Rights Watch. [2] HRW documented the remnants of a CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon, a cluster bomb manufactured by Textron Systems Corporation in the US and supplied to Saudi Arabia. [3] Although the US is not yet a member of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, US law bars the sale of these weapons to countries that use them in civilian areas. [4] But according to Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia did use these weapons in a civilian area. [5] Urge Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin and Milwaukee Representative Gwen Moore to advocate for a ban on sending these weapons to Saudi Arabia, including in the National Defense Authorization Act, by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.clusterconvention.org/ 2. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/03/world/middleeast/saudi-led-group-said-to-use-cluster-bombs-in-yemen.html 3. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32572408 4. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32572408 5. https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/05/03/yemen-saudi-led-airstrikes-used-cluster-munitions

Since cluster bombs release many small bomblets over a wide area, they pose heightened risks to civilians both during attacks and afterwards. During attacks, the weapons are prone to indiscriminate effects, especially in populated areas. Unexploded bomblets can kill or maim civilians long after a conflict has ended, and are costly to locate and remove. That's why more than a hundred nations have joined the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of these weapons. [1] Saudi Arabia has used cluster bombs in its war in Yemen, according to Human Rights Watch. [2] HRW documented the remnants of a CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon, a cluster bomb manufactured by Textron Systems Corporation in the US and supplied to Saudi Arabia. [3] Although the US is not yet a member of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, US law bars the sale of these weapons to countries that use them in civilian areas. [4] But according to Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia did use these weapons in a civilian area. [5] Urge Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, the Assistant Minority Leader, to advocate for a ban on sending these weapons to Saudi Arabia, including in the National Defense Authorization Act, by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.clusterconvention.org/ 2. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/03/world/middleeast/saudi-led-group-said-to-use-cluster-bombs-in-yemen.html 3. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32572408 4. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32572408 5. https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/05/03/yemen-saudi-led-airstrikes-used-cluster-munitions