Pyramid of shoes: hundreds of new signatories against Cluster bombs

On Saturday, September 25th, Handicap International Canada held its fourth Pyramid of shoes symbolizing the ban of of landmines and cluster bombs.

Despite a little rain, the beautiful weather helped to give the event a party atmosphere. Musical groups performed on stage, throughout the day, from 11am to 6pm. The crowd enjoyed the country/blues, rock and folk sounds, courtesy of CAB, Martin Robichaud, Mackadamio, Sleep Rockers, Michael Angelo but they also loved rappers like June and Underground Railroad. The storytelling and dance group Lamogoya shared with us their passion for Burkina Faso, its cultures and traditions. In addition to the information booths, people attended demonstrations of mine clearance animated by Philippe Guiguére, and they also had the opportunity to try “false prostheses”, which was a great success.
Moreover, hundreds of People expressed their solidarity with the victims of cluster bombs and showed their support for a ban on these weapons by signing petitions and throwing shoes at the Pyramid. The shoes symbolize devastation, lost body parts and the lost lives following an accident by landmines or cluster bombs. They will be recycled, by our partner CERTEX, a social rehabilitation enterprise.

Entered into force on August 1st 2010, the Oslo Convention is a real step towards banning the cluster bombs, but there is a lot more to do. Indeed, powerful states like the United States, Russia and China have yet to sign the Treaty. Cluster bombs still pose a threat to thousands of civilians, it is therefore important that Canada as well as the other states ratify it and mobilize the necessary means for contributing to the assistance of victims and the clearance of areas still contaminated by cluster munitions.

« The aim of this mobilization, is to renew the promise we made in the beginning of our fight to assist the victims, said Dr. Jean-Baptiste Richardier, executive director of Handicap International. We must persevere into stigmatizing those states that refuse to ban these cruel weapons and monitor those who did, to make sure that they keep their commitments. The Pyramids of shoes are the symbol of the civil society influence... This annual meeting is the proof of our credibility to the governments».