Meet Hussein survived the blast of a cluster bomb

during July 2006 war 4 November 2009, London. Discover the new book of photographer Rania Mattar

Cluster Bombs: The Aftermath

Meet Hussein. On his 13th birthday, Hussein Zreik survived the blast of a cluster bomb dropped 20 months earlier during the July 2006 War. He suffered numerous internal injuries and an amputated leg. He and his father, Ali Zreik, are coming to London to recount the impact of the explosion that changed their lives forever.

Friends of Lebanon has long been committed to the campaign for an international ban on cluster bombs and to prompting remedies for those communities already affected. It is critical that we remember that these weapons keep claiming new victims, far too often the impoverished truly innocent bystanders of political conflict. The damage done is devastating and irreversible.

For those of you in the London area, we now invite you to come meet those who suffer the hardships of cluster munitions and those who are working to end this weapon’s legacy of destruction. We are holding a public event to support the Cluster Munitions Prohibitions Bill of the 2009/10 Legislative Programme for Britain. The event will take place Wednesday, 4 November 2009, 18:00—20:00, in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, London SW1. All are welcome, no admission fee, no booking required.

The event will feature:

- An introduction by Brenda Heard, Founder of Friends of Lebanon
- Premier showing of the documentary film “72 Hours”
- First-hand accounts from victims of cluster bombs
- A status report from the Lebanese National Committee for Mine Risk Education (MRE) and Mine Victim Assistance (MVA)
- An overview of the international developments on the Convention on Cluster Munitions by - Thomas Nash, Coordinator of the Cluster Munition Coalition
A statement by MP Frank Cook on British policy developments

Whether you are in the London area or are an international Friend, we would also ask that you help spread the word by posting the event on your websites, and by circulating the attached publicity materials as appropriate to your contact lists.

While our Lebanese guests are in London, we are also scheduling appearances, interviews and a roundtable discussion on the topic “Politics and People: the International Ramifications of Cluster Munitions.” These should happen during the first two weeks of November. In so doing, we not only offer our guests a caring reception to England, but we also help to put a human face to the tragic course of cluster munitions.

To underscore this idea, we recommend a new book and photo exhibit by photographer Rania Matar. "Ordinary Lives" is a collection of photos acknowledging the undeniable presence of war and tragedy in Lebanon, yet celebrating the strength, dignity, and humanity of lives lived amidst the rubble, in refugee camps, or behind the veil. To learn more about the book, click here. An exhibit of Rania Matar’s work will open the 6th November at the A.M. Qattan Foundation Mosaic Rooms, London. Click here for full information.

Ordinary people are affected by political conflict everyday. But ordinary people can also take a stance to facilitate change.

And this just in:

PSC, BMI, and PFB have called for a protest against the Israel's attacks on al-Aqsa mosque and the deferral of the Goldstone report on Gaza, therefore we urge all to participate and protest on:

Friday 16th October, 5.30-7.30pm, Opposite Israeli Embassy

(nearest tube station High Street Kensington)

Note: The London demonstrations are scheduled to take place near the Israeli Embassy. This is not a recognition of, but a direct condemnation of what the location represents.

Organised by Friends of Lebanon www.friendsoflebanon.org