One year ago, me and my dear friend Michael Liliequist made a (very improvised) video clip lobbying for a global arms trade treaty, simply because selling bananas was more regulated than selling weapons:

A few weeks later we made a new (more directed) video explaining how much money is wasted on the killing industry instead of doing good things, like eradicating malaria:

And guess what? We did it!!

New York: Campaigners today say the vote for the first ever global treaty to regulate the international arms trade marks ‘an incredible moment’ signalling the dawn of a new era. The Control Arms coalition says the landmark vote sends a clear signal to gunrunners and human rights abusers that their time is up.

After six years of diplomatic negotiations, and more than 10 years of campaigning from civil society, governments at the United Nations voted for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) by a resounding majority (154 votes YES – 3 votes NO, 23 Abstentions). The treaty enshrines in new international law a set of clear rules for all global transfers of weapons and ammunitions.

The vote at the UN General Assembly was held just five days after Iran, North Korea and Syria blocked the Treaty’s adoption by consensus in a nail-biting session on the last day of the Final Conference on the ATT.

Iran, North Korea and Syria sure live up to their reputition, but they lost and the activists won! Pray that the new arms trade treaty will be effective, save a lot of lives and build peace and justice.