Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Challenges Of Mine Awareness Education For Children In Afghanistan, Christine Knudsen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article has been removed.

Dispelling The Myth Between Humanitarian And Commercial Mine Action Activity, Ann Fitz-Gerald, Derrick Neal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since the post World War years and even the more recent aftermath of the Cold War, the nature of peacekeeping, or peace-support operations, has changed dramatically. The change has involved the number and type of agencies concerned at each stage of an intervention and the numerous challenges they face in theatres. The responsibility is no longer left to and can no longer be fulfilled by a military force. A multitude of agencies takes on various tasks and becomes answerable to a number of different external and internal stakeholder interests.

Integrated Mine Action: A Collective Approach To Mine Awareness, Margaret S. Busé

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

An Interview with Andy Wheatley, Community Liaison Manager, Mines Advisory Group (MAG) by Margaret Busé, MAIC

The Journal Of Mine Action Issue 4.3 (2000), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine Awareness | Notes from the Field | Organization Profiles

Child-To-Child Trust: A Child-Oriented Approach To Landmine Education, Virginia Saulnier

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Placing children’s issues at the forefront of its agenda, the Child-to-Child Trust promotes the physical and mental well-being of children throughout the world. Operating under the umbrella of the University of London’s Institute of Education and Institute of Child Health, the trust has assumed this position since its inception in 1979, the international year of the Child, and has been active in over 80 nations. The trust’s objectives include “protecting and preserving the health of communities worldwide by encouraging and enabling children and young people to play an active and responsible role in the health and development of themselves, other …

It's Been A Hard Day's Night, Jake Macdonald

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Before heading out for a day's work, the deminers and EOD men gather every morning to drink coffee at a downtown Pristina bar called The Kukri. By 8 a.m. a festive crowd has gathered, and you could easily be in some college town cappuccino bar, except that half the people in the room are wearing U.N. shoulder patches and automatic pistols. On this particular autumn morning, the Texas Rangers are having coffee with the Fijians, the Bobbies are raking tea with some carabinieri, and the Zambians are talking shop with the OPP. It's sunny again, and everyone seems to be …

The Mine Action Process, James Trevelyan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

There are three ways to improve the mine action process to allow displaced people to return to their land sooner and with less risk of injury. Naturally, a major increase in aid funding would achieve a similar result using the existing process. Three main avenues to achieve improved outcomes with the same level of funding are as follows:

• Improving the technology, cost effectiveness and reliability of the mine clearance process,
• Applying risk management approaches to manage mine contamination problems, and
• Utilizing local resources and seeking alternative sources of funding more effectively.

Interaction, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Comprised of a vast assortment of more than 160 U.S.-based relief, development, environmental and refugee agencies active in over 100 nations, InterAction, founded in 1984, leads the United States as one of the most effective advocates for individual and country autonomy. In attempt to assist people and developing nations in obtaining this objective, InterAction agencies “promote economic development and self-reliance, improve health and education, provide relief to victims of disasters and war, assist refugees, advance human rights, protect the environment, address population concerns, advocate for more just public policies and increase understanding and cooperation between people."

Mercy Corps International, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mercy Corps International, a non-profit voluntary agency, is one of the United States most resourceful international charities, contributing close to 94 percent of its resources to the most vulnerable areas in the world. Since 1979, when Mercy Corps was founded as Save the Refugees Fund, it has dispersed over $450 million in assistance to people in more than 68 countries. With the support of several prominent Americans, Save the Refugees Fund was able to expand its efforts to assist not only the Cambodian refugees who attempted to flee by boat but also vulnerable people in other nations. In 1981, the …

James Madison University's Mine Awareness Program (Map) In Quang Tri Province, Jason Sims

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The U.S. Department of State Humanitarian Demining Program Office (PM/HDP), in an effort to help establish a sustainable mine action program in Vietnam, sponsored the Mine Awareness Project (MAP) in Quang Tri Province, the site of the former demilitarized zone. The MAIC at JMU was tasked to pursue that goal as an activity of the Non-Proliferation, Anti-Terrorism and Demining-related (NADR) fund. JMU was asked to plan, coordinate, and implement various activities, which would constitute an educational program designed to help families living in this province avoid the dangers of latent landmines and unexploded ordnance.

The Landmine Impact Survey Process, Richard Kidd

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On August 22, the United Nations certified the process and the results of the Landmine Impact Survey conducted in Yemen. This survey is the first of its kind to be performed in accordance with international standards and marks a revolutionary event in the field of humanitarian mine action. The enhanced quality of information gained through the impact survey will change the way that resources are allocated and operational plans developed. Sophisticated analysis can now take place in support of decision-makers at all levels and progress measured in terms of real value to affected populations.

The Utilization Of Level One Survey Data For Mine Awareness, Justin Brady

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With its conclusion in July 2000 and certification a month later, the level one landmine survey in Yemen has provided the Yemeni authorities with a wealth of reliable information from which to plan and prioritize activities. For many people this means planning for mine clearance, but the utility of the level one data goes far beyond clearance. It also provides a foundation for all aspects of mine action, including mine awareness. Yemen is the first country to successfully complete the new level one format in cooperation with the U.N. Mine Action Service (UNMAS), U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and …

Superman To The Rescue, But Can He Teach Mine Awareness?, Margaret S. Busé

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

When Wonder Woman and Superman joined forces to promote mine awareness for children through the efforts of the U.S. Department of Defense, DC Comics and UNICEF, the landmine community was divided as to the usefulness, and ultimately, the success of the effort. Originally released in Bosnia in 1996, a second comic book in Spanish was released for children in Latin America in 1998. A third comic book was developed for children of Mozambique but a release date for the book is not scheduled. Currently, the Kosovo version of the comic book is being released in the school system through UNICEF …

Operation: Mine Awareness-Thailand, Katie Shepard

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Years of conflict along the borders of Thailand have resulted in countless landmines buried along the Thai-Cambodia, Thai-Laos, Thai-Malaysia and Thai-Myanmar borders. The number of booby-traps, UXO and landmines in Thailand is unknown. Surveys made by the Royal Thai Army and Navy indicate that the land of 19 provinces are landmine-infested. Approximately, 796 square kilometers of the land cannot be utilized, affecting the livelihood of 400,000 people residing in these areas.

Making Strides: Students Tackle The Landmine Awareness Problem, Virginia Saulnier

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Extending beyond the normal boundaries of education, a growing number of educators are widening their students’ knowledge base to include the landmine crisis plaguing multiple countries, thereby raising the global consciousness of this humanitarian problem. Commendably, students around the world are assuming an active role in the crisis, aware of the potential damage waiting to strike at the heart of their generation, as landmines and UXO annually claim numerous children as victims. Teachers, employing accepted pedagogical techniques, are educating their students about the devastation inflicted by mines and UXO by introducing them to landmine oriented magazines and literature. Teacher Mark …

The Demining Of Farmland - Cost/Benefit Analysis And Quality Control, Peter Schoeck

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The value gained by the demining of farmland is estimated and compared with the cost of demining for manual demining and mechanized demining. It is found that for farmland used for growing ordinary crops (as opposed to “luxury” crops yielding higher prices), the cost of demining and recultivation for reasons of economy is not to exceed 40 cents (U.S.)/m. To reach this target requires mechanized demining wherever possible, confining manual demining to areas not suitable for mechanized demining. A method is shown by which 100 percent safety of the demined area can be achieved and which facilitates quality control. The …

Youth Supervisors Trained In Mine Awareness In Jordan, Jason Sims

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Landmine Survivors Network (LSN) made an agreement with the Jordan Ministry of Social Development to facilitate mine awareness throughout the year 2000. For a week in August, youth center supervisors from throughout Jordan attended Mine Risk Education Training in Aqaba, Jordan. The LSN facilitated the workshop with cooperation from Rädda Barnen and the Royal Jordanian Army Corps of Engineers. All 60 of the youth center supervisors in Jordan were invited to attend the mine awareness training. A total of 44 Jordanian Youth Center Supervisors attended the workshop, 13 females and 31 males. Personnel from Rädda Barnen of Yemen conducted …

Alternatives To Anti-Personnel Landmines, Keith Feigenbaum

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The complexity of the issue of alternatives to AP landmines is great from both a humanitarian and a technical standpoint. Stances on this issue seem to range from the substantive and supported (by research and field experience) and the reactionary (i.e., unbending humanitarianism). When the differing stances are considered, the one conclusion that can be drawn is the need for the discovery of a middle ground. That is, given current levels of technology, what can be done to end the suffering of the innocent while protecting the combatant?

Community Mine Awareness For Development, Hildegard Scheu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Years after the civil war has ended, mines and UXO continue to be a serious danger to numerous communities in Mozambique. GTZ and Zimbabwean demining company Mine-Tech jointly developed the Integrated Humanitarian Demining for Development approach. Community Mine Awareness Training (CMA) for the local population was always an integral component. The concept and approach of CMA needed further improvement and refinement. The objective of the pilot project undertaken in the Cheringoma District of Sofala Province in Mozambique, June 19 - September 5, 1998, was to improve methods and instruments for CMA. This included the development of participatory methods to be …

World Council Of Churches, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 1937, church leaders established a World Council of Churches (WCC), but its official organization was deferred by the outbreak of World War II until August 1948. At that time, representatives of 147 churches assembled in Amsterdam to coordinate the organization of the WCC. Since then, a growing number of churches on every continent have joined the WCC. The organization feels that they have built new bridges over ancient chasms that have separated believers from one another, while working together to stop inhumanity and injustice by active involvement in a variety of humanitarian issues. The WCC has been involved in …

Adopt-A-Minefield, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Through a variety of mine awareness techniques and programs, Adopt-A-Minefield promotes a landmine free environment by involving individuals, community associations and businesses in the process. Essentially, Adopt-A-Minefield functions as a liaison between the affected communities and sponsors. To accomplish this vital task, Adopt-A-Minefield acknowledges no political debates or boundaries. Rather, it allows individuals to contribute their resources to the overall goal, establishing common ground between the contributors and the mine-affected populations upon which to build lasting relationships. The program also adheres to its tenet that through cooperation the world can rid itself of this less-publicized but intensely severe problem.

International Rescue Committee, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), founded at the request of Albert Einstein to assist opponents of Adolf Hitler, helps people fleeing racial, religious and ethnic persecution as well as those uprooted by war and violence. The IRC, with a staff from 40 countries, is a global organization. International institutions, governments and individual donors support the organization. Recently, the European Commission and individual European nations contributed substantial funding to assist IRC humanitarian aid projects.

U.N. Department Of Humanitarian Affairs, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

U.N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs

Vietnam Veterans Of America Foundation, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Founded in 1980 by a contingent of war-aware Vietnam veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) endorses a globally conscious environment to assist civilians trapped in the crossfire of war. Staffed by people intent on lessening the pain inflicted on the civilian populations of war-torn countries, members of VVAF possess the knowledge and caring capacity to dedicate the time and resources necessary to rebuild the lives of war victims.

Implementing Landmine Awareness Programs, Eric Filippino

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Among the wider mine action community, recognition is steadily growing of the need to incorporate socio-economic data and analysis into the planning, prioritization and evaluation of mine action. Shifting the focus away from the achievement of straightforward targets of land cleared or numbers of mines removed onto improving the lives of communities threatened by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) represents a major change in mine action thinking. Mine awareness, which also seeks to integrate socio-economic analysis into its work can play an important role in rounding out this concept.

Developing And Expanding Mine Awareness Programs, Roger Hess

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

An assessment of mine awareness programs.

Mine Action In Cambodia, Tim Grant

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the past five years, I have worked in four different mine awareness programs. The first was in 1990 with the Land Mine Awareness Programme (LMAP) whose mandate was to reach the Cambodian refugee camps on the Thai/Cambodian border. LMAP was the first mine awareness program to operate in the South East Asian region and was run through the International Rescue Committee (IRC) with funding by the Office of the U.N. Secretary General for the Coordination of Cambodian Humanitarian Assistance Programs.

Hurricane Mitch Jet Stream, Juan Carlos Ruan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In October-November 1998, Hurricane Mitch wreaked havoc upon the Caribbean and parts of Central America. The damage the storm produced was unprecedented in the affected areas. In Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica, UNICEF compiled these estimates on the human toll: 8,421 killed, 7,671 missing, 10,190 wounded, 1,537,687 evacuated and left homeless and 1,654,000 more affected in some direct way. Furthermore, Hurricane Mitch caused $6 billion worth of damage to the infrastructure of these countries.

Superman - "To Be Or Not To Be...", Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

There is a saying in the operational world that "Victory has a thousand fathers, while defeat is an orphan." The checkered path of the U.S. government-sponsored DC Comics venture in mine awareness has given that old saw new relevance. It seems that at various times during the past five years the Superman and Superwoman comic books have been described variously as being the ultimate tool in influencing appropriate behavior or as totally dysfunctional.

The International Committee Of The Red Cross Mine/Uxo Awareness Programs, Laurence Desvignes

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Many current mine awareness strategies continue to use a “presentation approach,” in which the community remains passive and simply receives information. For organizations using such an approach, mine awareness amounts to a simple public information campaign isolated from other kinds of mine action and humanitarian activities. With the aim of addressing the threat of mines and UXO more effectively, the ICRC has adopted another approach. First, the ICRC gathers relevant information on local needs, which can be used to devise an appropriate mine/UXO awareness strategy. Next, the ICRC involves mine-contaminated communities in the mine awareness process. The ICRC also cooperates …