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Full-Text Articles in Defense and Security Studies

Ssrn As An Initial Revolution In Academic Knowledge Aggregation And Dissemination, David Bray, Sascha Vitzthum, Benn Konsynski Jan 2010

Ssrn As An Initial Revolution In Academic Knowledge Aggregation And Dissemination, David Bray, Sascha Vitzthum, Benn Konsynski

Sascha Vitzthum

Within this paper we consider our results of using the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) over a period of 18 months to distribute our working papers to the research community. Our experiences have been quite positive, with SSRN serving as a platform both to inform our colleagues about our research as well as inform us about related research (through email and telephoned conversations of colleagues who discovered our paper on SSRN). We then discuss potential future directions for SSRN to consider, and how SSRN might well represent an initial revolution in 21st century academic knowledge aggregation and dissemination. Our paper …


Ddasaccident696, Hd-Aid Dec 2008

Ddasaccident696, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigation team concluded that the contributing factor to this accident was carelessness of deminer in terms of started excavation on the top of the detected signal, and poor command and control by acting team leader.


Ddasaccident660, Hd-Aid Dec 2008

Ddasaccident660, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary and secondary causes of this accident are listed as Other because the accident summary lacks enough detail to infer anything useful about the events surrounding the accident.


Ddasaccident637, Hd-Aid Dec 2008

Ddasaccident637, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The incident involved [the Victim] detonating an anti-personnel mine whilst excavating a contact. The investigation report is to be submitted by 18 December 2008. In the event that the completed report is not able to be submitted on the date indicated an interim report outlining progress with the investigation and the reason for the delay is to be submitted on that date and further interim reports provided every (two) days until the completed investigation report is submitted.


Diplomatic Conference For The Adoption Of A Convention On Cluster Munitions, Un Dec 2008

Diplomatic Conference For The Adoption Of A Convention On Cluster Munitions, Un

Global CWD Repository

The Convention on Cluster Munitions bans all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. Cluster munitions do not distinguish between civilians and combatants and can leave behind unexploded ordnance which can harm civilians and be detrimental to economic and social development for decades after use. The Convention aids in clearance of contaminated areas in order to prevent future disasters. It also provides risk reduction education and establishes a framework for cooperation and assistance for survivors.

Opened for Signature: 3 December 2008


Ddasaccident607, Hd-Aid Dec 2008

Ddasaccident607, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as Inadequate training because it seems that the Victim started excavating on top of the mine. He may not have known how to pinpoint the detector reading appropriately, or may not have been instructed in safe excavation techniques. The secondary cause is listed as a Field Control Inadequacy because the investigators found that the field supervisors did not give appropriate information about the task site and did not correct his errors.


Hd R&D Field Evaluation: Rapid Area Preparation Tool (Raptor), U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development Dec 2008

Hd R&D Field Evaluation: Rapid Area Preparation Tool (Raptor), U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development

Global CWD Repository

In October 2007 and May 2008, the U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program (HD), located at Ft. Belvoir, VA., undertook the testing of the Rapid Area Preparation Tool (RAPTOR). RAPTOR is the latest of a series of area preparation systems on tractor platforms that HD has developed in the last decade. Systems, including the Severe Duty Tractor and Tools (SDTT) and Mantis, have undergone operational evaluations in Thailand, Nicaragua, and Afghanistan. The RAPTOR was developed by the HD program to handle all area-preparation tasks from vegetation cutting and removal (up to Category 3), to antipersonnel mine rolling, plowing, and …


Evaluation Of Regional Evaluation Of The Ec-Funded Mine Action In The Middle East, 2002-2008, Steinar Essen, Ralf Otto Dec 2008

Evaluation Of Regional Evaluation Of The Ec-Funded Mine Action In The Middle East, 2002-2008, Steinar Essen, Ralf Otto

Global CWD Repository

In 2001 the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament adopted two Regulations on the reinforcement of the EU response against Antipersonnel Landmines (APL). These (referred to collectively as “the Regulation”) laid the foundation of an integrated and focused European policy. The Regulation states the need to regularly assess operations financed by the Community
and that the European Commission (EC) shall submit to the European Parliament an overall assessment of all Community mine action. To implement these provisions, the EC commissioned a global assessment of EC mine policy and actions over the period 2002-2004 and entered into an agreement with …


Outcome Evaluation: United Nations Development Programme Support To "Strengthening And Further Expansion Of The Mine Action Capacity In Azerbaijan" Project, Alistair Craib Dec 2008

Outcome Evaluation: United Nations Development Programme Support To "Strengthening And Further Expansion Of The Mine Action Capacity In Azerbaijan" Project, Alistair Craib

Global CWD Repository

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) is a success story and is one of only five such agencies with comparable success. If the main stakeholders maintain their current support and approach to it, that success should continue.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) approach to the project with ANAMA has proven to be a large part of this success and although its impact is now less – given the increasing strength of ANAMA – its role is still very important.

All the Outcomes and Outputs assessed by this evaluation have been met.


Towards Self-Organizing, Smart Business Networks: Let’S Create ‘Life’ From Inert Information, David Bray, Benn Konsynski Nov 2008

Towards Self-Organizing, Smart Business Networks: Let’S Create ‘Life’ From Inert Information, David Bray, Benn Konsynski

David A. Bray

We review three different theories that can inform how researchers can determine the performance of smart business networks, to include: (1) the Theory of Evolution, (2) the Knowledge-Based Theory of the Firm, and (3) research insights into computers and cognition. We suggest that each of these theories demonstrate that to be generally perceived as smart, an organism needs to be self-organizing, communicative, and tool-making. Consequentially, to determine the performance of a smart business network, we suggest that researchers need to determine the degree to which it is self-organizing, communicative, and tool-making. We then relate these findings to the Internet and …


Ddasaccident770, Hd-Aid Nov 2008

Ddasaccident770, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 30 December 2008 deminer de- miner [the Victim] was busy in excavation of a detected signal in his clearance lane, his scraper touched on the top of a mine and caused it to explode.


Ddasaccident634, Hd-Aid Nov 2008

Ddasaccident634, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident occurred because of carelessness of the deminer as he used chisel directly on the detected signal instead of [Demining group] standard excavating tool (scraper). The poor command and control is another contributing factor for this accident as he was not stopped by command group.


Ddasaccident635, Hd-Aid Nov 2008

Ddasaccident635, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as a Field Control Inadequacy because the Victim was a field supervisor who acted in breach of basic safety requirements by poking a mine with a stick, apparently as a joke. The secondary cause is listed as a Management Control Inadequacy because the demining group’s managers are responsible for the selection and training of appropriately responsible field supervisors.


Sudan Mine Action Programme Capacity Development Study, Cranfield University Nov 2008

Sudan Mine Action Programme Capacity Development Study, Cranfield University

Global CWD Repository

Currently most of the key mine action activities in the Sudan are managed by the UNMAO. However, the mandate of UNMAO expires in June 2011, by which time the national authorities should have assumed all necessary regulatory and coordination responsibilities. In order to accelerate the transfer of responsibilities to the national authorities, UNMAO is developing a Transition Plan. Clearly, successful transition will depend on a carefully designed and well resourced capacity development plan to reinforce and further develop the national mine action capacities. This study by UNDP, as the lead UN agency for mine action capacity development within UNMAO, is …


Ddasaccident619, Hd-Aid Nov 2008

Ddasaccident619, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as Victim Inattention because the investigators imply that the Victim deliberately walked into the uncleared area. The secondary cause is listed as a Field Control Inadequacy because the field supervisors did nothing to prevent him doing so.


Ddasaccident612, Hd-Aid Nov 2008

Ddasaccident612, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as Inadequate training because the investigators found that the Victim did not know how to excavate safely. The secondary cause is listed as a Management Control Inadequacy because it is a management responsibility to ensure that all deminers are appropriately trained.


Ddasaccident803, Hd-Aid Nov 2008

Ddasaccident803, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident occurred in a hazardous area high in the mountains. The demining group involved was searching the area with two mine dog teams and collecting discovered devices, moving them to a collection area. When the field supervisors went to count the discovered mines, the last collected item exploded, resulting in minor injuries to both supervisors.


Ddasaccident605, Hd-Aid Nov 2008

Ddasaccident605, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as a Field Control Inadequacy because the investigators concluded that there was poor command and control. The injury spread, including forehead and body, implies that PPE was not being worn at the time. The secondary cause is listed as Inadequate training because it seems that the deminer either did not know how to pinpoint a detector reading adequately or did not understand the risks of digging directly on top of the place where the detector signalled.


Outcome Evaluation For Mine Action Programme, Robert Keeley Nov 2008

Outcome Evaluation For Mine Action Programme, Robert Keeley

Global CWD Repository

During a country wide survey undertaken by Swiss Foundation for Mine-action (FSD) between 2003-05 it was determined that approximately km2 of land was contaminated with mines and Un-exploded Ordnance (UXO). However, during the past 5 years, various activities such as Land Release (LR), Technical Survey (TS) and Clearance, has reduced the SHAs level to approximately 15-17 km2. UNDP hired Dr. Robert Keeley of RK Consulting Ltd (the 'Consultant') to undertake an Outcome Evaluation of the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) 2005-2009, Outcome #6 to "Create a sustainable national institution to plan, coordinate and implement comprehensive mine action." The Consultant identified …


Linking Mine Action And Development | Humanitarian And Development Ngos, Gichd Nov 2008

Linking Mine Action And Development | Humanitarian And Development Ngos, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Mine action programmes often are not linked early and strongly enough with key development actors. Despite the availability of extensive research documenting the need for greater coordination between mine action and development organisations, concrete guidance for practitioners and policy-makers on how to link mine action with development has been lacking. In response, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Development has published guidelines on how to ensure mine action promotes development in mine-affected countries. More specifically, the guidelines seek to:

  • Increase awareness that landmines and other remnants of conflict block development in many affected countries
  • Strengthen coordination between mine action and …


Report On Mineburner System Used And Trialled By Handicap International In Bosnia And Herzegovina In 2008, P. Mccullough Nov 2008

Report On Mineburner System Used And Trialled By Handicap International In Bosnia And Herzegovina In 2008, P. Mccullough

Global CWD Repository

The aim of this report is to:

• Report on MineBurner training for HI staff.

• Show cost comparison between MineBurner and sub-contracted demolitions

• Document all operational uses of MineBurner during the reporting period.

• List observations and make recommendations.


Ddasaccident700, Hd-Aid Oct 2008

Ddasaccident700, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

As it was a difficult task for the clearance, and required extra attention and care of command group and deminers themselves, thus the carelessness of deminer was the main contributing factor to this accident. The consequence of this accident is a slight injury to the finger of deminer which indicates that he was fully dressed with PPE.


Ddasaccident694, Hd-Aid Oct 2008

Ddasaccident694, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Carelessness of deminer and poor supervision in terms of not conducted QC, caused the accident, and happened.


Ddasaccident691, Hd-Aid Oct 2008

Ddasaccident691, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The negligence of deminer in terms of not adhering to set procedure for excavation and the failure of command group in order to control the deminer and stop him from wrong practice is the contributing factors for this accident


Ddasaccident692, Hd-Aid Oct 2008

Ddasaccident692, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigation team concluded that the contributing factor to this accident was Carelessness of deminer in terms of use of bayonet by left hand which was in contrary to his habit.


Ddasaccident687, Hd-Aid Oct 2008

Ddasaccident687, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident occurred because of the ignorance of standard operating procedures and appropriated method of demolitions and destruction of ammunitions.


Ddasaccident673, Hd-Aid Oct 2008

Ddasaccident673, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Refering to other accidents with this demining group at this period, the Victim may have been using a “pick”. Whatever tool the Victim was using, it is likely that he did not pinpoint the detector signal correctly and so began excavating on top of the mine.


Ddasaccident654, Hd-Aid Oct 2008

Ddasaccident654, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

It is the BOI conclusion that the deminer, [the Victim], was not clearly marking his lane progressively throughout the course of the day. He has moved back into his clearance lane during a break period, without wearing his PPE and helmet, to place a marking stone. He has not wanted to get too close to the unsafe area and has leant forward and thrown the marking stone forward to mark the lane. This stone has landed on a mine with the detonation causing the stones to be thrown up from the blast and inflicting the injuries that have resulted in …


Ddasaccident636, Hd-Aid Oct 2008

Ddasaccident636, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident occurred because of carelessness of the deminer as he used chisel directly on the detected signal instead of [Demining group] standard excavating tool (scraper). The poor command and control is another contributing factor for this accident as he was not stopped by command group.


Ddasaccident791, Hd-Aid Oct 2008

Ddasaccident791, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Task # 824 was one of the tasks surveyed by MCPA and then cleared by [Demining group] in period of around 10 months. The clearance operations started there on 12th December 2005 and completed on 17th November 2006. After completion of clearance operations and handing over of this task to local population, on 3rd of October 2008 a civilian mine accident happened to a 13 years old boy walking in the area busy in kite playing.