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Full-Text Articles in Defense and Security Studies
Minada America, Documentary Review
Minada America, Documentary Review
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Minada America, produced by photojournalists Vinicius Souza and Maria Eugênia Sá, is a book and film package documenting the lives of Latin Americans devastated by landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Dismayed by the lack of media attention to the problem of landmines and ERW, the producers' main goal is to expose the problem to a world that is largely oblivious to the tragedies they cause
Operating With Uxo Containing White Phosphorus, Ilham Azizov
Operating With Uxo Containing White Phosphorus, Ilham Azizov
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article provides a brief account of the unexploded ordnance problem in Azerbaijan and describes the particular hazards of dealing with UXO containing white phosphorus. Drawing from the experience of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action's work at Saloglu, guidelines for handling WP UXO are discussed.
Clearing The Way In Chad: Assessment, Access And Impact, Katharine Hopper
Clearing The Way In Chad: Assessment, Access And Impact, Katharine Hopper
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The Mines Advisory Group began working in Chad in late 2004 with the objective of demining the water points in several of the war-torn provinces in the northern portion of the country. MAG formulated a three-phase plan that was extremely well-executed, even while dealing with the harsh desert climate, achieving its objectives before the deadline and under budget. A total of 21 watering points and 28 paths to access the watering points were cleared, while 84 areas were identified as dangerous. The work had a particularly positive effect on the local nomadic populations, who make a living traveling, often through …
Lessons Learned From Field Tests In Croatia And Cambodia, Paulo Debenest, Marc Freese, Edwardo Fukushima, Toshiaki Matsuzawa, Shigeo Hirose
Lessons Learned From Field Tests In Croatia And Cambodia, Paulo Debenest, Marc Freese, Edwardo Fukushima, Toshiaki Matsuzawa, Shigeo Hirose
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article describes the development and the experiments performed with Gryphon, a new platform for tele-operated landmine detection. With Gryphon, the authors aim at reducing the gap between research and application by introducing partial autonomy in mine-detection operations with a robust platform. Tests have been performed in Croatia and Cambodia.
Iraq Facing The Legacy Of Landmines And Explosive Remnants Of War, Salomon Schreuder
Iraq Facing The Legacy Of Landmines And Explosive Remnants Of War, Salomon Schreuder
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In this article the author describes the recent history and current state of mine-action efforts in Iraq. The author argues for a larger focus on these issues and for a comprehensive approach, linking other humanitarian efforts with mine action.
Landmines/Explosive Remnants Of War And The War On Terrorism In The Middle East And North Africa (Mena), Ayman Sorour
Landmines/Explosive Remnants Of War And The War On Terrorism In The Middle East And North Africa (Mena), Ayman Sorour
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article looks at the relationship between the existing landmine and explosive remnants of war problem in the Middle East and North Africa, and terrorist activities in the area by explaining the scope of the mine/ERW problem in the region; the huge availability of explosives for use in illegal activities, particularly terrorism; and the case of Algeria and Egypt being affected by recent terrorist acts.
Survey And Ordnance Disposal In The Polisario-Controlled Areas Of The Western Sahara, Zlatko Gegic, Artyom Harutyunyan
Survey And Ordnance Disposal In The Polisario-Controlled Areas Of The Western Sahara, Zlatko Gegic, Artyom Harutyunyan
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Due to a 15-year war, Western Sahara has a number of unmarked territories full of explosive remnants of war. Landmine Action, a nongovernmental organisation from the United Kingdom, has taken several measures to improve the situation in Western Sahara. In addition to surveying, marking and reporting, one of LMA's chief intentions is to train members of the local population in an explosive-ordnance-disposal programme.
Mine-Clearance Activities And Ansa Participation: An Analysis, Sadi Caysi
Mine-Clearance Activities And Ansa Participation: An Analysis, Sadi Caysi
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Effective mine action requires numerous actors to peacefully collaborate: governmental and nongovernmental, international and local. Armed non-state actors (ANSA) that operate beyond central control, such as rebel opposition groups and paramilitary organizations, and private defense companies can often provide necessary contributions to mine action. Understanding ANSAs allows humanitarian organizations to communicate, cooperate and avoid conflict.
The Va Information System In Bih, Zoran Grujic
The Va Information System In Bih, Zoran Grujic
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Because of the conflict there in the 1990s, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has been plagued by landmines, unexploded ordnance, explosive remnants of war and all of the problems associated with them. With so many victims, the need for an organized system to help these people was imperative. In this article, the author describes how the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center and other organisations helped establish an information system in BiH to help inform landmine victims about what they can do to help themselves and their families.
Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield
Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining provides operational assistance to mine-action programmes and operators, creates and disseminates knowledge, works to improve quality management and standards and provides support to instruments of international law.
Islamic Republic Of Iran, Country Profile
Islamic Republic Of Iran, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The area of the world once home to the Persian Empire has seen its fair share of social and political turbulence. In 1979, the western-supported ruler Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown during the Iranian Revolution, and a conservative Islamic cleric named Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini came to power and formed an Islamic republic. This system of government still remains even after Khomeini's passing in 1989, with Ali Khamenei succeeding him as supreme leader of the country.
Tajikistan, Country Profile
Tajikistan, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Nearly a decade after a civil war ravaged the Republic of Tajikistan, the country is still suffering the effects of contamination from landmines and explosive remnants of war. Although the country has never produced or exported anti-personnel mines, Soviet and Uzbek forces emplaced them along most of its borders. Tajikistan is also the only State Party to the Ottawa Convention to declare APMs stockpiled in its territory by a non-State Party; Russian Ministry of Defense units deployed in Tajikistan control approximately 18,200 mines. All of these issues contribute to a crippling mine problem for one of the poorest countries in …
Kurdish Landmine Plight Across And Along The Borders, Armin Köhli
Kurdish Landmine Plight Across And Along The Borders, Armin Köhli
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article discusses the intricate global and internal conflicts that plague the Kurdish region with emphasis on the profound impact these conflicts have on mine action in this area of the Middle East.
Time To Steady The Pendulum, Eddie Banks
Time To Steady The Pendulum, Eddie Banks
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The author questions whether the ever-increasing emphasis on standards is diametrically opposed to principles of the United Nations and the International Mine Action Standards and whether the implementation of the IMAS restricts a humanitarian response.
Clearing The Way For A More Productive Future, Sophia Aron
Clearing The Way For A More Productive Future, Sophia Aron
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
For many communities, the land is their livelihood; however, the threat of landmines has affected agricultural communities all over the world. In this article, the author describes how, in Yemen, the United Nations Development Programme and other organizations are using techniques that fully preserve the environment and still allow for safe, successful demining.
Environmental Damages From Minefields, Raafat Misak, S. Omar
Environmental Damages From Minefields, Raafat Misak, S. Omar
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Desert Storm brought Iraqi Forces to Kuwait and, with them, mines. Aerial diagrams illustrate the areas of Kuwait still littered with landmines. Landmines are causing significant short- and long-term damage to the environment, resulting in soil erosion, destruction of vegetation and topsoil, and negatively impacting wildlife.
Mine Action Support Group Update, Cisr Journal
Mine Action Support Group Update, Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article contains excerpts from the United Nations' third quarterly newsletter in 2007, which highlights the activities of the Mine Action Support Group from July to September 2007, including updates from the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Development Programme and UNICEF.
Algeria, Country Profile
Algeria, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Algeria's history over the past two centuries is marked with more periods of violence than peace. Beginning with the French takeover in the 1830s and continuing through the sectarian fighting of the 1990s, Algeria's landscape has been tainted by battle. According to The Economist, al-Qaeda and the shell of the insurgency from the 1990s joined together to form the al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb.
Iraq, Country Profile
Iraq, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Since 2003, the government of Iraq has taken action against mines and unexploded ordnance. On 15 August 2007, Iraq acceded to the Ottawa Convention becoming the 155th State Party. The rising levels of violence in the region, however, have made focusing on mine action difficult for the Iraqi government—or anyone, for that matter. The decrease in security has taken focus, time and energy from ridding the country of its extensive problems with landmines and other explosive remnants of war.
Pakistan, Country Profile
Pakistan, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In addition to suffering from continual suicide bombings and other violent terrorist acts, residents of Pakistan must also face the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance. The country has had problems with mines, UXO and other terrorism since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Pakistan also has been involved in several disputes with India since 1947.
Sudan, Country Profile
Sudan, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Sudan currently consists of two major political groups under a single government. The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 created the Government of National Unity and the Government of South Sudan. The GNU is recognized as the government of Sudan but the term is also used to politically differentiate northern Sudan from the southern region which is represented by the GoSS.
Demichain: A New Concept Of Mechanical Demining, Rene Joeckle
Demichain: A New Concept Of Mechanical Demining, Rene Joeckle
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
DEMICHAIN is a new concept for mechanical demining, in which a horizontal web of heavy chains hung several metres above a surface to be cleared is dropped in a free fall and delivers a mechanical impulse over the whole surface hit by the chains. A pressure wave expands in the soil and is expected to trigger the active landmines. A description of the device is given, as well as comparisons to other demining devices. The author offers that DEMICHAIN provides numerous advantages to current mechanical-demining techniques, though it requires further testing before it can be used in real-life situations.
Minesweeper: Not Just A Game Anymore, Andres Mack
Minesweeper: Not Just A Game Anymore, Andres Mack
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Cornell MineSweeper is a nonprofit student organization founded in 2006 by Cornell University engineering student Vikas Reddy that integrates robotics technology and humanitarian initiatives. The team, comprised of over 40 highly dedicated Cornell students, is designing practical robotic vehicles—still in the concept stage—to assist with demining efforts worldwide.
Intelligent Robotic Behaviors For Landmine Detection And Marking, David Bremmer, David Few, Curtis Nielsen, Miles Walton
Intelligent Robotic Behaviors For Landmine Detection And Marking, David Bremmer, David Few, Curtis Nielsen, Miles Walton
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article discusses experimental results achieved with a robotic countermine system that utilizes autonomous behaviors and a mixed-initiative control scheme to address the challenges of detecting and marking buried landmines. By correlating aerial imagery and ground-based robot mapping, the interface provides context for the operator to task the robot. Once tasked, the robot can perform the search and detection task without the use of accurate global positioning system information or continuous communication with the operator. Results show that the system was able to find and mark landmines with a very low level of human involvement. In addition, the data indicates …
As Mines Grow Old, Colin King
As Mines Grow Old, Colin King
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In most cases, the mines being cleared around the world were emplaced decades ago; yet the techniques and equipment being used during clearance treat them as though they were new. The author looks briefly at the effects of ageing on mines and considers possible implications.
The Parable Of The Two Sons, Dennis Barlow
The Parable Of The Two Sons, Dennis Barlow
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
No abstract provided.
Jordan: Safeguarding Life And Promoting Development, Esma Al-Samarai, Stephen Bryant
Jordan: Safeguarding Life And Promoting Development, Esma Al-Samarai, Stephen Bryant
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Jordan signed the Ottawa Convention in 1999 and is working to comply with the regulations by the May 2009 deadline. Jordan has enlisted Norwegian People's Aid to help the Royal Engineering Corps meet its deadline. Surveys have been completed and suspected hazardous areas have been significantly reduced. NPA is continuing to demine areas with the help of mine-detecting dogs and a MineWolf machine. The overall goal is to clear the land to allow agriculture and industry to return to areas currently inaccessible due to the threat of landmines.
Getting A Piece Of The Pie: Lebanese Women Become Deminers, Marie Mills
Getting A Piece Of The Pie: Lebanese Women Become Deminers, Marie Mills
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The Swedish Rescue Services Agency was one of the first organizations to enter Lebanon after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. The enormous amount of unexploded ordnance littering southern Lebanon led to a need for a more sustainable program than the initial small operation provided. The more expansive program sought deminers and, to the surprise of the SRSA, many women showed interest. Several were hired and trained, and proved themselves to be able workers in the field. The success of the program in Lebanon has had some wondering why it has taken so long for women in the Middle East …
Global Environmental Demining Issues, Ian Mclean, Rebecca Sargisson
Global Environmental Demining Issues, Ian Mclean, Rebecca Sargisson
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The environmental impact of any human action cannot be underestimated—even humanitarian demining—given the global repercussions in this era of explosive growth. The authors discuss the consequences of thoughtless action and provide valuable context concerning the vast extent to which human beings impact the environment.
Mag (Mines Advisory Group), Cisr Journal
Mag (Mines Advisory Group), Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
MAG, also known as the Mines Advisory Group, whose motto is "saves lives, builds futures," takes a proactive role in meeting the needs of individuals in mine-affected countries through peacebuilding, community liaison and mine-risk education. With operations located in Angola, Cambodia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Vietnam, MAG has learned to incorporate old and new techniques, resulting in prosperous futures for many.