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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Vinh And Trinh’S Adventure, Book Review Jul 2009

Vinh And Trinh’S Adventure, Book Review

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Vinh and Trinh’s Adventure


International Trust Fund, Cisr Journal Jul 2009

International Trust Fund, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance is an organization that raises donations for mine action in Southeastern Europe and administers the donations to areas in need. The goal of the organization is to “eliminate the effect of mine contamination ... by 2010.” In 2008, the ITF managed US$33,999,200 in donations from 31 organizations (such as nongovernmental organizations, civic organizations, philanthropies and private companies) and 13 donor countries. It was the largest amount of donations the ITF had received in any single year.


Unsung Hero: Carson Harte, Cisr Journal Jul 2009

Unsung Hero: Carson Harte, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For more than 15 years, Carson Harte’s work with The Cambodia Trust has been at the core of physical-rehabilitation efforts throughout Southeast Asia, a region whose legacy of conflict has made the need for trained professionals like prosthetists and orthotists invaluable. The Cambodia Trust—a nongovernmental organization based in the United Kingdom–addresses that need, and as its Executive Director, Harte has overseen the organization’s expanding operations in Indonesi and Sri Lanka, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.


The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 13.1 (2009), Cisr Journal Jul 2009

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 13.1 (2009), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Focus: Central and South America | Feature: Mine-risk Education | Special Report: Small Arms/Light Weapons and MANPADS | Notes from the Field | Research and Development


Sa/Lw And The Arms Trade Treaty, Cisr Journal Jul 2009

Sa/Lw And The Arms Trade Treaty, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Despite the efforts of governments, nongovernmental organizations, and disarmament and human rights activists worldwide, the global arms trade continues to exacerbate the situation caused by conventional weapons and, in particular, small arms/light weapons. Proliferation of SA/LW not only fuels conflict, but also disrupts development in war-ravaged regions. The following article provides an overview of SA/LW-control issues and remediation efforts. It also considers the progress of the international movement in support of an arms-trade treaty.


Identifying Synergies Between Mine Action And Small Arms/Light Weapons, Eric Filippino Jul 2009

Identifying Synergies Between Mine Action And Small Arms/Light Weapons, Eric Filippino

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Over the last few years, there has been considerable discussion around linking small arms/light weapons with mine action, although, to date, there has been little concrete exchange between the sectors at an operational level. Accordingly, the U.S. Department of State commissioned the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining to look at areas of possible synergy, resulting in the study Identifying Synergies Between Mine Action and Small Arms/Light Weapons.


Sa/Lw And The Osce Response, Jernej Cimperšek Jul 2009

Sa/Lw And The Osce Response, Jernej Cimperšek

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The illegal dissemination of small arms/light weapons has recently come to the forefront of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s agenda. Through security forums and the provision of literature and physical assistance to affected countries, the OSCE is working to rid Europe of SA/LW that may potentially spread to more militant nations. Working with other international organizations such as the United Nations, the OSCE aims to encourage implementation of its Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons, drafted to address the spread of SA/LW and related issues, and to completely rid the area of dangerous arms.


Mag Involvement With Sa/Lw, Steve Priestley Jul 2009

Mag Involvement With Sa/Lw, Steve Priestley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In less than 20 years, Mines Advisory Group, involved in the identification and destruction of small arms/light weapons, has made a real impact. Maintaining technical support at hand-in points, offering capacity-building training and conducting assessments of stockpile management are just a few of the services MAG provides.


Beyond Weapons Collection: Promoting Safe And Responsible Sa/Lw Management, Nicolas Florquin, Karina Lynge, Klaus Ljørring Pedersen Jul 2009

Beyond Weapons Collection: Promoting Safe And Responsible Sa/Lw Management, Nicolas Florquin, Karina Lynge, Klaus Ljørring Pedersen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

While the traditional focuses of many small-arms/light-weapons programs have been weapons collection and curbing proliferation, some humanitarian organizations—like Geneva Call and Danish Demining Group—advocate a model based on the promotion of safe and responsible weapons management. As illustrated by the experience of DDG with communities in Somaliland and by Geneva Call’s efforts with armed non-state actors, a participatory approach to weapons regulation and management offers promising alternatives to traditional weapons-control initiatives.


Colombia, Country Profile Jul 2009

Colombia, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Colombia, a country overwhelmed by four decades of war, has the highest concentration of contamination from landmines and other explosive remnants of war in the Americas. The conflict, which was and continues to be waged between the Colombian government and various nonstate actors, reached its peak during the early 1990s.The use of improvised explosive devices, anti-personnel landmines and other forms of explosive ordnance has rapidly increased in Colombia since then, due to heavy usage by NSAs such as the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia. In the past, the Colombian government laid landmines around 34 military bases to protect key infrastructure, …


Ecuador, Country Profile Jul 2009

Ecuador, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

At the Ninth Meeting of States Parties in November 2008, Ecuador was one of 15 countries to request an extension on the Ottawa Convention deadline for completing landmine clearance. These 15 States Parties were the first group to do so since the adoption of the Convention in 1997. Delegates agreed unanimously to grant Ecuador’s request, extending the original 2009 deadline a full eight years to 1 September 2017. In its request, Ecuador reported fulfilling its Article 52 obligations in 53 of 128 suspect areas—totaling 118,707 square meters (29 acres) of cleared area. Approximately 498,633 square meters (123 acres) in the …


Falkland/Malvinas Islands, Country Profile Jul 2009

Falkland/Malvinas Islands, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 1982, the Argentine junta government, faced with recession and declining public support, invaded the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, whose ownership had long been disputed with the United Kingdom. To the surprise of the Argentine generals, the United Kingdom counter-invaded the territory it claimed as the Falkland Islands. By the end of the three-month conflict, the Falkland/Malvinas Islands were again under British control. Ownership of the islands has long been disputed, but since 1833, excluding a brief period during the Falklands War, Britain has been in control. Despite numerous U.N. resolutions directing the United Kingdom and Argentina to seek a peaceful resolution …


Nicaragua, Country Profile Jul 2009

Nicaragua, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Nicaragua is located in Central America, midway between Mexico and Colombia, bordered by Honduras to the north, Costa Rica to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. It was granted independence from Spain in 1821 and ultimately became an independent republic seven years later. In 1979, a civil war broke out that lasted 11 years, littering the country with landmines and unexploded ordnance that remain to this day. When Hurricane Mitch struck Nicaragua in October 1998, it exacerbated the landmine problem by moving remnants from the internal conflict, making clearance extremely challenging. …


Peru, Country Profile Jul 2009

Peru, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Situated between Chile and Ecuador, next to the South Pacific Ocean, Peru faced a decade of military rule in the 1970s and internal conflict in the 1980s when democracy was reestablished. These periods of conflict, as well as a border dispute with Ecuador in the 1990s, have resulted in landmine problems. The Ottawa Convention went into force for Peru in 1999, meaning its deadline for total mine clearance should be reached in 2009. Peru requested, and was granted, a deadline extension through 2017, citing a lack of funding.


Venezuela, Country Profile Jul 2009

Venezuela, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since October 1999, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been a State Party to the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention, which it signed 3 December 1997, and ratified 14 April 1999. Upon ratification of the convention, the document became a national law of Venezuela. At the U.N. Conference on Disarmament in 2004, Venezuela announced that it had fulfilled its duties to the Convention in 2003, destroying 47,189 AP mines and keeping 5,000 landmines for military training. The country also announced that it had enacted the Disarmament Act in 2003, which sought to eliminate the illegal possession of small arms/light weapons from …


‘Mine-Free’ Countries Of Central/South America: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador And Suriname, Country Profile Jul 2009

‘Mine-Free’ Countries Of Central/South America: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador And Suriname, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Landmines and unexploded ordnance have had an enormous effect on countries in the Western Hemisphere, specifically in Central and South America. Various wars and internal conflicts in these regions have promulgated the use of indiscriminate weapons. Many of these countries, which have since resolved the conflicts, are still in the process of clearing and eradicating landmines and other explosive remnants of war in their territories and, thus, are minimizing the threat they pose to citizens.


Mapping Development Organizations: Success Depends On Mine Action, Charles Downs Jul 2009

Mapping Development Organizations: Success Depends On Mine Action, Charles Downs

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Development initiatives around the world stand to gain from stronger collaboration with the mine-action community; however, this relationship is all too often underappreciated in areas where conflict has mandated resuscitating infrastructure, revitalizing the economy and resettling displaced persons. The Survey Action Center’s ongoing project on development organizations’ use (and occasionally misuse) of mine-action information intends to help mend the partnership between mine-action and non-mine-action actors.


First Workshop On Regional Approaches To Stockpile Reduction In Southeast Europe, Daniele Ressler, Dave Diaz, Laurie Freeman Jul 2009

First Workshop On Regional Approaches To Stockpile Reduction In Southeast Europe, Daniele Ressler, Dave Diaz, Laurie Freeman

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Faced with the significant security and humanitarian impacts of stockpiled weapons and munitions, countries and organizations in Southeast Europe met in May to discuss strategies for stockpile reduction. The workshop, held in Croatia, focused on regional approaches to this problem, emphasizing information-sharing and coordination across borders.


Prostheses For Pachyderm Landmine Survivors, Cisr Journal Jul 2009

Prostheses For Pachyderm Landmine Survivors, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Many times the only landmine survivors considered candidates for prostheses are humans; however, there are also pachyderm victims in need of assistance. Along the Thai-Burmese border, a heavily mined area, elephants that are used for logging, as well as wild elephants, often fall victim to landmines. Lacking other options and unable to care for the animals in this condition, their caretakers frequently opt to end the animals’ lives.


Uzbekistan Ammunition Depot Explosion Cleanup: U.S. Dod Support, Cisr Journal Jul 2009

Uzbekistan Ammunition Depot Explosion Cleanup: U.S. Dod Support, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A recent ammunition explosion in Kagan, Uzbekistan, prompted an appeal for international aid. As a result, Lieutenant Colonel Gary Bolos led a team of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Non-Commissioned Officers from the United States Department of Defense into Uzbekistan to deliver equipment and train the Uzbek Army on proper detection and removal of the ammunition with a limited budget and restricted schedule.


Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield Jul 2009

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining has been busy over the last several months. The GICHD recently organized an African Francophone Conference on demining in Benin and provided technical input for the recent Convention on Cluster Munitions. In addition, GICHD published technical guides related to road clearance, safe ammunition storage and cluster munitions.


Performance Of Flail Hammers, Frédéric Guerne Jul 2009

Performance Of Flail Hammers, Frédéric Guerne

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of flail hammer use in the demining field. The author leans on his field experience with the Digger Foundation to analyze types and usage of these tools. In doing so, he aims to give advice on the best methods for using flails to achieve the best results.


Endnotes Issue 13.1, Cisr Journal Jul 2009

Endnotes Issue 13.1, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Endnotes Issue 13.1


Comprehensive Action Against Anti-Personnel Mines: A Regional Initiative To Address Landmine Issues, Carl Case Jul 2009

Comprehensive Action Against Anti-Personnel Mines: A Regional Initiative To Address Landmine Issues, Carl Case

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For more than 18 years, the Organization of American States has had a leading role in the struggle to deal with humanitarian-demining issues in South and Central America. Since the inception of the Acción Integral contra las Minas Antipersonal programs, the OAS has been involved in many aspects of mine action, bringing new hope to the region.


Comprehensive Medical Assistance For Landmine Survivors In Nicaragua, Cecilia Bustamante Jul 2009

Comprehensive Medical Assistance For Landmine Survivors In Nicaragua, Cecilia Bustamante

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The victim-assistance component of the Acción Integral contra las Minas Antipersonal program was established in Nicaragua in 1997, and similar programs were set up across Central America. In Nicaragua, the AICMA victim-assistance element aims to help landmine victims obtain physical and psychological care, and provides them access to medical specialists they could not otherwise see. With many victims unable to pay for their medical treatment, the AICMA is coordinating funding and removing the financial burden of travel and lodging for treatment.


Mine-Risk Education In Ecuador: A Person-To-Person Approach, Nelson Romeo Castillo Landazuri Jul 2009

Mine-Risk Education In Ecuador: A Person-To-Person Approach, Nelson Romeo Castillo Landazuri

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

“Explosive Mines Kill” is the message that the Organization of American States’ Acción Integral contra las Minas Antipersonal program wants to get across to communities living in mined areas in Ecuador. By taking an interpersonal approach to mine-risk education, the AICMA campaign advocates hope to raise awareness about the risks associated with anti-personnel mines and unexploded ordnance.


The Role Of Education On Awareness Of Ammunition-Dismantling Risks, Brunilda Zenelaga Jul 2009

The Role Of Education On Awareness Of Ammunition-Dismantling Risks, Brunilda Zenelaga

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The blasts from an ammunition dismantling factory in Gërdec, Albania, an accident caused by untrained employees at the facility, resulted in deaths and injuries and damaged homes for factory workers and nearby villagers in March 2008. This article suggests that training employers and workers to follow necessary safety procedures, as well as raising village awareness of the dangers of these ammunitions facilities, will help prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.


Sustainability In World Education’S Uxo Education And Awareness Program In Lao Pdr, Barbara Lewis, Sarah Bruinooge Jul 2009

Sustainability In World Education’S Uxo Education And Awareness Program In Lao Pdr, Barbara Lewis, Sarah Bruinooge

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

World Education’s work in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, one of the most heavily bombed countries in the world, offers an example of effective implementation of unexploded-ordnance-risk awareness at all levels. This article explores World Education’s work with the government of Lao PDR in achieving higher levels of UXO-risk awareness.


Chile, Country Profile Jul 2009

Chile, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Chilean involvement in landmine distribution began in the 1970s during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship. Due to strained political relations, Pinochet ordered hundreds of thousands of landmines to be emplaced along the Argentine, Bolivian and Peruvian borders as a defensive measure. Many of these landmines were located in rugged terrain with unpredictable weather, making landmine removal a difficult and expensive task. Landmine use and distribution halted when the Chilean Foreign Ministry stated “its firm and decided commitment, … in 1985, not to produce, export, import, or lay new landmines.” Since this declaration, Chile has made many strides to remove the remaining …


Predicting Soil Influence On The Performance Of Metal Detectors: Magnetic Properties Of Tropical Soils, Jan Igel, Holger Preetz, Sven Altfelder Jul 2009

Predicting Soil Influence On The Performance Of Metal Detectors: Magnetic Properties Of Tropical Soils, Jan Igel, Holger Preetz, Sven Altfelder

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine detection and clearance are costly and time-consuming procedures necessary to benefit the communities these weapons affect. A complication surrounding mine detection is the influence of the soil on landmine detection, but little research has been done on the subject. This article discusses how soil can affect mine detectors and research plans to improve mine-detection efficiency.