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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Development Of A Procedure, Cameron R. Bass
Development Of A Procedure, Cameron R. Bass
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The human toll from AP mines is large. The United Nations estimates that there are over 100 million AP mines deployed worldwide (U.N. 2000). An estimated 20,000 civilians die each year from landmine explosions.Thousands more are wounded and maimed. As there is still no inexpensive and reliable mechanical technique for removing AP mines, human deminers will be used in the foreseeable future to protect the general population from the menace of landmines.
The Journal Of Mine Action Issue 4.2 (2000), Cisr Journal
The Journal Of Mine Action Issue 4.2 (2000), Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Deminers, Manual Demining & Their Personal Protection
A Full-Scale Evaluation Of Lightweight Personal Protective Ensembles For Demining In Providing Protection Against Blast-Type Anti-Personnel Mines, Aris Makris, J. Nerenberg
A Full-Scale Evaluation Of Lightweight Personal Protective Ensembles For Demining In Providing Protection Against Blast-Type Anti-Personnel Mines, Aris Makris, J. Nerenberg
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
A wide range of equipment, in the form of helmets, vests, aprons and trousers, is currently in use around the world to protect deminers against the effects of AP mines. Significant variations exist in terms of the level of protection afforded, operational usefulness, quality of manufacturing and cost of each of these components. To date, there have been limited studies undertaken to systematically and quantitatively assess the effectiveness of the different protective components applied to both the civilian and military demining theaters. This study summarizes the efforts of numerous full-scale test series carried out in 1999, with particular emphasis on …
Countering The Global Landmine Epidemic Through Basic Scientific Research, Mark S. Rountree, Robert M. Harris
Countering The Global Landmine Epidemic Through Basic Scientific Research, Mark S. Rountree, Robert M. Harris
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Since their first use during the U.S. Civil War (Croll 1998), blast landmines have played a role in almost every armed conflict from the World Wars to the most recent limited skirmishes. Landmines are the epitome of the consummate soldier: always ready, never tiring. Mines are simple devices that can be fabricated with little effort and from readily available materials. In Sri Lanka, numerous news releases covering the conflict mention a "Johnny mine" (Botsford 1997), which is a local term for an improvised explosive device. Manufactured mines can be inexpensive, costing as little as two dollars apiece. If mine laying …
The Human Touch, Russell Gasser, Terry Thomas
The Human Touch, Russell Gasser, Terry Thomas
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Biting insects, inaccessible terrain, impenetrable bamboo thickets and thorn bushes. Mine clearance in Cambodia is a hot, sweaty business at the best of times. Because tripwires hidden in the undergrowth could trigger explosions, the vegetation has to be cleared by hand before mine detection can start. It is a tedious matter and can occupy two-thirds of a mine clearer's working day.
Quality Standards For Demining, James Trevelyan
Quality Standards For Demining, James Trevelyan
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In the last two years, several authors have commented critically on the 99.6 percent standard for humanitarian mine clearance adopted by the United Nations and its agencies. These standards are being redrafted, yet from the literature and recent comments, it is clear that there is little intellectual foundation on which to build a new standard. There are three issues that need to be addressed. First, what is an acceptable quality standard for humanitarian demining? Second, how can one measure the quality levels actually achieved in humanitarian demining? Third, how can one implement a cost-effective training and monitoring process to ensure …
Conquering The Insurmountable, Stephanie Schlosser, Virginia Saulnier
Conquering The Insurmountable, Stephanie Schlosser, Virginia Saulnier
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The Canadian Center for Mine Action Technologies (CCMAT) is a partnership of resources from the Department of National Defense and Industry Canada. The Center is co-located with the Defense Research Establishment Suffield (ORES) at Canadian Force Base Suffield in Alberta.
We Didn't Think It Could Happen To Us, Chris North
We Didn't Think It Could Happen To Us, Chris North
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
"We Didn't Think it Could Happen to Us" by Chris North
Mozambique: A Country Ravaged By Civil War And Nature, Stephanie Schlosser, Virginia Saulnier
Mozambique: A Country Ravaged By Civil War And Nature, Stephanie Schlosser, Virginia Saulnier
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Mozambique, a nation fraught with the aftermath of civil war and, more recently, torrential downpours devastating the countryside, has attained sufficient stability to attempt the mammoth task of reconstructing its social and economic foundation. After suffering through 16-20 years of civil war, which eventually subsided in 1992, Mozambique's demining efforts were progressing when the nation was struck by Cyclone Eline in late February 2000 and Cyclone Hudah in mid-April 2000, complicating the demining mission. Initial reports indicated that mine fields that had been previously mapped for clearance had suddenly vanished, as the violent storms swept the mines to unknown locations. …
Central America Landmine Survivors: The Need For Action In Nicaragua, William Boyce
Central America Landmine Survivors: The Need For Action In Nicaragua, William Boyce
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Landmines are indiscriminate weapons, wounding and killing not only soldiers but women and children as well. Although hostilities may cease, landmines continue to maim and kill 500 victims a week, the equivalent of 26,000 additional disabled persons each year. There are at least 250,000 landmine-disabled people in the world, and the number continues to grow.
Afghan Technical Consultants, Cisr Journal
Afghan Technical Consultants, Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article has been removed.
Mines Clearance International, Cisr Journal
Mines Clearance International, Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Mines Clearance International (MCI) is an established humanitarian demining agency and a registered charity in the U.K. A fairly new organization, MCI was established, in April 1996, to respond to the problem landmines and unexploded ordnance posed to civilians, particularly in the underdeveloped nations of the Southern Hemisphere. MCI staff, though newly on board, includes well-qualified technical and aid personnel with experience in humanitarian responses to the landmine issue.
Stiftung Sankt Barbara, Cisr Journal
Stiftung Sankt Barbara, Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Stiftung Sankt Barbara is a private foundation with its central headquarters in Munster, Germany. The organization was established in 1995, but its first mission was organized in October 1996. Sankt Barbara is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to protect the native people of different countries through knowledge of landmines, accurate demining and rehabilitation.
Uxb International, Inc., Cisr Journal
Uxb International, Inc., Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The mission of UXB is to provide a world-class, comprehensive program of demining-ordnance and explosive waste (D-OEW) remediation-engineering services designed to meet the needs of a diverse client base in a safe, effective, cost efficient manner while complying with increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. UXB is committed to providing quality programs and services using an integrated systems approach, utilizing state-of-the-art science technologies and field-proven methodologies by well-qualified and highly trained personnel under the supervision of a streamlined, responsive, customer focused management team.
It's Mine And You Can't Have It, Joe Lokey
It's Mine And You Can't Have It, Joe Lokey
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
It seems to be a given in the mine action community that you are acknowledged as an "expert" simply because you have stood up and declared it so. As with many humanitarian pursuits, there is no process to credential, certify, or license individuals, processes, or procedures in mine action. There is no guild or professional body to oversee and validate the veracity of performance claims. This is frustrating to donors and funding organizations that have little upon which to base outcome expectations. The answer is an open information system and process, transparent reporting, and contributions from the scientific community that …
International Standards For Personal Protective Equipment, Alastair Mcaslan, Keith Feigenbaum
International Standards For Personal Protective Equipment, Alastair Mcaslan, Keith Feigenbaum
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
International Standards for Mine Action are being revised by the United Nations. As part of the revision process, a working group on personal protective equipment (WGPPE) has been established to examine the subject of safety in mine clearance operations, and to make recommendations on standards and guidelines for PPE. This paper is based on the WGPPE's report.
The Spider Boot: An Effective Foot Protection System Against Anti-Personnel Mine Blasts, S. Islam, Aris Makris, Denis Bergeron
The Spider Boot: An Effective Foot Protection System Against Anti-Personnel Mine Blasts, S. Islam, Aris Makris, Denis Bergeron
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
It is estimated that about 70 million AP landmines are deployed worldwide, slowing down the economic recovery of war torn countries and causing indiscriminate injuries to returning civilian populations long after the end of a conflict. Several military and non-military organizations are currently engaged in mine clearance, either in support of peacekeeping operations or for humanitarian demining.
The Effectiveness Of Different Personal Protective Ensembles In Preventing Injury To The Thorax From Blast-Type Anti-Personnel Mines, J. Nerenberg, Aris Makris, H. Kleine
The Effectiveness Of Different Personal Protective Ensembles In Preventing Injury To The Thorax From Blast-Type Anti-Personnel Mines, J. Nerenberg, Aris Makris, H. Kleine
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
It is well established from numerous documented cases of bomb blasts that, under certain conditions (determined by the amount and proximity of explosive), the transmitted shock wave and associated overpressure generated by the detonation of an explosive device can cause critical and fatal injuries to the thorax, e.g., “blast lung.” As such injuries tend to be internal and thus difficult to detect, there has been considerable debate in recent years on the significance of the blast overpressure injury in the context of demining/mine clearance compared to more visible injuries, such as, amputation of extremities, fragmentation wounds and blindness. A wide …
Personal Protective Equipment: The Never-Ending Story, Lance J. Malin
Personal Protective Equipment: The Never-Ending Story, Lance J. Malin
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Now, as always, there is a huge debate about what protection is required and what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be provided for personnel engaged in demining operations. Current opinion varies drastically between individual demining organizations, countries in which they operate and between governing bodies, which are coordinating the demining efforts.
Deminers, Manual Demining And Their Protective Equipment, Norman Stewart
Deminers, Manual Demining And Their Protective Equipment, Norman Stewart
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In Cambodia, a deminer was working in the prone position and set off an anti-personnel type 72 Chinese tilt mine. The resulting blast went over his head and did not damage his exposed hands. The blast over-pressure sucked air and dirt into his helmet visor and punctured his eye, which recovered fully. This over-pressure problem was caused by an air gap between the helmet visor and his protective jacket. Within seven days a new visor was dispatched from the manufacturer to my specifications, tested and found to remove the air gap problem. As part of the daily safety checks carried …
Ronco Executives Talk About Demining Integration And The Imas Contract, Margaret S. Busé
Ronco Executives Talk About Demining Integration And The Imas Contract, Margaret S. Busé
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article has been removed.
Mechem, Cisr Journal
Mechem, Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The Mechem division of Denel (Pty.) ltd., South Africa, has a history going back to the late 1960s, when it was a unit of the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Specializing in landmine detection, demining and UXO disposal, Mechem also offers contract research and development, well-equipped laboratories and an explosive test range, which is used for the development and evaluation of equipment and augments workshops.
Ronco, Cisr Journal
Ronco, Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
RONCO Consulting Corporation is an international services firm specializing in demining and humanitarian assistance, agri-business, procurement services and private enterprise development. RONCO's involvement in demining evolves from 20 years experience with worldwide development and assistance contracts. RONCO has been operational in Mozambique, Afghanistan, Thailand, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Cuba, Angola, Rwanda, Bosnia and Croatia. RONCO is the only firm in the U.S. that has developed and is successfully using "free running" dogs for mine detection.
Mgm (Menschen Gegen Minen), Cisr Journal
Mgm (Menschen Gegen Minen), Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Founded in Germany in January 1996, by Directors Hendrik Ehlers and Hans Georg Kruessen, MgM, translated to "The Charity of People Against Land mines," has generated much discussion as one of the leading international demining organizations.
Geomines: Exploring Manual Demining Techniques, Geo Velez
Geomines: Exploring Manual Demining Techniques, Geo Velez
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Since its creation, Geomines has assumed an active role in the demining community. Accredited by the United Nations, the European Commission and the BHMAC of Sarajevo, Geomines is the result of the combined efforts of marine-oriented Geocean Solmarine and the mine clearance-oriented E.O.D. NewTechnologies.
The Legacy Of War In Chechnya, Kimberly P. Hill
The Legacy Of War In Chechnya, Kimberly P. Hill
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Hundreds of lives are destroyed daily; most of which are left unrecorded and unacknowledged. The struggles and suffering of a few bears witness to the atrocities of many forgotten casualties and even survivors of all ages. The epidemic of landmines continues to devour many lives in its path, bur it is the aid of others and the written words of some that convey the true horror of their reality.
Bosnia And Herzegovina, Country Profile
Bosnia And Herzegovina, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
After Marshal Tito's death in 1980 and the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) divided into five different countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and the Republic of Macedonia. After having declared its independence from SFRY in March 1992, BiH fought in a war that lasted over three-and-a-half years. This war destroyed families, communities and infrastructure and left the country littered with landmines and unexploded ordnance. After the Dayton agreement was signed on Dec. 14, 1995, the war officially ended and the country was …
Moldova, Country Profile
Moldova, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Moldova is split into two main regions, Bessarabia and Transnistria. Bessarabia is in the eastern part of historic Moldova and is mostly Romanian while Transnistria is the land on the eastern bank of the Nistru River and is mostly Slavic (Ukrainians and Russians). After the Russo-Turkish War in 1806-12, Bessarabia ceded to Russia. Finally on Aug. 27, 1991, Moldova declared its independence from the USSR and was recognized by the United States in December of that same year as they opened an embassy in its capital in 1992. A new constitution was adopted on July 28, 1994, which forever replaced …
Conferences: Who Needs Them?, Dennis Barlow
Conferences: Who Needs Them?, Dennis Barlow
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The global mine action process seems to spawn conferences. During the past three years there have been at least 13 major gatherings which contained in their agendas major activities dedicated to improving demining operations. What have the three years of meetings, issue development, and projects produced? Have the conferences and attempts to frame operators' needs been a wasted effort, characterized by travel boondoggles of innumerable representatives to venues far and wide? Or have they driven real development and positive achievement?
A Squad Of Their Own, Margaret S. Busé
A Squad Of Their Own, Margaret S. Busé
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The first all-female demining team was deployed in Kosovo in late November 1999. Comprised of women refugees who had previously been housewives, they are the first all-female demining ream in the world. In Kosovo's traditional patriarchal society, few women work outside the home and until now, no women worked in this internationally male dominated occupation. The sight of the women deminers, long hair peeking out of helmets, has raised a few eyebrows. As one elderly farmer remarked upon seeing them, "My poor dears, you are so beautiful."