Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

James Madison University

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 3601 - 3630 of 4916

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Engaging Non-State Actors In The Fight Against Landmines: A Key To Negotiating Peace In Colombia, Elisabeth Reusse-Decrey Nov 2004

Engaging Non-State Actors In The Fight Against Landmines: A Key To Negotiating Peace In Colombia, Elisabeth Reusse-Decrey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Today, one of the populations in the world that suffers the most from landmine use by armed non-state actors (NSAs) is the population of Colombia. Since 2003, Geneva Call, a humanitarian, independent and neutral international organisation dedicated to engaging NSAs in a total ban against anti-personnel landmines, has established a line of communication with Colombian armed groups. With the support of the national government and the collaboration of the Colombian Campaign Against Landmines—a partner organisation—representatives of Geneva Call have met with members of the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Colombia, other local and indigenous organisations, as well as members …

Go to article

The Process Of Demining And Destroying Uxo In Guatemala, Guillermo Pacheco Nov 2004

The Process Of Demining And Destroying Uxo In Guatemala, Guillermo Pacheco

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The process of demining and destroying UXO in Guatemala is characterized by a collaborative effort between civilians and military personnel. This process is conducted in a diplomatic manner between the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) and the National Army, the parties of the 36-year internal armed conflict, which concluded in 1996. Likewise, the demining and UXO destruction operations that Guatemala executes reflect the characteristics that were prevalent during the armed conflict, including the rare use of anti-personnel mines and UXO proliferation.

Go to article

Marminca's Experience: Coordinating Humanitarian Demining, Luiz Felipe Ramos Gonzalez Nov 2004

Marminca's Experience: Coordinating Humanitarian Demining, Luiz Felipe Ramos Gonzalez

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Humanitarian demining is an essential component of mine action, which encompasses a series of activities such as mine and UXO removal, technical studies, mapping, the returning of cleared land to the communities, victim assistance, and mine risk education (MRE), among others. Since 1995, the Organization of American States (OAS) has carried out demining programs in Central America, concentrating its efforts in four countries: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. This program has been carried out in the region with the support of donor countries, beneficiary countries, contributing countries and the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB).

Go to article

Landmine And Uxo Safety: The “Duty Of Care”, Sebastian Kasack Nov 2004

Landmine And Uxo Safety: The “Duty Of Care”, Sebastian Kasack

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A long wheelbase Landcruiser can seat 13 people: five in the front and eight in the rear. Usually those sitting in the rear cannot use seat belts because there are none, and those in front often choose not to wear them. Besides, at the end of the world, as the Portuguese called the southeastern corner of Angola, it is very unlikely you will meet another car anyway, so why wear seat belts?

Go to article

Chile, Country Profile Nov 2004

Chile, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 1973, Chile's Marxist government was overthrown by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto Pinochet. With the goal of exterminating Marxism, Pinochet suspended parliament, banned political activity, limited civil liberties and boosted efforts to guard Chilean borders. Between 1973 and 1983, in an attempt to protect the country from its neighbors, Pinochet's government littered the Chilean borders of Bolivia, Peru and Argentina with 293 minefields containing one million mines. In 1990, Pinochet stepped down and a presidential parliamentary democracy was restored with the election of Patricio Aylwin.

Go to article

Costa Rica, Country Profile Nov 2004

Costa Rica, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Settled by Spain in 1522, Costa Rica remained under Spanish control for three centuries before declaring its independence from Spain along with other Central American provinces in 1821. The Central American Federation, created by the newly independent provinces, was soon interrupted by border disputes. Costa Rica formally withdrew from the Federation in 1838, declaring its sovereignty. In 1899, the country became a democracy, holding what were considered to be its first truly free elections. This peaceful democracy was only disrupted twice, being controlled by a dictator from 1917 to 1919 and experiencing an uprising in 1948 due to a disputed …

Go to article

Fusing Aerial Multispectral Imagery And High-Resolution Photography, Milan Bajic Nov 2004

Fusing Aerial Multispectral Imagery And High-Resolution Photography, Milan Bajic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Aerial remote sensing is useful for spotting indicators in the survey of mine-suspected areas and minefields. Because the detection of landmines in the soil and under the vegetation cover is not yet practical, the minefield indicators and their electromagnetic signatures provide means for detection of the mine-suspected areas and minefields. The minefield indicators can be natural (e.g., vegetation cover) over a large spatial extent, or else artificial or man-made (e.g., trenches, bunkers, demolished objects) over a small spatial extent. The dimensions of artificial minefield indicators require use of multi-spectral sensors and aerial images with spatial resolution below one meter. Due …

Go to article

Machines Can Get The Job Done Faster, Alexander Griffiths Nov 2004

Machines Can Get The Job Done Faster, Alexander Griffiths

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) published A Study of Mechanical Application in Demining in June 2004. The study looked at the most suitable roles for machines in demining, examined the potential for machines to be considered a primary clearance tool, explained factors involved in protecting operators and presented a software model to help programme managers understand the cost-effectiveness of their mechanical assets. In 2005, the GICHD plans to release six more sub-studies related to mechanical demining. The following article explains some aspects of the operational tasks where machines are currently employed.

Go to article

Colombia: Mine Action And Armed Conflict, Eric Filippino Nov 2004

Colombia: Mine Action And Armed Conflict, Eric Filippino

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Colombia is still in the throes of armed conflict and organised violence that has been ongoing during the past 40 years. Parties to the conflict include the government and armed forces of Colombia as well as numerous guerrilla groups. The two largest of these are the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which first appeared in 1964, and the National Liberation Army (NLA or ELN). In addition, numerous paramilitary groups operating throughout the country receive tacit support from certain Colombian army units.1 There continues to be disputed control over vast swathes of Colombian territory.

Go to article

Working Towards A Mine-Free Hemisphere, Suzanne Fiederlein Nov 2004

Working Towards A Mine-Free Hemisphere, Suzanne Fiederlein

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The government of Ecuador served as the host of the Americas Regional Mine Action Conference "One More Step Toward a Mine-Free Hemisphere" held in Quito, Ecuador, on August 12–13, 2004. The government of Canada and the Organization of American States Mine Action Program (AICMA, for its initials in Spanish) co-sponsored the conference, the fourth in a series of annual meetings convened in the region since 2001.

Go to article

International Mine Action Standards: Some Frequently Asked Questions And Answers, Phil Bean Nov 2004

International Mine Action Standards: Some Frequently Asked Questions And Answers, Phil Bean

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) were requested by the mine action community and are produced and sponsored by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), with support from a variety of organisations, including the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). The initial design and development of the standards involved extensive participation from representative elements of the mine action sector during the period of 1998–2000. Since that time, the sector has continued to expand with the addition of new programmes and new people joining the sector. IMAS continue to evolve and now benefit from the experience of practical application into …

Go to article

Non-State Actors In Colombia, Guatemala And Nicaragua, Cisr Jmu Nov 2004

Non-State Actors In Colombia, Guatemala And Nicaragua, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The majority of wars fought in the last 50 years have involved non-state, anti-state or stateless actors. These groups, commonly referred to as insurgents, dissidents, freedom fighters, rebel groups or guerillas, act independently from recognized governments. These non-state actors (NSAs) typically use low-tech, homemade weapons, such as landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other small arms and light weapons to wage guerilla warfare. Civil war, economic instability and a booming illegal drug trade have resulted in a build-up of arms and have thus empowered Latin American NSAs. Due in part to growing insurgent strength, parts of Latin America has been …

Go to article

From Desperation To Self-Confidence: An Interview With Landmine Survivor Mr. Francisco Peralta, Juan Carlos Ruan Nov 2004

From Desperation To Self-Confidence: An Interview With Landmine Survivor Mr. Francisco Peralta, Juan Carlos Ruan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mr. Francisco Peralta is a Nicaraguan landmine survivor from Ocotal, Department of Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua, who, as with many landmine victims, lost much more than his limbs to this weapon. Mr. Peralta lost his livelihood, his ability to support his family, his self-confidence, and his overall happiness. Through his integration into the Organization of American States’ (OAS’s) rehabilitation program, however, his life has changed 100 percent. Today he stands as a testament to the success of the OAS program and the need for this type of program to assist landmine survivors and help them literally and figuratively get back on …

Go to article

Non-State Actors In The Philippines, Cisr Jmu Nov 2004

Non-State Actors In The Philippines, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On December 3, 1997, the Philippines signed the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention to end mine use in the country. However, implementation of this act did not come soon enough to prevent the loss of innocent lives from terrorist attacks that began in the early 1990s and continue through today. In the Philippines, several main rebel groups terrorize the countryside, creating havoc in order to further their own interests. They are non-state actors (NSAs), rebel groups who fight for certain beliefs. Geneva Call defines a NSA as "any armed actor operating outside state control that uses force to achieve it political/quasi-political …

Go to article

A Study Of The Development Of National Mine Action Legislation, Gichd Nov 2004

A Study Of The Development Of National Mine Action Legislation, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This document is intended to assist governments, mine action professionals and others to develop national legislation to coordinate and regulate mine action in a country affected by landmines and/or unexploded ordnance (UXO). It identifies the principal elements to be included in such a law and the issues which should be considered in its preparation. The information in this document is based upon the conclusions and recommendations of A Study of National Mine Action Legislation, published by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).

Go to article

A Study Of Local Organisations In Mine Action, Gichd Nov 2004

A Study Of Local Organisations In Mine Action, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This Study of Local Organisations in Mine Action, which was requested by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), is an assessment of the successes and failures of local mine action organisations, including their competence, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability. It examines how, and to what extent, national governments have encouraged and supported such organisations, and whether they have given priority or preferential treatment to such rganisations in issuing contracts or funding. It examines how much external assistance has been needed to reach the necessary standards of competence, and whether the newly-formed organisations have been able to implement national standards derived …

Go to article

Ddasaccident546, Hd-Aid Oct 2004

Ddasaccident546, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

[Name removed] and myself were in the same location. 11:00 we started going to MCT teams and the smoke was coming out of demolition point, the team waited until 12:30 then as there was not apparently smoke in the demolition point the TL starting going to the demolition point for checking. And TL saw that both artillery were destroyed. In the nearest point a small amount of smoke was existing. He started to use fork shovel in the location and an explosion happened and a small fragment hit to the Right arm flesh of the TL. The sound and power …

Go to article

Ddasaccident540, Hd-Aid Oct 2004

Ddasaccident540, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Deminer [the Victim] used his rake in normal manner. He set off a P4 MK1 antipersonnel mine with his 2-tooth heavy rake. Heavy rake bended but remained in one piece in the blast. Deminer was in perfect health and didn’t get bruises nor other minor injuries.

Go to article

Humanitarian Impact From Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines, Gichd Oct 2004

Humanitarian Impact From Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This report summarises the capacity of the landmine clearance sector to respond to mines other than anti-personnel mines (MOTAPM), specifically anti-vehicle mines. It then looks at the humanitarian impact of MOTAPM contamination in a specific environment. A case study illustrates the efforts of humanitarian organisations to address problems faced by rural communities in Angola . These problems persist and are made worse because MOTAPM on roads prevent humanitarian organisations from gaining access to the population. MOTAPM are also seen to increase the cost of humanitarian assistance. The conclusions of the report complement evidence presented by the International Committee of the …

Go to article

Ddasaccident533, Hd-Aid Sep 2004

Ddasaccident533, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At 09.10hrs on the 22nd of September 2004, deminer [the Victim] was carrying out manual clearance using the prodding method on the northern side of Minefield 0011 at Ina Guuxaa. Whilst excavating earth at the front of his lane, he inadvertently detonated what is suspected to have been a P-4 anti personnel mine.

Go to article

Ddasaccident460, Hd-Aid Sep 2004

Ddasaccident460, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

In a non-marked lane, deminer [Victim No.1] tried to identify the source of a metal-detector signal by using a prodder and an excavation tool. He possibly used the prodder and the excavation tool simultaneously to achieve higher productivity. The star of the PROM-1 was above the ground surface. Therefore it is not likely that the mine was activated with a prodder. It is most likely that it was activated with inappropriate excavation tool. The examination of the area cleared in the days before the accident leads to the conclusion that vertical excavation had been performed, which is characteristic for non-demining …

Go to article

Ddasaccident416, Hd-Aid Sep 2004

Ddasaccident416, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

There is no definite explanation for how the incident happened. According to deminer, he used his tools slowly and correctly letting the rake to come towards himself by its own weight while pulling. Visual appearance of the incident lane supports this claim. Deminer’s raking tracks are visible, 50 cm in length and symmetrical.

Go to article

Ddasaccident425, Hd-Aid Sep 2004

Ddasaccident425, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

[Name excised] and [name excised] will be sending you a very detailed report in the next few days. After seeing the site and the deminer I am going to ask him to buy my lottery ticket in the future!!. He was extremely lucky. He detonated an M4 mine 200g HE less than arms length away. He sustained a broken thumb and lacerations of his first two fingers and his face was badly bruised due to the visor hitting him due to the blast effect.

Go to article

Ddasaccident415, Hd-Aid Aug 2004

Ddasaccident415, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Experienced deminer uses his rake slowly and in a correct manner according to SOP. Suddenly he sets off an antipersonnel mine with his heavy rake. Heavy rake breaks into two pieces in the blast. Deminer remains in perfect health and doesn’t have bruises nor other minor injuries.

Go to article

Ddasaccident534, Hd-Aid Aug 2004

Ddasaccident534, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The incident occurred whilst Deminer [the Victim] was carrying out clearance using the raking method in Lane 9, MF 14, Bisqua. The Investigation team came to the conclusion that the AP mine was disturbed previously by the roots of a tree which is situated approximately 1 meter away from the point of detonation.

Go to article

Ddasaccident414, Hd-Aid Aug 2004

Ddasaccident414, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Experienced deminer sets up an antipersonnel mine with his heavy rake. There are two one inch thick bush roots lying horizontally in depth of four centimetres, twenty five centimetres from each other. Antipersonnel mine was situated between the roots. Instead of prodding the spot between the roots, deminer continued raking with heavy rake.

Go to article

Ddasaccident532, Hd-Aid Aug 2004

Ddasaccident532, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On the 15th of August 2004 an accident occurred in MF011 in Guuxaa during clearance. [The Victim] was carrying out clearance using the rake method when he detonated a P-4 Anti Personnel Mine.

Go to article

Ddasaccident431, Hd-Aid Aug 2004

Ddasaccident431, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The incident is classed as a “Excavation incident” because the victim had hand and leg injury and a photograph shows an accident site that implies the victim was reaching down into a cavity, perhaps with one leg inside the cavity when the fuze was initiated by his activity. The report states that he “hit the detonator” but does not explain what with, so a hand-tool is presumed.

Go to article

Ddasaccident424, Hd-Aid Aug 2004

Ddasaccident424, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Team No 2 was working to establish the location and dorecetion of the Mine Strip No 2 in the minefield HM-5 in area Thomaspuri. [The victim] was the Team Leader of Team No 2. One sub team of Team No , under supervision of [the victim] was clearing the working lane. Deminer [name excised] (mine detector operator) located a metal/mine signal. He immediately marked the location and informed the Team Leader. Then he withdrew to a safe distance. [The victim] Team Leader approached the marked location, searched for and recovered an anti-personnel mine P4 Mk1. He tried to neutralize the …

Go to article

Ddasaccident457, Hd-Aid Aug 2004

Ddasaccident457, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

[The Victim] started the work in lane 1. He worked near a metal barrel half buried in the ground, 1.6 metres from the fence. Before the accident he cleared 2 m2. He wore his PPE and had the necessary tools. He had been removing the undergrowth and surface metal pieces ahead of the base stick. He had been searching with his metal detector and had used the prodder and a trowel. When he worked only with a prodder, he investigated the whole area ahead of the base stick where the vegetation had been removed. Just before the explosion he had …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last