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Full-Text Articles in Defense and Security Studies
Technology Research In Mine Action: Enough Is Enough, Russell Gasser
Technology Research In Mine Action: Enough Is Enough, Russell Gasser
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Twenty years ago I started work on a doctorate thesis asking the question: “Why has research into new technologies for mine action had so little success?” My research discovered that about one billion dollars had been spent by the year 2000 on fundamental and applied research to produce new technologies to solve the mine problem. The resulting benefit for humanitarian mine action was indeed very small. Since then, large-scale spending has continued with limited success. Researchers and their funders have not learned from continued, expensive failure. There is clear cause and effect at work, which means that many research projects …
Unmas Gaza Emergency Response Report, Mark Frankish
Unmas Gaza Emergency Response Report, Mark Frankish
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
From 7 July to 26 August 2014, significant quantities of explosive ordnance were used during hostilities between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Gazan armed groups. It is reported that approximately 72,000 items of ordnance were fired and launched during this period. This presented a significant risk for civilians and hampered humanitarian and reconstruction operations. Many unexploded aircraft bombs, tank projectiles, mortar shells and other munitions from both sides of the conflict were reported in civilian areas. Based on a 10 percent fail rate, it was assumed there are approximately 7,200 items of explosive remnants of war (ERW) in Gaza, …
Unfinished Business: Cluster Munition Remnants In Kosovo, Darvin Lisica, Stuart Maslen
Unfinished Business: Cluster Munition Remnants In Kosovo, Darvin Lisica, Stuart Maslen
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
During the period of June 1999 to mid-December 2001, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) coordinated major international cleanup activities in Kosovo, which resulted in the successful clearance of more than 12.4 sq mi (32.1 sq km) of land and the destruction of more than 50,000 landmines, unexploded submunitions and other unexploded ordnance (UXO). Kosovo had considerable mine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination, including cluster munition remnants (CMR) from armed conflict between forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Liberation Army in the late 1990s, exacerbated by the NATO bombing in 1999.
Explosive Hazards In The Aftermath Of Natural Disasters: Lessons Learned, Nicole Neitzey, Paula S. Daly
Explosive Hazards In The Aftermath Of Natural Disasters: Lessons Learned, Nicole Neitzey, Paula S. Daly
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Natural disasters have posed problems for demining operations in the past; the heavy flooding in Bosnia and Herzegovina was one recent example of many. Over the past 20 years, natural disasters have impacted countries affected by landmines or other explosive remnants of war (ERW), causing renewed danger. Despite reoccurring in recent years, these events continue catching the international CWD community by surprise, while experience and lessons learned from previous disasters in one country must be relearned in other regions.
Small Caliber De-Armers: An Answer To Explosive Acquisition Problems, Harold S. Pearson
Small Caliber De-Armers: An Answer To Explosive Acquisition Problems, Harold S. Pearson
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In many mine-affected countries, sourcing, transporting and reliably initiating explosives is one of the major obstacles for mine action operators. Consequently, finding a reliable method of destroying anti-personnel (AP) landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination that does not require the use of high explosives is of great interest to many in the industry.
Landmines In Croatia Pose Threat To Incoming Refugees, News Brief
Landmines In Croatia Pose Threat To Incoming Refugees, News Brief
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
After Hungary formally closed its border with Serbia on 15 September 2015, refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East, Central Asia and Northern Africa have turned next to Croatia as a gateway to reach countries such as Sweden and Germany. The influx of refugees traversing the areas near the Croatia-Serbia border has raised concerns that refugees will encounter residual landmine contamination in Croatia as they make their way to Slovenia and Hungary. The contamination dates back to the four-year conflict which followed the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1995. The Croatian Mine Action Centre (CROMAC) estimates that …
Humanitarian Mine Action In Afghanistan: A History, Ian Mansfield
Humanitarian Mine Action In Afghanistan: A History, Ian Mansfield
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
After a decade of Soviet occupation in Afghanistan and the resulting internal conflict, the removal of explosive remnants of war (ERW) became a complicated issue. Systematic clearance of ERW was difficult to establish due to the volatile security situation and an inability to regulate clearance work. However, due to collaboration between the United Nations and Afghan nongovernmental organizations, mine clearance operations were successfully established in Afghanistan in the 1990s.
Effectiveness Of Gis In Mine Action, Hansie Heymans, Arie Claassens
Effectiveness Of Gis In Mine Action, Hansie Heymans, Arie Claassens
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
According to a survey conducted by Geometric Solutions, Ltd., the usage of a geographic information system (GIS) stands to benefit the mine action community within the context of strategic planning and operational decision-making. Furthermore, web-based GIS can provide mobile spatial data for operations and lead to an overall improvement of mine action operations.
Sri Lanka: Mine Action In A Deteriorating Environment, Chris Rush
Sri Lanka: Mine Action In A Deteriorating Environment, Chris Rush
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
A major mine-action program has been underway in Sri Lanka since 2002, when a cease-fire agreement between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was signed. However, after a seemingly inexorable escalation in violence between the LTTE and the government forces, open warfare resumed, and in May 2009, the government announced that it had achieved military victory over the LTTE. This article traces the various ways that the increase in conflict affected mine-action activities in Sri Lanka.
Research In Colombia On Explosives Detection By Rats, Luisa Fernando Mendez Pardo, Andres M. Perez-Acosta
Research In Colombia On Explosives Detection By Rats, Luisa Fernando Mendez Pardo, Andres M. Perez-Acosta
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The interdisciplinary research group INVESTUD is investigating the effectiveness of mine-detecting lab rats. In Africa, the APOPO program is well-known for using African giant pouched rats for mine detection, but INVESTUD hopes to build on and even surpass APOPO’s progress to advance Colombia’s mine-clearance efforts.
Ieds And Their Impact On Mine Action, Adrian King
Ieds And Their Impact On Mine Action, Adrian King
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article addresses the increasingly prevalent threat of improvised explosive devices around the world. The author carefully defines this often unpredictable and unconventional “weapon of choice” and outlines the steps to eliminate the hazard it presents to global security. The article also discusses the role IEDs play within the scope of mine action, arguing their danger exceeds that of traditional mines and other unexploded ordnance.
Anti-Personnel Landmine Detection For Humanitarian Demining: The Current Situation And Future Direction For Japanese Research And Development, Book Review
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The interest in developing technology for humanitarian demining has grown in Japan ever since the country became a signatory to the Ottawa Convention on 3 December 1997. In fact, from October 2002 to March 2008, the Japan Science and Technology Agency, which is under Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, funded a comprehensive program to jump-start research and technology development in the field of humanitarian demining. This program, titled “Research and Development of Sensing Technology, Access and Control Technology to Support Humanitarian Demining of Anti-personnel Mines,” consisted of 12 projects that were chosen out of 82 different …
Data Analysis And Performance Evaluation Of Japanese Dual-Sensor Systems Tested In Croatia, Kazunori Takahashi, Mate Gaal, Dieter Gulle
Data Analysis And Performance Evaluation Of Japanese Dual-Sensor Systems Tested In Croatia, Kazunori Takahashi, Mate Gaal, Dieter Gulle
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Two years ago, the Croatian Mine Action Center–Center for Testing Development and Training Ltd. tested two Japanese dual-sensor systems for humanitarian demining in Croatia. The test’s results show that these detection systems can potentially increase the accuracy of mine-detecting operations, but several improvements to the sensors may be required before the systems are fully effective.
Blast Testing Of Visors Used For Humanitarian Demining, Charlene Fawcett
Blast Testing Of Visors Used For Humanitarian Demining, Charlene Fawcett
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article discusses experimental results from blast testing of Security Devices Ltd. polycarbonate visors used by humanitarian deminers. Visors used in the blast testing fell into one of three categories: new visors, manually scratched visors, and scratched and heat-gun-repaired visors. Results show that the visors in all three categories failed to meet the draft international standard for blast testing relevant at the time, that further research is required to establish pressure profiles for the standard charge size being tested, and that the proposed heat- treatment method does appear to degrade the blast resistance of the visor used in the test.
Could Local Agricultural Machines Make A Country ‘Impact Free’ By 2010?, Emanuela Cepolina, Matteo Zoppi
Could Local Agricultural Machines Make A Country ‘Impact Free’ By 2010?, Emanuela Cepolina, Matteo Zoppi
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Many countries affected by landmines are also facing food crises, underscoring the necessity of cost-effective mine removal. Converting agricultural machines already available in many mine-affected countries for use on mine-action projects saves not only time but also money by speeding up the removal process and turning the land back into an agricultural resource.
Survey And Land Release: Lessons From Recent Country Experience, Charles Downs
Survey And Land Release: Lessons From Recent Country Experience, Charles Downs
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Suspected Hazardous Areas bring fear to local communities and hinder socioeconomic development, but in most cases the majority of the land contains no mines at all. Survey for land release may put an end to this fear, and it allows for an accelerated solution to the landmine problem.
Land-Release Policies And Human-Security Complexities, Kjell Bjork
Land-Release Policies And Human-Security Complexities, Kjell Bjork
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article reviews the need for transparency and community participation in the land-release process. Participation is a fundamental part of post-war reconstruction, and the author argues that combining reconstruction with transparent participation will contribute to the quality, accountability and national ownership of the land-release process.
Gender And Land Release: The Responsibility Of The Mine-Action Community, Marie Nilsson, Virginie Rozes, Juliane Garcia
Gender And Land Release: The Responsibility Of The Mine-Action Community, Marie Nilsson, Virginie Rozes, Juliane Garcia
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In many countries, men are considered the sole landowners, leaving women with few property rights. Yet women are disproportionately affected when men are killed or injured by landmines, as they can be left with few resources after such tragedies.
Making Land Release In Mozambique Operational, Antonio Belchior, Charles Downs
Making Land Release In Mozambique Operational, Antonio Belchior, Charles Downs
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Mozambique’s national program for land release has cleared many Suspected Hazardous Areas in the past eight years, but the Instituto Nacional de Desminagem (National Demining Institute) aims to make the program even more effective. In March 2009, IND collaborated with the Survey Action Center to host a workshop at which land release terminology and concepts were discussed, hoping that improved survey methodologies would lead to a more efficient land-release process. The workshop resulted in the creation of national land-release draft elements and criteria that will help to develop practical land-release standards in the near future.
Clearing Areas Right; Clearing The Right Areas, Håvard Bach
Clearing Areas Right; Clearing The Right Areas, Håvard Bach
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Although land release is a widely used term, its definition is not universally understood. There are various approaches to mine clearance with different survey steps taken before conditions of safe land release are met, and some techniques are more efficient than others. This article examines ways of improving land-release methodology to more effectively define and ultimately resolve the landmine problem.
Land Cancellation And Release, Parvis Mavlonkulov
Land Cancellation And Release, Parvis Mavlonkulov
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Initial surveying and resurveying of areas contaminated with mines are imperative processes in the Land Cancellation and Release process in Tajikistan, where estimates indicate thousands of acres of Suspected Hazardous Areas. It is necessary to re-survey contaminated areas to ensure accurate results. Even with limited funds, the Tajikistan Mine Action Centre has made great efforts to release the land and promote mine-risk education, victim assistance, and capacity building.
Reflections From The Field: Lao Pdr, Surveys And Land Release, Stephen Pritchard
Reflections From The Field: Lao Pdr, Surveys And Land Release, Stephen Pritchard
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
With an example and a discussion of Norwegian People’s Aid’s work with UXO Lao in Lao PDR, the author explains how choosing the right tasks and performing the tasks correctly can allow land to be released safely and confidently.
Is It Time For New Terminology In Land Release And Technical Survey?, Robert Keeley
Is It Time For New Terminology In Land Release And Technical Survey?, Robert Keeley
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Overlapping terminology has contributed to confusion in the demining process and stunted the development of Technical Survey as a potentially effective concept. This article points out places where ambiguity exists and suggests ways that the terminology can be clarified.
Clearing The Falkland-Malvinas Islands, Robert Keeley
Clearing The Falkland-Malvinas Islands, Robert Keeley
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Under pressure from nations around the world and in compliance with Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention, the United Kingdom has committed to demining the Falkland-Malvinas Islands despite the potential cost of demining in arelatively mine-safe area.
Latin Victims Are Invisible To The International Media, Vinicius Souza, Maria Eugênia Sá
Latin Victims Are Invisible To The International Media, Vinicius Souza, Maria Eugênia Sá
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Colombia continues to be the country with the highest number of new anti-personnel landmine victims in the world, with 10 other countries on the American continents having problems with mines as well. This situation, however, seems not to exist for the international news media. Even specialized publications seldom show a picture or publish an article about Central or South America; consequently, most people still believe that the landmine problem is confined exclusively to Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
International Support To Mine Action In Colombia: Mitigating Impact And Protecting Rights, Charles Downs
International Support To Mine Action In Colombia: Mitigating Impact And Protecting Rights, Charles Downs
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Ending the decades-long violence in Colombia is the only way to eliminate all landmines from the country. Until that time, there is a need to mitigate their impact, minimize the number of new victims and assure better assistance to survivors.
Performance Of Flail Hammers, Frédéric Guerne
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.
Comprehensive Action Against Anti-Personnel Mines: A Regional Initiative To Address Landmine Issues, Carl Case
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.
2008, A Year Of Advances And Accomplishments, Johanna Garcia Garcia, Erika Estrada Chau
2008, A Year Of Advances And Accomplishments, Johanna Garcia Garcia, Erika Estrada Chau
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Since 1990, the Organization of American States’ national demining assistance programs have been working to educate citizens about landmines and eliminate existing minefields in Nicaragua. The OAS Acción Integral contra las Minas Antipersonal program has successfully worked to coordinate with the Ministry of Education, local representatives, community leaders and volunteers to promote awareness about landmines, protect people from further injuries and provide rehabilitation for survivors.
Impact Study On The Effects Of Demining Operations In Nicaragua, Carlos Orozco
Impact Study On The Effects Of Demining Operations In Nicaragua, Carlos Orozco
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
To evaluate demining operations in Nicaragua, the Acción Integral contra las Minas Antipersonal program conducted a study on the effects of demining in communities directly affected by landmines. The study showed both the negative effects of anti-personnel mines and the consequences they had on the community, but and also the positive effects that demining had in terms of security, trust and economic benefits.