Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Emergency and Disaster Management Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 91 - 107 of 107
Full-Text Articles in Emergency and Disaster Management
Wwii Ordnance Still Haunts Europe And The Asia-Pacific Rim, Margaret S. Busé
Wwii Ordnance Still Haunts Europe And The Asia-Pacific Rim, Margaret S. Busé
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Explosives and mines from WWI and WWII still turn up on European and Asian construction sites, backyard gardens, beaches, wildlife preserves and former military training ground. For most countries, these discoveries are not isolated incidents but are the result of hastily cleared ammunition dumps, training ground, bombings and mine fields from these wars. In the United Kingdom, over 20 percent of the entire landmass has, at one time, been used for military training. This military training has resulted in uncovered ordnance that dates from cannon and musket balls to modern weapons. Many of the older U.K. ranges can contain an …
Saving Private Hashim, Dennis Barlow
Saving Private Hashim, Dennis Barlow
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Sometimes, a subjective event can focus our thinking the way objective knowledge cannot. The movie "Saving Private Ryan" had the extraordinary effect of causing millions of cinema fans around the world to marvel and, hopefully, to ponder the extent to which we sometimes go to protect the life and dignity of one individual. The premise was that the policy, strategy and resources of a major country at war could be altered in such a way to defy objective logic (risking far too much for one individual) for a limited goal, in this case-to ensure the viability of one family. It …
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. …
The Facts On Protection Needs In Humanitarian Demining, Andy Smith
The Facts On Protection Needs In Humanitarian Demining, Andy Smith
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
When assessing protection needs, my approach has been to determine what the risks are, what injuries result and then decide how to minimize these risks and protect against any residual danger. I also bear in mind that there is no point in prescribing an action or a garment that will not be used.
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 …
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 …
Slovenia, Country Profile
Slovenia, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The Republic of Slovenia is a Central European country about the size of New Jersey, with a population of two million inhabitants. After World War I, Austria-Hungary disintegrated and Slovenia joined the new state, the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. The people of Slovenia voted for independence and sovereignty at a national referendum held on Dec. 23, 1990, and on June 26, 1991, the Republic of Slovenia proclaimed its independence.
Azerbaijan, Country Profile
Azerbaijan, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Azerbaijan declared independence from Russia in 1918, but was incorporated in the Soviet Union in 1920. It again declared independence in August 1991, following the collapse of the USSR. The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is still unresolved after 10 years and Baku has yet to settle disputes with its neighbors over oil rights in the Caspian Sea. During 1988-1994, Karabakh Armenians declared independence and seized almost 20 percent of the country's territory, creating an estimated 750,000 Azerbaijani refugees. As a result of the war, western Azerbaijan is plagued with land mines. Both sides have generally …
War Child, Cisr Journal
War Child, Cisr Journal
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Heavily mined areas take the highest toll on the poor civilian populations that surround post-conflict areas.
Angola, An Eyewitness Report Of The Landmine Crisis, Helen Long
Angola, An Eyewitness Report Of The Landmine Crisis, Helen Long
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Leaving the humidity and incessant noise of the Angolan capital, Luanda, whose streets are cluttered with cars and bands of children who subsist on a diet of refuse and insults, the elderly Hercules, a plane loaded with American corn, climbed unsteadily into the gray monsoon sky. It was the second flight the Hercules had made that morning to Malange, the northwestern provincial capital, and another ten planes laden with food were scheduled to follow that day. Malange is just one of more than 20 destinations that food and relief supplies are flown to everyday to keep alive the 2 million …
Reclaiming The Land: A Veteran Revisits Vietnam, J.S. Chadwck
Reclaiming The Land: A Veteran Revisits Vietnam, J.S. Chadwck
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
When is a war really over? When the peace treaties are signed and the armies withdrawn? Or, when ordnance left over from the fighting is no longer killing people? If the answer to the last question is yes, then the Vietnam War is still going on. In Vietnam today people are being killed, or wounded on a daily basis by ordnance left behind by a conflict that should have ended 24 years ago. Most of those people are children. Throughout the Vietnamese countryside there are tens of thousands of pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO). These UXO run the gamut from …
Current Situation And Perceived Needs For Head And Face Protection In Humanitarian Demining, Andy Smith
Current Situation And Perceived Needs For Head And Face Protection In Humanitarian Demining, Andy Smith
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The safety equipment used in humanitarian demining in developing countries would be considered inadequate by any Western army engaged in combat demining or explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) work. No set of standards is imposed and the standards that have arisen are surprisingly low. There is no widely accepted need for better protective equipment, but demining organisations do seem to be slowly levelling-up in the equipment that they use. Very few demining groups routinely wear helmets. Those demining groups that are concerned about head protection usually favour a 30cm high full-face visor hanging on a head-harness (or head-frame). The visor provides …
Myths, Mines, And Ground Clearance, Andy Smith
Myths, Mines, And Ground Clearance, Andy Smith
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The following article deals with some common misconceptions about deminers, demining, and demining equipment. It is not an academic paper, but it is rather a discussion prompt. Some of the points are old enough to appear bearded to the field men--sorry about that--but newcomers still need to hear them. A few are contentious. To some extent, I am playing devil's advocate although all of the points raised in this article have arisen during my field work. I believe that they deserve an airing, and I would be interested to hear any well-reasoned, contrary opinions, or any words of support.
Strengthening Humanitarian Demining And Related Activities Through The Emphasis On Comparative Advantages, Joe Lokey
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
One of the foundations of contemporary economic systems is that expertise can create value. Based on this notion, it follows that economic efficiency results if every person does what he or she does best. Preferences, competencies, and resource capacity in the world of economics and trade drive these choices. In humanitarian pursuits, the trade aspects are less clear, and the financial aspects are less relevant, but the efficiencies gained from applying limited resources to a global crisis are still clear and relevant.
United Nations Assumes The Lead In Demining, David M. Ahearn
United Nations Assumes The Lead In Demining, David M. Ahearn
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
No abstract provided.
The United Nations And Humanitarian Mine Action, Stephane Vigie
The United Nations And Humanitarian Mine Action, Stephane Vigie
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The international community has come to realize that only an integrated and holistic response to the issue of landmine contamination, and its multi-faceted humanitarian and socio-economic consequences, is capable of bringing real and lasting benefits to those who are to be considered at risk from these weapons. Indeed, such integrated mine action initiatives can not purely be limited to field based programmes in those countries where a humanitarian disaster has already occurred due to landmine contamination. The United Nations and other leading practitioners in the sector of mine action have long acknowledged that advocacy at the international level is also …
Quality Assurance For Civilian Mine And Munitions Clearance, Erik Lauritzen, Soren Gert Larsen
Quality Assurance For Civilian Mine And Munitions Clearance, Erik Lauritzen, Soren Gert Larsen
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Currently civilian mine-clearance operations are carried out according to military principles involving Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). SOPs, however, do not encompass quality assurance concepts, such as the ISO 9000 family, a set of standards developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO). These standards are typically used for civilian works.