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Full-Text Articles in Emergency and Disaster Management

Wwii Ordnance Still Haunts Europe And The Asia-Pacific Rim, Margaret S. Busé Jun 2000

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 …


Ronco, Cisr Journal Jun 2000

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 Jun 2000

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.


Personal Protective Equipment: The Never-Ending Story, Lance J. Malin Jun 2000

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.


Manual Demining In Afghanistan, Kefayatullah Eblagh Jun 2000

Manual Demining In Afghanistan, Kefayatullah Eblagh

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article has been removed.


The Spider Boot: An Effective Foot Protection System Against Anti-Personnel Mine Blasts, S. Islam, Aris Makris, Denis Bergeron Jun 2000

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 Journal Of Mine Action Issue 4.2 (2000), Cisr Journal Jun 2000

The Journal Of Mine Action Issue 4.2 (2000), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Deminers, Manual Demining & Their Personal Protection


Uxb International, Inc., Cisr Journal Jun 2000

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.


Saving Private Hashim, Dennis Barlow Jun 2000

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 …


Conquering The Insurmountable, Stephanie Schlosser, Virginia Saulnier Jun 2000

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.


Mozambique: A Country Ravaged By Civil War And Nature, Stephanie Schlosser, Virginia Saulnier Jun 2000

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. …


A Full-Scale Evaluation Of Lightweight Personal Protective Ensembles For Demining In Providing Protection Against Blast-Type Anti-Personnel Mines, Aris Makris, J. Nerenberg Jun 2000

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 …


The Facts On Protection Needs In Humanitarian Demining, Andy Smith Jun 2000

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.


Mines Advisory Group, Cisr Journal Jun 2000

Mines Advisory Group, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Mines Advisory Group (MAG), U.K. Registered Charity No.1 020441, started in 1992. MAG's programs integrate mine/UXO survey, demarcation and clearance with awareness-raising activities to reduce landmine risks to affected populations. MAG's integrated approach prides itself on working with conflict-affected communities to identify and address their most pressing needs.


It's Mine And You Can't Have It, Joe Lokey Jun 2000

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 …


The Human Touch, Russell Gasser, Terry Thomas Jun 2000

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.


Countering The Global Landmine Epidemic Through Basic Scientific Research, Mark S. Rountree, Robert M. Harris Jun 2000

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 …


Central America Landmine Survivors: The Need For Action In Nicaragua, William Boyce Jun 2000

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.


Mines Clearance International, Cisr Journal Jun 2000

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.


Gerbera Gmbh, Cisr Journal Jun 2000

Gerbera Gmbh, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Comprised of a staff comprehensively trained in international operations involving project management and mine clearance, GERBERA Gmbh strives to offer a range of services to mine-affected countries.


A Diary Of Destruction In Bosnia, Oren J. Schlein Feb 2000

A Diary Of Destruction In Bosnia, Oren J. Schlein

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the Bosnian war in the early 1990s, Croat, Muslim and Serb forces deployed between 600,000 and one million anti-personnel landmines. This can seem a meaningless figure until you see the effects of both exploded and unexploded landmines. Driving into town from the Sarajevo airport, I witnessed the striking contrast between the beauty of the hills surrounding the city and the pockmarked buildings damaged by relentless shelling during the Bosnian war. The old town has been largely restored to its historical charm, while the rest of the city and outlying areas continue to exhibit the awful blemishes of war. I …


Conferences: Who Needs Them?, Dennis Barlow Feb 2000

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?


Adopt A Minefield, Cisr Journal Feb 2000

Adopt A Minefield, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Adopt a Minefield Campaign engages individuals, community groups, and businesses in the United Nations effort to remove landmines around the world. The campaign helps to save lives by raising funds to clear mine fields and by raising awareness about the global landmine crisis.


Slovenia, Country Profile Feb 2000

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.


Knights In Armored Vehicles: The Halo Trust In The Caucasus, Richard Boulter Feb 2000

Knights In Armored Vehicles: The Halo Trust In The Caucasus, Richard Boulter

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The demise of the Soviet Union and the resultant rush to establish claims over disputed areas and to assert ethnic identity led to a widespread call to arms. Nowhere was this more the case than in the Caucasus. T he former southern Caucasian "soviets" of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia have all asserted their independence from Russia and all have witnessed bloodshed resulting from inter-ethnic fighting. In the north Caucasus there has been fighting in Dagestan, lngushetia, North Ossetia and most notably in Chechnya. The virtual abandonment of former weapons stockpiles accompanied by some very definite mischief by the departing Russian …


The Slovenian International Trust Fund For Demining, Stephanie Schlosser Feb 2000

The Slovenian International Trust Fund For Demining, Stephanie Schlosser

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On the web page of The Slovenia International Trust Fund for Deming (ITF) there is an image that, at first glance, could be an advertisement for a toy score. The image is of a child's doll. She appears bright and happy, with red ponytails and yellow ribbons, and a sunny yellow dress. The doll 's eyes glance playfully to one side, as if she is about co join a group of similarly happy friends. Suddenly, the doll's face and body change. With web animation, the doll 's right leg disappears along with her smile. Then you remember, this is a …


A Squad Of Their Own, Margaret S. Busé Feb 2000

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."


Responding To An Emergency: An Interview With Bob Macpherson, Care, Margaret S. Busé Feb 2000

Responding To An Emergency: An Interview With Bob Macpherson, Care, Margaret S. Busé

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In an interview with The Journal, Bob MacPherson spoke candidly and honestly about the challenges, successes and lessons learned in effectively responding to an emergency situation. MacPherson is responsible for landmine safety and awareness and is the emergency ream leader for CARE. Throughout 1999, he has been in Kosovo coordinating activities so that civilian lives can return to a stare of normalcy. Upon finishing our conversation, he was scheduled to fly to Chechnya to try to coordinate relief efforts for that war-ravaged country.


Unmik: Mine Action Coordination Center, Christine Brawdy Feb 2000

Unmik: Mine Action Coordination Center, Christine Brawdy

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In October 1999 when Kosovo Forces (KFOR) entered the Province of Pristina, they were immediately confronted with the problems encountered by a population returning through areas contaminated by unexploded, I NATO-dropped, cluster munitions (CBU). NATO advised that as many as 333 areas had been bombarded with such aerial delivered weapons. T hey found the problem extended to more than 600 mine fields left by the Serbian Army (VJ), Police (MUP), and other paramilitary forces. These were principally along the border with Albania and the Federal Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and scattered in other strategic areas on the interior.


Notes From The Field: Croatia, Marijana Prevendar Feb 2000

Notes From The Field: Croatia, Marijana Prevendar

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The disintegration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, accelerated by the Communist Party's electoral defeat, spurred the Republic of Croatia to declare its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. As a result, forces from the Republic of Serbia, the largest republic in the former Yugoslavia, launched a campaign to block Croatia's drive for independence. The Croatian Serbs, backed by the Yugoslav government and armed with weapons from the Yugoslavian army, started an armed rebellion against the newly established Croatian government in 1991.