There are 60 to 100 million landmines buried
in fields and along the roads in sixty countries around the
world. Every 20 minutes someone is killed or maimed--almost
26,000 people a year, many of them children.
The 1997 Ottawa Convention banning the manufacture, distribution
and use of landmines has been signed by 142 nations. The
United States, Russia and China have yet to sign the treaty.
In 1998 the U.S. stated that it would sign the treaty – but
only in 2006 and only if it is successful in developing alternatives
to anti-personnel mines.
How can I help?
The removal of existing landmines is an enormous,
but achievable task. It will take time and it will
take money (While it costs from $3 to $30 to purchase
an anti-personnel landmine, it can cost up to $1000
to remove one landmine.)
Early in 2001, UUCSS with 16 other local area
UU churches raised funds to clear landmines as part
of the UNA-USA Adopt-A-Minefield (AAM) Campaign.
The Campaign engages individuals, community groups
and business in the United Nations effort to clear
minefields. The local UU churches ‘adopted’ a minefield
in Afghanistan and, because there were a surplus of
funds, another area in Mozambique. [Note: Following
the September 11 attacks, all demining in Afghanistan
has been suspended until further notice.] You can visit
the AAM website noted below to make individual donations.
What is my commitment?
The time that it takes to inform yourself
about the problem and to spread the word to others.
Visit the www.clearlandmines.com website
daily to make a free donation with a click of your pointer.
Place a bookmark to the site.
Who
to contact?
For more information about Landmines and
the programs to eliminate them visit the following websites:
