Landmines Project

"What's a landmine?" asked the young children.

The teacher looked at the group of children in the front of him then to his assistant. Their eyes met with sadness. "A landmine is an explosive device planted into the ground during war time."
"Why should we worry about them?" asked one of the older children. "The war is over."

"The war maybe over, but landmines last for decades and need to be removed from where they are."
"Then why aren't they taken away?" asked another child.
"Because, the soldiers who planted them can't remember where or how many and have no map to where these landmines are."
"Oh" said the children.

This can be a scene almost anywhere in about 90 countries across the world. The majority of these countries are third world countries. They do not have the industry, commerce, or agriculture to support themselves. Many are like this because of decades of civil war.

Why were landmines used in warfare? They are cheap to use. The cost $3.00 to $30.00 each, and to remove landmines it will cost $300.00 to $1,000.00 for one removal. A landmine machine is $45,000.00, which the Troy Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has raised funds of $53,000 for Mozambique.

What are the effects of the use of landmines? Because this device stays active for decades after being planted and is indiscriminate on whom it attacks, anyone who steps on this device is victim: soldier, man, woman, child, and animal. Many countries, especially Asian, are beginning to report how many elephants and other wildlife are being destroyed by landmines. For humans, it is just as bad. There are estimated of 20,000 mine casualties per year. UNICEF estimated 30 - 40% of these victims are children under the age of 15.

The victims are burned, lost of limb, sight, hearing and psychological trauma. The needs for rehabilitation and disability service are greatly needed. Children need prosthesis (artificial limbs) every six to twelve months, adults is three to five years.

What is the world doing to stop the use of landmines and to help victims?
1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personal Mines on their Destruction (1997 Mine Ban Treaty) was written and open to signature on December 3, 1997. As to date there are 150 signatories.

Is the United States part of this treaty?
A simple no. The US is one of the largest stockpilers of landmines along with China, Russia, and India.
Quoting the US Campaign to Ban Land Mines:
In a speech before the UN General Assembly in 1994, President Clinton was one of the first to call for a universal ban on antipersonnel mines, and under his leadership the US became the world’s largest contributor to humanitarian mine clearance. But the United States did not join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Current policy is now under review by the Bush Administration as part of the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). Clinton’s policy, Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 64, stated that the United States would cease to use antipersonnel mines by 2003, except those contained in “Mixed system” (meaning anti-tank mines delivered with antipersonnel mines) everywhere in the world except Korea. By the year 2006, if alternatives have been found, the US would cease all use of all antipersonnel mines and would join the Mine Ban Treaty. This timetable put this US approximately ten years behind its allies and most of the rest of the world in banning landmines.

The landmine policy is that the Bush Administration said it will not sign the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. The elimination of "persistent or dumb mines" will not be finished until 2010, four years after Former President Clinton pledged. The Bush Administration has stated the "smart mines or self-destructive mines" will be used indefinitely. During the 1991 Gulf War more than 1000 self-destructing mines did not self-destruct. "Smart mines" are deployed by air or arterial in which, no mapping is done. This makes de-mining more hazardous and costly. The "smart mine" approximately 19 weeks for it to self-destruct and with today's movement with the front lines this is to long. Many refugees would be coming back to a mine infested area. These like any other mine will not discriminate who it will blow up. There is a positive and negatives to this new policy. But the U.S. is a leader in this world and chooses to ignore what the world is saying about landmines. 150 nations including all NATO nations, except the U.S., have joined the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. President Bush's new U.S. landmine policy sugarcoats a major policy rollback. The U.S.'s refusal to join the treaty gives nations, such as Russia, India, Pakistan, and Myanmar (Burma) the political cover they need to lay hundreds of thousands of landmines in recent years. The Mine Ban Treaty has had a tremendous and life saving impact on the 80 mine infested countries throughout the world. Mozambique for instance, has cut their landmine victims in half since 2000. Waiting for the U.S. to sign the treaty and stop the use of all landmines will not help others, it will hinder the progress that has been made so far.

To contact the White House:
Switchboard: 202-456-1111
FAX: 202-456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov

What is the United Methodist Church's stand?

The Discipline of the United Methodist states in the Social Principles Article #165 c. War and Peace "We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as a usual instrument of nation foreign policy and insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arise between or among them; that human values must outweigh military claims as governments determine their priorities; that the militarization of society must be challenged and stopped; that the manufacture, sale, and deployment of armaments must be reduced and controlled; and that the production, possession, or use of nuclear weapons be condemned. Consequently, we endorse general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control."

"Manufacture, sale, and deployment…endorse general and complete disarmament." The UMC is a sponsor of the Mine Ban Treaty. United Methodist Women sponsored the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty the General Board of Church and Society is on the Steering Committee for the US Campaign to Ban Landmines. The United Methodist Church stands firm on the ban of landmines.

The Troy Annual Conference supports the Mozambique Conference. Mozambique is one of the most landmine effected countries. It is estimated that to clear Mozambique it will take 10 years and $40 million dollars to remove all landmines. There is hope, according to the Landmine Monitor Report Mozambique casualties are 47, which is down form 80 in 2001. The church is praying that the casualty rate will be zero soon. The Conference has raised the funds of $53,000.00 for a Landmine Removal Machine.

The East Greenbush United Methodist Church has an active landmine activist who has coordinated a Landmine Quilt, which has been used by other organizations in their awareness and fund raising events.

"My hopes, prayers and dreams for this quilt were to raise awareness to the country, and the seriousness of the Mine Ban Treaty. I know September 11, 2001, is harsh in the memory of all New Yorkers and the rest of the nation, but we are not alone in the threat of terrorism. Each day when a man, woman, or child goes outside to farm, work, or play, there is a threat of terror. It's small, but extremely destructive and deadly. We, our nation, are mainly responsibly for the development of this weapon of war, land mines. Look at the history of land mines. But our Defense Forces still plan to use an ineffective weapon. 33% of the Vietnam causalities were due to land mines and now with the War on Terrorism there is more. I hope and pray that more Americans realize to gain peace we must practice peace and definitely show peace. Banning Land Mines, signing the Mine Ban Treaty is just part of the larger whole and a giant step forward."

For more information on the Land Mine Quilt:
The Landmine quilt is ready for displaying. It is not a cozy warm quilt for it is not finished till the US signs the Mine Ban Treaty, till all nations sign the Mine Ban Treaty, till all land mines are removed from the earth, till ALL victims are assisted.

If you or your group is having a function that landmine is part or all in the discussion borrow the Land Mine Quilt to promote education and awareness.

Contact:
Patty Chartrand - Land Mine Quilt Coordinator
18 Van Buren Ave Castleton, NY 12033
gtoonz@juno.com
518-732-2940

Also another Landmine Quilt is in the works. If you or your group would like to make squares here's how:

This is a national effort to make a quilt. This quilt is about landmines and how the US citizens feel about our nation's lack of involvement. Its design is squares that are 12 inches by 12 inches squares finished (cut the panels 15inches(38mm) by 15inches(38mm) to make a 1.5 inch (4mm) seam allowance). The sides of the quilt will not be finished. If groups make a square that is larger than the 12" please make them proportional to one square. The material should be a muslin or cotton blend with whatever design the individual or group wishes. Donations are needed of quilt batting and material (cotton blend) for the backing.

If you want more extensive and updated information these links will help.

www.gbgm-umc.org
www.umc-gbcs.org
www.banminesusa.org
www.unicefusa.org
www.cirnetwork.org
www.icbl.org