The Challenges of Clearing and Banning Land Mines

On 15th November, ISCAST Fellow Ross Macmillan and Mark Zimsak, the National Coordinator of the Australian Network to Ban Landmines gave a challenging and thought-provoking presentation which discussed the technical and political challenges involved with developing technologies and strategies to eliminate anti-personnell mines and cluster munitions.

For those wishing to learn more about the effects of these devices, or how they can assist with this campaign, please visit:

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines

Australian Network Inc

Did You Know?

• Millions of uncleared landmines lie in fields and villages, on roads and paths in over 80 countries including Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia, Cambodia, Mozambique and Vietnam.
• A landmine can cost as little as $3, but up to $1000 to be removed.
• As at October 2003, 141 countries had signed into law the Mine Ban Treaty; 9 had signed but not passed the treaty into law.  The 44 countries that have not yet acceded to the treaty include China, North and South Korea, Myanmar, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, the USA and Vietnam.

International humanitarian law,

which is binding on all states, rules that:

"It is prohibited to employ weapons... or methods of warfare of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering."

"The parties to the conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants... and shall direct their operations only against military objectives."

Civilians are the most frequent victims of landmines.