Our Third Concern: Landmines

I recently saw a moving Iranian/Iraqi-produced film called Turtles Can Fly, an incredible story about children that in part addresses the dangers of unexploded landmines to civilians worldwide. According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)-- a consortium of 1400 NGOs in 90 countries-- landmines kill approximately 15,000-20,000 people per year, or over 40 per day. While many nations have banned their future use, unexploded landmines can remain active for up to 50 years, and still pose a serious threat to all innocent passersby including and in particular children. The results have been catatrosphic: thousands of disfigured and deceased children everywhere from Angola to Afghanistan and Burundi to Bosnia, and a handful of nations such as Pakistan who refuse to ban their future use.

Which is why unexploded landmines are Our Third Concern. Here's how you can learn more and take action today to ban them:

Learn:

1... about UNICEF's Mine Risk Education Programme, join their efforts to expand the Mine Ban Treaty, and review breaking news on the issue.

2... about the details and history of the problem from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

Take Action:

1... by signing the People's Treaty Against Landmines and the Youth Against War Treaty. Then take one of 9 other steps to spread the word and educate others.

2... by enacting any of these 14 steps on your campus today.

3... by donating to either or both of these organizations: ICBL and UNICEF.

Then post a comment to tell us how YOU helped ban landmines today!