A SPECPOL conference was recently held to discuss strategies for clearing landmines out of demilitarized areas.
Delegations suggested various solutions to solve the problems associated with civilians living in zones that could involve unexploded ordnance.
“Over the three hours we will be here, four people will die from landmines,” said the delegate of Israel. “This may not seem like much, but these are civilians. Innocent people. 32 people dying every day from military actions in a safe zone. We need to prioritize the safety of civilians in these situations, as they don’t deserve to be maimed or die in such a violent manner.”
Other delegates discussed ensuring that at minimum, access to basic human needs such as water was always made safe in demilitarized zones. These delegates highlighted the already existing humanitarian problems in zones with minimal or no access to safe drinking water.
Delegates also discussed the rehabilitation of landmine victims, new technologies to detect landmines, removal methods, feasibility of complete removal, and financial impacts of landmines in civilian zones. The delegate of Canada in particular stressed the need for all countries to sign and ratify the Ottawa treaty.
“We need all countries to approve this treaty to save innocent civilian lives. As other delegates have stated, civilians are dying every day due to active landmines in what are designated as safe zones”
The delegate of Austria agreed with this viewpoint.
“Discussing prohibition of landmine stockpiling, as is mentioned in the Ottawa Treaty, is crucial. Eliminating the problem at its root will ensure that mine detections methods, mine removal methods, and various other solutions caused by the presence of mines will be unnecessary.”
The delegate of the USA reminded other delegates of the effects of the settling of mines.
“Over time, landmines become buried by other layers of soil. This may cause them to become hard-to-detect,” delegate Ree Publican* passionately said. “Even if experts are sent in to these zones, they may not be able to remove these mines safely. Ideally, we would encourage the usage of “smart mines” that would automatically disable themselves after not being detonated for a certain amount of time. We already use this technology, and we’re pretty great, so...yeah.”
This idea was met with heavy criticism, due to the risks still associated with mines of any sort. Opposers also noted that the USA, as well as supporters such as Singapore, had not signed the Ottawa Treaty.
Other countries supported the usage, but also the removal out of wartime, of landmines, being a cost-effective tool that deters attacks.
As there are already active mines of a standard variety in many countries, solutions to remove these mines with minimal to no human casualties were discussed, noting that the majority of landmines were present in third-world countries.
“Many countries with dangerous mined zones are third-world countries that are unable to afford the removal of landmines,” reminded delegate of Croatia. “Otherwise, they would have removed them already. We need to establish a global plan to share funds with mined third-world countries to aid these people in ensuring that all civilians can live safely. These people are also human beings too.”
To donate to the UN GoFundMe for landmine removal in demilitarized countries, visit www.gofundme.com/1M_2_L1T
Delegations suggested various solutions to solve the problems associated with civilians living in zones that could involve unexploded ordnance.
“Over the three hours we will be here, four people will die from landmines,” said the delegate of Israel. “This may not seem like much, but these are civilians. Innocent people. 32 people dying every day from military actions in a safe zone. We need to prioritize the safety of civilians in these situations, as they don’t deserve to be maimed or die in such a violent manner.”
Other delegates discussed ensuring that at minimum, access to basic human needs such as water was always made safe in demilitarized zones. These delegates highlighted the already existing humanitarian problems in zones with minimal or no access to safe drinking water.
Delegates also discussed the rehabilitation of landmine victims, new technologies to detect landmines, removal methods, feasibility of complete removal, and financial impacts of landmines in civilian zones. The delegate of Canada in particular stressed the need for all countries to sign and ratify the Ottawa treaty.
“We need all countries to approve this treaty to save innocent civilian lives. As other delegates have stated, civilians are dying every day due to active landmines in what are designated as safe zones”
The delegate of Austria agreed with this viewpoint.
“Discussing prohibition of landmine stockpiling, as is mentioned in the Ottawa Treaty, is crucial. Eliminating the problem at its root will ensure that mine detections methods, mine removal methods, and various other solutions caused by the presence of mines will be unnecessary.”
The delegate of the USA reminded other delegates of the effects of the settling of mines.
“Over time, landmines become buried by other layers of soil. This may cause them to become hard-to-detect,” delegate Ree Publican* passionately said. “Even if experts are sent in to these zones, they may not be able to remove these mines safely. Ideally, we would encourage the usage of “smart mines” that would automatically disable themselves after not being detonated for a certain amount of time. We already use this technology, and we’re pretty great, so...yeah.”
This idea was met with heavy criticism, due to the risks still associated with mines of any sort. Opposers also noted that the USA, as well as supporters such as Singapore, had not signed the Ottawa Treaty.
Other countries supported the usage, but also the removal out of wartime, of landmines, being a cost-effective tool that deters attacks.
As there are already active mines of a standard variety in many countries, solutions to remove these mines with minimal to no human casualties were discussed, noting that the majority of landmines were present in third-world countries.
“Many countries with dangerous mined zones are third-world countries that are unable to afford the removal of landmines,” reminded delegate of Croatia. “Otherwise, they would have removed them already. We need to establish a global plan to share funds with mined third-world countries to aid these people in ensuring that all civilians can live safely. These people are also human beings too.”
To donate to the UN GoFundMe for landmine removal in demilitarized countries, visit www.gofundme.com/1M_2_L1T