-General Gordon, British Army, 1884.

General Gordon’s analysis of landmines in the future has proved to be startlingly true, but it’s hard to imagine Gordon or anyone else for that matter predicting that most landmine casualties would be innocent civilian’s decades after the mines were planted. The modern mine was created during WWII with the development of 16 different anti-tank mines, and 10 anti-personnel mines. Since these first mines were planted in the earth’s soil and waterways millions of people, mostly civilians have been killed and maimed. Along with the physical harm to humans, the environment has been dramatically altered in the areas where mines are present.

The major problem with a mine is that it is a killer that will not discriminate. A mine can be tripped by the foot of a soldier, the snout of cattle, or the hand of a child. It will kill all three equally. It is estimated that 71 people die every day from mine explosions. Some are killed instantly; others bleed to death hours later. In Cambodia there are more mines than people and

Currently there are numerous mine clearance operations taking place around the world. The Unites States is the front runner of these missions, contributing over 500 million dollars since 1993, and participating in mine clearance operations in 38 countries. The problem with the removal of landmines is that it is labor intensive and very expensive. The UN estimates the price of clearing a mine to be between $300-$1000. Some methods involve detonating entire mine fields which again causes great environmental destruction. Others painstakingly remove each mine one-by-one. There is no perfect method, it is dangerous work and not nearly enough people to do it.

The problems associated with landmines were addressed in 1997 at the Ottawa Convention. The 1997 mine ban treaty was established to rid the world of the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of landmines. The treaty, which was applauded around the globe, was signed by three-quarters of the world’s nations, including all G-8 countries with the exception of Russia, and the United States. The U.S. has not used anti-personnel landmines since the 1991 Gulf War and was a leader in expressing its concern over the continued use of land mines. A statement by President Clinton prior to the establishment of the treaty demonstrates this, “Today I am launching an international effort to ban anti-personnel landmines. The U.S. will lead a global effort to eliminate these terrible weapons and stop the enormous loss of human life.” Today the Pentagon maintains the U.S. right to use landmines because they play a vital and essential role by restricting troop movements

Some topics in this essay:
British Army, Ban Treaty, President Clinton, Iraq United, North Korea, Ottawa Convention, Indian Ocean, President Bush, Gulf War, Deadly Leftovers, land mines, mine ban treaty, mines planted, earth’s soil, alternative methods, methods developed, anti-personnel landmines, mine fields, north korea, mine clearance operations, alternative methods developed, mine clearance, clearance operations,