New Zealand
to Lead Global Mexican Wave of Bell Ringing
New Zealand will lead the way in a huge Mexican Wave of church and
carillon bell-ringing around the world on Monday 1 March. This will
celebrate the coming-into-force of the Landmine Ban Treaty, commonly
known as the Ottawa Treaty.
Church bells in cities the length of New Zealand will ring to celebrate
this unique and historic event.
In Auckland the bells of St Matthew-in-the-City, Hobson Street,
will ring at noon.
Hamilton has the most easterly set of bells in the world in St Peter's
Anglican Cathedral.
In Tauranga the electronic carillon at St Peter's Presbyterian Church
will be an important part of the world-wide celebration.
The 12 tonne Peace Bell, the biggest bell in the Southern Hemisphere,
is located in the War Memorial Carillon in Wellington. It will toll
to celebrate the coming-into-force of the Treaty and also to remember
the victims of this insidious and indiscriminate weapon.
The bells of Christchurch Cathedral, in the square in the centre
of Christchurch will join in the ringing.
Other countries around the world will follow on from New Zealand's
lead.
In Sri Lanka there will be bell-ringing in temples and churches
at 12 noon local time.
There will be bell-ringing from churches throughout France, Italy,
Germany, Switzerland, England and other countries in Europe.
In Brazil there will be bell-ringing throughout the country from
Catholic and Protestant churches alike.
In Canada bells will ring from town halls and churches and prayers
for peace will be broadcast from a mosque.
Many churches will ring two peals, the first will be celebratory
and the second will reflect upon the victims and survivors of land
mine accidents and the ongoing horror that landmines exact upon innocent
lives.
Ottawa
Treaty Update
The Ottawa Treaty has now been signed
by 133 countries and been ratified by 64 of them. New Zealand is amongst
these, having ratified on 27 January 1999.
The Treaty makes it illegal for signatories to manufacture, store
or use anti-personnel mines, and sets down requirements for clearance
of mine-infested areas and for assistance and rehabilitation for mine
victims.
Landmines cause more than 20,000 victims each year. Most of them
are civilians, men, women and children who have had nothing to do
with the conflicts that have left millions of these indiscriminate
weapons scattered around more than 60 countries.
Most victims of landmines, if they survive, will be amputees, and
will need facilities such as artificial legs or arms, and wheelchairs.
Most will not be able to carry on their previous occupations.
NZ military personnel are working on mine clearance projects in
Angola, Mozambique, Laos and Cambodia.
NZ civilians are working on mine victim assistance and rehabilitation
projects in Cambodia.
NZ campaigners have united with others in many countries around
the world to persuade Governments to work together towards a worldwide
ban on antipersonnel landmines.
Researchers in Auckland University are working on developing methods
of locating buried landmines more quickly and safely than the present
manual methods which are slow, laborious and dangerous.
-- Neil Mander
Convenor NZ Campaign Against Landmines.
