New Zealand Campaign Against Landmines (CALM)
From "Our Woman in Geneva": Post-4MSP Deborah Morris, in Geneva Renowned for its august institutions of political and financial business, the people in Geneva seem a serious lot and some say the locals get sick of the constant revolving circus of international visitors: ambassadors, diplomats, non-government and private sector players who tend to stay no more than 2.5 days. Complete with 131 state delegations (the highest number of states ever present at this annual event), along with an energetic non-government contingent, around 700 fresh faces hit town for the 4th Meeting of States Parties (4MSP) under the Ottawa mine ban treaty (Sept 16-20). Our arrival did not go unnoticed. For the duration of the meeting the city's buses proudly displayed the blue UN flag alongside the colourful flag marking the occasion of the meeting and the message, 'Every step counts.' Switzerland having recently joined the UN, displaying the flags seemed particularly timely. It's likely delegates for the 4MSP struck the locals as a little more upbeat than some of the other delegates and representatives who turn up in this city. With the treaty's implementation showing impressive results, Ottawa processes are a unique story in multi-lateral diplomacy. Not surprising then that Geneva's resident disarmament community gave me the sense that Ottawa was a relief to work on after some of the diplomatic posturing and paralysis taking place under older and more cumbersome international treaties. A theme of this year's meeting of governments was the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Oslo negotiations in Norway, which saw governments and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) agree the text of the treaty. From the time of those negotiations, the humanitarian purpose of Ottawa started to take effect. Landmine Monitor 2002 and the ICBL report that collective efforts to reduce the humanitarian impact of landmines has seen 61 governments destroy 34 million stockpiled mines; mine clearance efforts in 74 of the 90 states affected by mines; a reduction in the number of mine producing states from 55 to 14; and, most importantly, fewer new mine victims. Annually bringing together the international bodies, governments and NGOs central to this progress stimulates impetus for continued action. This year's meeting saw four new states confirm their accession to the treaty: Afghanistan, Cameroon, Comoros and the Central African Republic. It also saw calls for additional resources to be invested in victim assistance, for mine clearance and stockpile destruction efforts to meet the deadlines specified in the treaty, and for continuing work to universalize the treaty. As governments reported on the extent to which they were meeting their legal obligations on these activities, the New Zealand delegation was able to report the use of inert dummy mines for training, which allowed us to destroy all stockpiles. Disarmament Ambassador Tim Caughley did an excellent job of communicating the benefits of the dummy mine and urging other governments to follow suit. New Zealand's policy on this was well received by the meeting and the mine was displayed for delegates to see. On the less-formal calendar of events for the week was the stockpile destruction film festival. This saw ICBL members and a smattering of government delegates watch video footage of enormous piles of anti-personnel landmines being destroyed, with prizes for the best short film. The judging criteria seemed random to say the least but the content that seemed to impress the judges included loudest boom at point of detonation, largest plume of smoke, and even the exceedingly long official ceremonies taking place either side of the explosion. Whatever it was the judges were looking for, seeing enormous piles of mines going up in smoke brought plenty of applause from the audience. Watching this footage was the first time I had seen the meticulous process of stockpile destruction take place, and I was impressed. If governments get on with the process of destroying their stockpiles, there should be plenty more good footage for future film festival entries. Having participated in the 1997 Ottawa meeting where governments began signing the treaty, it was inspiring to attend the 4MSP and see the International Campaign continuing to go strong, governments meeting their obligations, and positive progress being made towards achieving a mine free world. It was also useful to be reminded of the need for continued work in the Pacific region if its mine-free status is to be maintained. The Ottawa treaty demonstrates the potential inherent in civil society - you and me participating in the political process, making a call for appropriate action from our decision-makers and mobilising the awareness to ensure it happens; there are lessons for all of us in the example set by Ottawa. The success of this process should inspire ambitious politicians prepared to pursue humanitarian and disarmament concerns to do so in partnership with NGOs and, similarly, it should restore a sense of promise about the ability of people working on the ground to take their experiences to governments and completely reform international norms and practice. The 4MSP confirmed it has happened and it can happen again. As the time approaches for governments to decide whether to negotiate a treaty aimed at reducing the deadly impact of explosive remnants of war, including cluster bombs, we should remember the successes we are witnessing. Explosive remnants of war is the next challenge for the international disarmament community and I am certain CALM will have a valuable contribution to make.
I have just been completing an Oral History of our Campaign with interviews of former Prime Minister Jim Bolger and former Minister of Disarmament Sir Douglas Graham. Earlier I had interviewed other members of the National Party Caucus and I have been able to record something of the debate within a divided Caucus in 1996. The question was whether New Zealand should be the first country in the Commonwealth to support a worldwide ban on landmines. Our campaign won the day because of the initial enthusiasm of Joy McLauchlan (now Quigley) who consistently called for a ban. In a democracy we cannot forget the need to keep people, and not just leaders, informed and enthusiastic over the issues. We need to spread
our message more widely and I am looking for supporters in Whangarei,
Napier, Palmerston North, Nelson, Dunedin and Waiheke Island who
would be prepared to deliver some attractive publicity brochures
to their public library or community centre. If you can help do
please drop me a line or send me an email now. Thanks.
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) has decentralised its resources and I am now holding a wide range of videos, coloured slides, an audio tape, books, posters, balloons, sweaters and even bumper stickers. They have even provided the finance for the despatch of these items to you, so how about talking with a group about our campaign and using some of these items to make a greater impact. John Head
Around the globe, many anti-landmine organisations have youth initiatives. Mines affect young people in terrible ways, but young people can also influence change. CALM is, over the next year, going to implement youth initiatives with the aims of spreading the landmine message to youth, and alerting people to the atrocious affects of landmines on young people. One ICBL youth initiative is The Youth Against War Treaty. This treaty states WE
WANT NO MORE WAR. WE PROMISE TO WORK FOR PEACE IN OUR WORLD CALM now has a link to this Treaty on its web site. See http://www.protel.co.nz/calm/youth/. This is a youth version of The People's Treaty (see http://www.icbl.org/treaty/people/) so signatories must be less than 25 years old. It is intended to be a youth voice and we really encourage people to get their names on to it. For those over 25 who want to sign the People's Treaty, there will soon be a link to this through the CALM web site too. We will keep you updated on this. In Wellington, CALM is establishing links with tertiary and other institutions; we are going to publish material in student newspapers, distribute membership forms and information leaflets and we hope that a group such as a human rights action group at a university or polytechnic may pick up CALM's message and run with it. CALM is keen to establish a network of young people or groups across New Zealand who are driven to spread the youth message in their community; be it through their school, tertiary institution, church or community group. We would love to hear from anyone willing to work on youth landmine issues in their area. There is more information on the ICBL web site regarding the types of activities that youth have carried out to publicise their message. Check out http://www.icbl.org/youth/action/ and contact Helen Presland (helen.presland@ paradise. net.nz) if you have are keen to work on this issue is your area, of have ideas for youth initiatives that someone else could work on. ICBL Ambassador Jody Williams has been quoted as saying "All too often adults refer to young people as the 'leaders of tomorrow.' From my experience with amazing kids all over the world, many of them are not waiting for 'tomorrow' -- they are already leaders today. And we have the great fortune to have many of these young leaders involved in the global effort to eradicate landmines." We hope there are youth members of CALM willing to work to rid the world of landmines today. If you are yourself over 25, please pass on this page (or a photocopy of it) to your children or grandchildren, or to local youth or a church group or local school, so that the Youth Message reaches the people who can take it up.
It is not just oldies who are being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Sixteen-year-old Gerson Andrés Flórez Pérez's own short but remarkable life adds credibility to the idea that youth can make a difference in the world. Pérez said he started speaking out about peace issues at age 10, after getting the horrifying news that two children he knew had been killed by landmines in a rural area outside Bogota, Colombia, where he lives. "I thought, I can do something," he said. "Many adults don't believe in children, young people. They think we're just the future but we can be the present." Pérez started to talk to members of the media about the devastating impact of landmines. He wrote and submitted a peace proposal, which took him three years to write, to the Colombian Congress and was invited to speak there. His efforts to help the children in his country who are suffering the effects of an ongoing civil war started to gain international attention. He was invited to speak at peace conferences and other gatherings in the UK, Norway, the Netherlands and the USA. Norwegian members of parliament put forth his nomination for the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his peace activism and efforts to stop the use of landmines. But if there is any peace prize, Pérez says "it's Colombian children" who should get it. [Toronto Star]
CALM
Committee Thirteen attended the CALM Committee meeting on 3 September which included vigorous debate on CALM's strategic plan for the coming year. As part of the plan - to inform decision makers about CALM's aims and activities - secretary Helen Presland has written to all new MPs. A report from the committee meeting on 1 October will be given in the next Newsletter.
Angola's
Mine Problem At the signing of a peace agreement in Angola between the government and UNITA, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan spoke of the need for an effective programme of mine action: "Angola remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. As you increasingly consolidate the peace, people will want to return to homes in areas that hitherto have been off-limits. At this point, mine action will become a key component of the resettlement and recovery efforts, ensuring that people can return safely and begin to rebuild. "The presence - or even the fear of the presence - of just one landmine can prevent the cultivation of an entire field, robbing a family of its livelihood and an entire village of its sustenance. Each mine cleared may mean a life saved. Each mine cleared will bring you one step closer to building the conditions for lasting and productive peace." [United Nations]
Bosnian Children Maimed by Landmines Football manager Mick McCarthy displayed flashes of passion when he lashed the use of landmines as cruel weapons that maim and kill innocent Bosnian children. "Many are brightly coloured and attract and injure children as they walk home from school, as they play football in the fields, as they work on their family farms," he told business leaders at a UNICEF charity lunch in Dublin. Since McCarthy's visit to Bosnia last April to draw world attention to the plight of innocent children injured by landmine explosions, 15 Bosnian children have lost limbs. Over one million landmines remain in Bosnia, seven years after the bloody war following the break up of Yugoslavia. "I wanted to help in any way I could," said McCarthy. "It is very sad and distressing to see young children who have lost limbs. But what is amazing is to see the power of these children and how they get on. They keep smiling and living their lives and that is something we can all learn from." McCarthy, who has been appointed a special patron of UNICEF Ireland, said "We all have a responsibility as global citizens, but as leaders in sport, business or entertainment in Ireland we have an added responsibility to show the way." Commenting on his Bosnian experience last Easter, McCarthy said: "Nothing prepared me for the awful reality of this legacy of war." I sat in a classroom with children as young as seven who were being taught what to do if they spotted a mine. Seven years old. And I met with a young boy called who lost both his legs while playing football." Over the next three years UNICEF is funding a programme which will educate 600,000 school-age children in Bosnia on prevention of mine injuries. [The Irish Examiner]
This newsletter edited by David Zwartz, despatched by Helen Presland |
CALM is the New Zealand Campaign Against Landmines.
CALM is a member of ICBL, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines
which was co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1997.
