Wake up Kiwis Brian and Leang Hayes are raising money for the mine victims of Thailand by their RUNNING FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT RUN. Please see photo on our website. There are also full details as an attachment to our latest newsletter. Brian and Leang hope to raise $1,000 to take to the Prosthetic Centre at Chiang Mai. Brian tells me he has already raised $777.00 but most of this money has come from the Thai community in Wellington. These are people who know the need so I hope the New Zealanders will wake up and match the generosity of the Thai people of Wellington. People wanting to join with other New Zealanders in sponsoring this cause can send their details and or a cheque to The Treasurer, CALM, P O Box 17-195 Karori, or leave them at Leang's Hair Salon 338 Karori Road.

Hold Hands Against Mines at the 5th Meeting of States Parties

By Deborah Morris, in Thailand

The 5th Meeting of States Parties (5MSP) to the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty is set to take place in Bangkok, Thailand from 15-19 September 2003. Convened by the United Nations, 5MSP promises to focus the world's attention on the impact of antipersonnel landmines in Asia-Pacific, where some of the most heavily mined nations (Afghanistan, Burma, Sri Lanka) and the world's biggest mine producers (Singapore, China, India, Pakistan and South Korea) are.

The 5MSP provides a forum in which progress towards the full implementation of the Treaty can be assessed, including survivor assistance, stockpile destruction and the cessation of landmine production. The 600 international delegates from Governments, UN bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), will identify next steps for consolidating the progress achieved to date and reaching the goal of a mine free world.

Early in the meeting, delegates will hear directly from landmine survivors participating in the "Raising the Voices" programme. While assisting the Thai Campaign to Ban Landmines prepare for the meeting, I have been struck by the horrific stories of these survivors. I hope they will serve as a valuable reminder to all delegates of the importance of our work and the need for all of us to stand together and "Hold Hands Against Mines".

The New Zealand Campaign Against Landmines (CALM) is making a significant contribution to this meeting, by facilitating the participation of delegates from Tuvalu, Fiji and Vanuatu. Funded by the New Zealand Government, NGO representatives from these States will attend the meeting and support wider efforts to achieve universalisation of the Treaty in the Pacific, where five States are yet to accede to the Treaty, and another three are still to ratify by passing domestic legislation. Convenor John Head, Treasurer Brian Hayes, and committee members Deborah Morris and Chris Swain will represent New Zealand's Campaign Against Landmines at the meeting.

Cluster bombs and other explosive remnants of war Report from the United Kingdom

Anne Quesney, the Coordinator of the Clear Up Campaign in the United Kingdom writes. "Landmine Action and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, our partners in this campaign, would like to take this opportunity to thank CALM and its members for their much valued support in raising awareness about the devastating impact of explosive remnants of war on civilian communities and for adding signatures to the petition.

International interest in the Clear Up! Campaign and petition is growing rapidly, spelling with support coming from all corners of the world. Your efforts will contribute to this collective action. In the UK we have secured strong support from a wide range of organisations from many different sectors, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and trade unions.

With only three months to go before the next meeting of States Parties to the UN Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) at the end of November we are urging as many individuals and organisations to register their support and sign the petition at www.clearup.org to give a clear message to governments around the world to clear up their lethal mess." Here in New Zealand we have received publicity material from Landmine Action. This includes a descriptive leaflet with a petition form and we hope readers will contact John Head if you wish to collect signatures. We also have booklets, speakers kits and videos available for people wanting to hold meetings. We have already had a strong interest from Auckland NGOs and religious groups.

The CALM Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting was held at the Wellington City Council Chambers and among those welcomed by the Convenor, John Head were Nathan Donaldson of Boost New Media, Geraldine Canham-Harvey (remember her report from Afghanistan?) and her husband, Mac, Interim Editor Louise Head and Hayden Montgomerie from the United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand.

The Minutes of the previous AGM held on the 12 June 2002 were confirmed. The Convenor presented the four page CALM Annual Report and commented on sections. The topics covered in the report included; Clear Up Campaign, Government Support, Mine Ban Treaty and the Universalisation in the Pacific,funding for overseas projects, our Youth Campaign, Non State Actors mine use, Lawrence Carter's landmine detection research and thanks for the work of the Committee.

The full report is on our new website under Newsletters The Treasurer Brian Hayes presented a Financial report which showed that our current bank balance had dropped from $4.146.03 to $2860.82. The Treasurer was thanked for his conscientious work and for the clarity of the report.

It was agreed that we continue to support membership of the Council for International Development and the National Consultative Committee for Disarmament.

The following Officers were elected; Convenor, John Head; Deputy Convenor, David Zwartz, Secretary, Stuart Beresford, Treasurer Brian Hayes; Editor Louise Head and Youth Coordinator Chris Swain. The Committee as listed in the last newsletter, was reelected with the addition of Tony Connell at present based in Albania and the resignation of Dr Malcolm Watson. The Chairman paid tribute to Malcolm, who has been on the Committee since 1994 and through his work as a Medical Officer in the Vietnam War had gained a very real insight into the suffering caused by landmines.

CALM Committee Meeting

A Committee Meeting to plan the following year's activities was held after the AGM.

CALM FINANCES The very significant drop in CALM finances was noted by members. Our Treasurer reported that each issue of the newsletter cost between $200 to $350 depending on the length of the newsletter and that the current membership subscriptions do not cover costs. It was agreed that a further appeal for subscriptions and donations be launched with this newsletter. We do need your financial support to maintain our services. One way of reducing costs is to send as many newsletters as possible by email rather than by hard copy and the Committee agreed to this.

YOUTH PETITION We welcomed Chris Swain who has taken over the role of Youth Coordinator. Our first Youth Coordinator, Helen Presland reported that as a result of her letter writing campaign to Secondary Schools she was able to send 26 pages of completed petition forms to the ICBL. The petition called for an end to war and an end to landmines and we do appreciate this support from the young people of New Zealand. Other young people signed the petition on the ICBL website.

Cluster Bombs Shut Out of Arms Fair

Manufacturers asked not to bring controversial weapons to London Owen Bowcott

The Guardian. August 30, 2003.
Weapons manufacturers have been requested not to display cluster bombs at next month's military equipment exhibition in the London Docklands because they are considered "inappropriate" for the UK market. The Guardian has been told that the decision to hide the trade in such lethal anti-personnel devices is being enforced despite the fact that British and US forces used them extensively in the invasion of Iraq.

The sensitivity reflects mounting public concern over the dangers posed by the multiple "bomblets" Contained in cluster bombs. A significant number do not explode on impact, remaining on the ground and attracting the attention of youngsters. The UN children's fund Unicef believes more than 1,000 children have been injured by cluster bomblets and other unexploded munitions since the official end of conflict in Iraq.

The Mine Victim

This true story by Gerald Hinton of the Australian Campaign was printed in their newsletter. We have the Australian Campaign's permission to reprint it.

"I recently spoke on behalf of the Australian Network of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines to a Probus Club meeting. At question time an exDigger shared this story from a Vietnam Veteran Motor Cycle member, who did not want to be named, which in far more meaningful words than mine gave the audience another perspective of what it is like to be a landmine victim.

"A soldier was finally coming home after the completion of his "tour of duty" in South Vietnam. He phoned his parents from Sydney "Mum and Dad, I'm coming home but I have a favour to ask. I have a mate I would like to bring home with me." "Of course" they replied, "we'd love to meet him." "There is something you should know" the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly during a jungle patrol. He stepped on a mine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere to go and I want him to come and live with us." "Sorry to hear about that son," said his father, "maybe we can help him find somewhere to live." "No Mum and Dad, I want him to come and live with us!" the son pleaded. "Son, you do not know what you are asking, someone with such a handicap would be such a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let someone like this disrupt our normal routine. I think you should come home and forget this bloke. He will find a way to live on his own." At this point the son hung up the phone and his parents heard nothing more from him.

A few weeks later however, they received a call from the police in Sydney. Their son had died after falling off the roof of a building. The police suspected suicide. The grief stricken parents rushed to Sydney to identify the body of their son. They recognised him but to their horror, they also discovered something they did not know. Their son had only one arm and one leg!" Just another of the appalling legacies from the use of landmines.

CALM operates a news group for people who want to receive by email, this newsletter, world media reports and other important information to ban landmines. To join this news group please email our Secretary at <s.beresford@paradise.net.nz>

This newsletter has been prepared by John Head, typeset by Louise Head and printed and distributed by Stuart Beresford.