| Media Note (Revised) Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC October 12, 2005 U.S. Department of State and Chicago Coalition for Landmine Action ConferenceChicago, the "city of big shoulders," was the site of a National Conference for Landmine Action that encouraged civil society to help combat the global landmine problem. The October 6 – 8, 2005 Conference, organized by the Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and the Chicago Coalition for Landmine Action, brought together fifty-six governmental, national and regional non-governmental organizations with Chicago-area residents, introduced thousands to the humanitarian landmine problem, and inspired many to become involved in solving it. Highlights included a video-taped welcome by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a keynote address by former National Security Advisor Anthony Lake - - now Chairman of the Marshall Legacy Institute - - a mine detecting dog demonstration, and a mock minefield at a public square in downtown Chicago near Daley Plaza. The conference featured workshops on the basics of humanitarian mine action for those new to the issue, and how organizations can effectively raise funds for mine action, build informed constituencies, collaborate on joint projects, write grant proposals, work with donors, and partner with governments. Representatives from the Department of State, the Chicago Coalition for Landmine Action, and mine action organizations also participated in grass roots mine awareness events at private homes and educational institutions, including the Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology; Columbia College; DePaul University; Northwestern University; and Roosevelt University. Over 100 representatives from fifty–six organizations participated in the conference. The Chicago Coalition for Landmine Action groups included the American Refugee Committee; American Red Cross of Greater Chicago; CARE-Midwest Region; Center for International Rehabilitation; Canadian Consulate General; Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology; Rotary District 6450; Rotary Club of Chicago; Rotary Club of Chicago-Lakeview, Rotary Club of Chicago-Financial District; Kurth Lampe Inc.; Landmines Blow!; United Nations Association of Greater Chicago; and World Resources Chicago. Also participating were Adopt-A-Minefield; British Consulate-General; Chicago Council on Foreign Relations; Chicago Global Donors Network; Clear Path International; Commission on Human Relations-City of Chicago; DePaul University; Digital Resource Foundation for the Orthotics and Prosthetics Community; Evanston Ecology Center; Erie House; European Commission; Global Limb Assistance Program; The Golden Foundation; Golden West Humanitarian Foundation; HALO Trust USA; Handicap International France; Humpty Dumpty Institute; Jaipur Foot & Health and Happiness Inc.; Landmine Survivors Network; Marshall Legacy Institute; Doug Mercado; Mine Action Information Center at James Madison University; MAG America; Northwestern University; One Sri Lanka Foundation; Polus Center for Social and Economic Development; Prestige Health Care Technologies; Prosthetics Outreach Foundation; Roots of Peace; The Rotary Foundation; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Chicago-Guatemala; Roosevelt University; UNICEF Office of Emergency Programs; University of Chicago International House; United Nation Mines Action Service (UNMAS); U.S. Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining Training Center; U.S. Great Lakes Naval Band; U.S. Department of State Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement; Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation; Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund; and the World Education Consortium. 2005/939
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