SAFE PASSAGE: A Newsletter for the Humanitarian Mine Action and Small Arms/Light Weapons Communities, November 2006 PDF version Released by the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs In This Issue:
The HALO Trust in Abkhazia
PM/WRA Hosts Grants Workshop The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) hosted its first Grants Workshop on August 2-3, 2006, at the JW Marriot Hotel in Washington, DC. The workshop was attended by over 50 grantees from 31 PM/WRA-funded organizations. PM/WRA Director Richard Kidd and Deputy Directors Jim Lawrence, Colonel Stuart Harris, and Steve Costner provided opening remarks and an overview of the PM/WRA organization, mission, goals, and objectives. [full story]
Browne Academy Students Raise Funds for CHAMPS
Grapes for Humanity Fundraisers
Clearing Landmines with Rotary ![L-R: Dr. Prakash Chandran [India], Rev. Wolfgang Jockusch [Germany], Carol Edwina Andersen [Denmark], Peggy E. Pope [USA], and Hitomi Hosono [Japan]. On the screen: Sally Mackle [USA]. [Photo courtesy of Dr. Prakash Chandran]](http://www.state.gov/cms_images/safe_passage_5rotary_100.jpg) The atmosphere was that light-hearted, close, friendly feeling that one has at a family wedding. There we were, friends of all generations, touching hands, smiling, making eye-contact, happy. The evening sun sparkled on the Baltic Sea, a light breeze rustled trees in the manicured garden and friendly faces raised their glasses. People hugged one another and celebrated a successful, fruitful event. But the occasion was not a family event; it was the will to rid the world of persistent landmines. [full story]
In Memoriam With deep regret, PM/WRA notes the passing of a longstanding partner and mentor to countless young people, Mr. Douglas Kavanaugh, on May 17, at Sauvie Island near Portland, Oregon, where he lived on a houseboat. [full story]
PM/WRA "WAD" Team Project Funded in part by PM/WRA, HALO Trust Weapons and Ammunition Disposal (WAD) teams are destroying an ever-increasing number of weapons munitions and bullets turned over by Angolan Armed Forces. On August 9, 2006, there were about 2,000 weapons available for destruction, and within 24 hours the Army brought in pallets of rifles bringing the total to about 6,000. By the end of the day 340 weapons had been destroyed and the FAA commander in Huambo had requested that HALO travel to Bie to assess WAD team engagement there. See the related "photo album". The HALO Trust in Abkhazia By Kurt Chesko, The HALO Trust
The support of PM/WRA has enabled The HALO Trust to achieve significant results in Abkhazia. Under the most recently completed contract, PM/WRA-funded teams found and destroyed 1,265 anti-personnel mines, 10 anti-vehicle mines, and 187 items of unexploded ordnance. A total of 2,491,614 square meters (616 acres) of mine-contaminated land was The successful partnership between HALO and PM/WRA has enabled some 50,000 internally displaced persons to relocate to Gali without any mine incidents or accidents occurring. Additionally, tourists--Abkhazia's chief source of income before the conflict--are returning to the region's beautiful beaches and stunning landscapes. The cultivation of tea, maize, mandarins, and other fruits is also on the rise. As HALO winds down its operations in Abkhazia, demining teams will focus on the remaining mined areas in Sokhumi and the Kodori Valley. The HALO Trust aims to declare Abkhazia mine-impact free by the end of 2007.
PM/WRA Hosts Grants Workshop By Elise Becker, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) hosted its first Grants Workshop on August 2-3, 2006, at the JW Marriot Hotel in Washington, DC. The workshop was attended by over 50 grantees from 31 PM/WRA-funded organizations. PM/WRA Director Richard Kidd and Deputy Directors Jim Lawrence, Colonel Stuart Harris, and Steve Costner provided opening remarks and an overview of the PM/WRA organization, mission, goals, and objectives.
Clearing Landmines with Rotary By Carol Edwina Andersen, Copenhagen International Rotary Club ![L-R: Dr. Prakash Chandran [India], Rev. Wolfgang Jockusch [Germany], Carol Edwina Andersen [Denmark], Peggy E. Pope [USA], and Hitomi Hosono [Japan]. On the screen: Sally Mackle [USA]. [Photo courtesy of Dr. Prakash Chandran]](http://www.state.gov/cms_images/safe_passage_5rotary.jpg) The atmosphere was that light-hearted, close, friendly feeling that one has at a family wedding. There we were, friends of all generations, touching hands, smiling, making eye-contact, happy. The evening sun sparkled on the Baltic Sea, a light breeze rustled trees in the manicured garden and friendly faces raised their glasses. People hugged one another and celebrated a successful, fruitful event. But the occasion was not a family event; it was the will to rid the world of persistent landmines. Sandy Kaiser, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, graciously invited members of Rotarians for Mine Action (RMA) who were in Copenhagen for the Rotary International Convention, together with friends and supporters in the Danish community, to an unforgettable reception at her residence. We celebrated Rotarian and American commitment to raise awareness and funds for mine action. The evening capped off a day in which RMA, a group in which I am an active member, had just held an extremely productive seminar attended by representatives from 15 different countries, followed by a demonstration by Danminer Ltd., a Danish firm that trains dogs to detect landmines. The nucleus of activity for RMA at the Rotary International Convention, June 11-14, was our stand in the convention hall. Twelve stalwart people from eight different countries had dedicated many hours of their time to spread the word about landmines and how Rotary Clubs around the world could get involved in mine action. For four days, a constant stream of Rotarians from every corner of the globe visited, chatted, and hopefully went away a little wiser. Some told us about the projects they had in motion and the support that they were seeking. Others told us about the need in their particular country for landmine clearance and the hope that this could be done via Rotary. Many more gave us tips and information about projects and action groups all over the world working for the same ultimate aim--to clear landmines. As all of this information is collected and documented, a valuable databank is being populated. Members seeking details about all matters related to mine clearance, from names of demining groups to charities producing low-cost prosthetics, can draw upon these varied sources. Thanks to these four days in Copenhagen, we could enjoy our reception in the sun--people of all ages, creeds, and colors, thinking back warmly about the good times we have just enjoyed with our new-found friends from all over the world. It was a magical hour. We discovered that we are a family. And our RMA booth at the Rotary International Convention had become the spearhead of the worldwide movement of Rotarians to clear landmines. Many thanks for sponsorship to the State Department's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, particularly to Peggy Pope, Hydrema Ltd. and Mrs. Kaiser for opening her private residence to us on such a wonderful summer day. In Memoriam With deep regret, PM/WRA notes the passing of a longstanding partner and mentor to countless young people, Mr. Douglas Kavanaugh, on May 17, at Sauvie Island near Portland, Oregon, where he lived on a houseboat. When we first contacted Doug early in 2001, he was the Coordinator for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program for all of the high schools in the Beaverton, Oregon School District. On his own initiative, he inspired his IB students, students outside of the program, and scores of fellow educators and parents--including some in the adjoining Portland School District and across the state line in Washington State--to become aware of the global landmine problem and to actually try to do something about it. As a result, a group of his students raised funds and "adopted" a minefield for clearance in Spean Youl village, in Chreay Seima commune in Cambodia, through the UNA-USA's Adopt-A-Minefield program, with Doug serving as their mentor. Doug's initiative came to the attention of the national International Baccalaureate program in the United States, and at one point at least, support for mine action as a service learning tool was incorporated in their activities. Recently, Doug switched from his IB duties to working on a social studies program in his school district. We are sure that he was able to reach out and influence even more young people with his good humor, passion for life, innate teaching skills, and keen interest in the world around us. He will be sorely missed.
U.S. Department of State Mine Action Partners PM/WRA welcomes the International Eurasia Press Fund as our newest Mine Action Partner. Thank you for supporting mine action in
Adopt-A-Minefield | AVSI | Center for International Rehabilitation | Center for Teaching International Relations | Children of Armenia Fund | CIREC | Clear Path International | C King Associates | Cranfield University | DanChurchAid | DC Comics | Danish Demining Group | Freedom Fields | Global Care Unlimited | Golden West Humanitarian Foundation | Grapes for Humanity | HALO Trust | Handicap International - France | Health Volunteers Overseas | Humpty Dumpty Institute | HHI | International Eurasia Press Fund | Julia Burke Foundation | Kids First Vietnam | Landmine Survivors Network | Landmines Blow! | Lipscomb University | Marshall Legacy Institute | Medical Care Development International | Messiah College | Mine Action Information Center | Mines Advisory Group | Newsweek Education Program | One Sri Lanka Foundation | PeaceTrees Vietnam | People to People International | Polus Center | Prestige Health Care Technologies | Prosthetics Outreach Foundation | Roots of Peace | Rose Charities | Save the Children | SFLAG | Dr. Ken Rutherford/Missouri State University | Spirit of Soccer | Students Partnership Worldwide | Survey Action Center | United Nations Foundation | Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation | Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund | Warner Bros. | World Education | World Rehabilitation Fund More Information
For more information on mine action initiatives, please contact: U.S. Department of State [Also see previous editions.] |
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![The Kodori Valley remains one of the last regions requiring landmine clearance in Georgia's Abkhazia region. [Photo courtesy of Kurt Chesko, The HALO Trust]](http://www.state.gov/cms_images/safe_passage_2kodori2_100.jpg)
The 1992-93 secessionist conflict between Georgia and its Abkhazia region resulted in heavy mine-laying by both sides. A cease-fire agreement was signed in May 1994. After prolonged negotiations between HALO, the Georgian Government, and the de facto Abkhaz representatives, HALO launched its Abkhazia program in 1997. The Department of State has funded HALO demining operations in Abkhazia since 2001, providing $9.5 million in support of the program. HALO's program currently consists of 550 national staff and includes manual and mechanical demining assets. [![Brownie, mine-detecting dog. [Photo courtesy of Kimberly McCasland, Marshall Legacy Institute]](http://www.state.gov/cms_images/safe_passage_3dog2_100.jpg)
Fellow teacher Kimberly McCue and I first learned about the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) and its Children Against Mines Program (CHAMPS) from Mort Dukeheart, Head of School at the Browne Academy, in the spring of 2005. We agreed that Browne Academy, a K-12 independent school, would benefit from involvement with this unique service project and that we would start a school-wide campaign to raise awareness of the landmine crisis and funds for a mine-detecting dog. Thanks to support from the Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, MLI and the community, we raised $10,000 for a dog named "Brownie" last year, and we've started a new campaign. MLI found a grant for $5,000, so we only have $5,000 to raise to call Brownie our own mine-detecting dog.![L-R: Tony Aspler, Madame May-Eliane de Lencquesaing and Arlene Willis at the Grapes for Humanity fundraiser in Toronto. [Photo courtesy of Tom Sandler, Tom Sandler Photography]](http://www.state.gov/cms_images/safe_passage_4fund_100.jpg)
In May, Grapes for Humanity, a Toronto-based charitable foundation, held an ambitious three-day fundraising effort for landmine victims in three cities. The guest of honor at all the events was Madame May-Elaine de Lencquesaing, proprietor of the renowned Bordeaux Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, who graciously supplied the wines for all the gala dinners. In addition to the dinners, live and silent auctions helped raise a grand total of $250,000.![Tourists enjoy Abkhazia's sunny beaches and beautiful landscapes. [Photo courtesy of Kurt Chesko, The HALO Trust]](http://www.state.gov/cms_images/safe_passage_1beach.jpg)
The 1992-93 secessionist conflict between Georgia and its Abkhazia region resulted in heavy mine-laying by both sides. A cease-fire agreement was signed in May 1994. After prolonged negotiations between HALO, the Georgian Government, and the de facto Abkhaz representatives, HALO launched its Abkhazia program in 1997. The Department of State has funded HALO demining operations in Abkhazia since 2001, providing $9.5 million in support of the program. HALO's program currently consists of 550 national staff and includes manual and mechanical demining assets. ![The Kodori Valley remains one of the last regions requiring landmine clearance in Georgia's Abkhazia region. [Photo courtesy of Kurt Chesko, The HALO Trust]](http://www.state.gov/cms_images/safe_passage_2kodori.jpg)
cleared and declared safe. In May of 2005, after seven years of demining, HALO completed operations in the Gali region of Abkhazia and declared it mine-impact free. During August 2005, HALO officially certified the clearance of the Gumista riverbank area of Abkhazia's capital city Sukhumi back to Abkhaz authorities. The Ochamchire region is expected to be certified as mine-impact free in early 2007. ![Brownie, mine-detecting dog. [Photo courtesy of Kimberly McCasland, Marshall Legacy Institute]](http://www.state.gov/cms_images/safe_passage_3dog.jpg)
Fellow teacher Kimberly McCue and I first learned about the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) and its Children Against Mines Program (CHAMPS) from Mort Dukeheart, Head of School at the Browne Academy, in the spring of 2005. We agreed that Browne Academy, a K-12 independent school, would benefit from involvement with this unique service project and that we would start a school-wide campaign to raise awareness of the landmine crisis and funds for a mine-detecting dog. Thanks to support from the Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, MLI and the community, we raised $10,000 for a dog named "Brownie" last year, and we've started a new campaign. MLI found a grant for $5,000, so we only have $5,000 to raise to call Brownie our own mine-detecting dog.![L-R: Tony Aspler, Madame May-Eliane de Lencquesaing and Arlene Willis at the Grapes for Humanity fundraiser in Toronto. [Photo courtesy of Tom Sandler, Tom Sandler Photography]](http://www.state.gov/cms_images/safe_passage_4fundraiser.jpg)
In May, Grapes for Humanity, a Toronto-based charitable foundation, held an ambitious three-day fundraising effort for landmine victims in three cities. The guest of honor at all the events was Madame May-Elaine de Lencquesaing, proprietor of the renowned Bordeaux Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, who graciously supplied the wines for all the gala dinners. In addition to the dinners, live and silent auctions helped raise a grand total of $250,000.