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Justice and Peace
Links
The electronic
newsletter of the Presbyterian Women Justice
and Peace Committee |
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Landmines
A Growing Problem
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2005, Issue 5 |
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By Lillian Oats
Background
According to the International Campaign
to Ban Landmines, "every 22 minutes, someone somewhere
around the world is killed or maimed by a landmine." Church
World Service, in the pamphlet "Landmines: War's
Lethal Legacy," says "Landmines do not distinguish
between armed combatants and innocent civilians. Most of the
18,000 victims claimed by landmines each year are women and
children. Mines disrupt agriculture, damage the environment,
inhibit the return of displaced persons and refugees, and impede
development and relief efforts." |
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Photo by Dang Ngo |
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Biblical/Theological Dimensions
"They shall beat their swords into
plowshares, and
their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up
sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and
under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them
afraid" (Micah 4:3b–4b).
PC(USA) Position
The most recent action of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) regarding the
banning of antipersonnel land mines was in 1997. The
General Assembly "Renew[ed] its call for the
ratification and implementation of the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty and for the implementation of the
Chemical Weapons Ban Treaty and the revised
Protocol on Antipersonnel Mines" ("On Their Behalf:
A Call to Presbyterians for Immediate Action on Land
Mines," Presbyterian Peacemaking
Program,
December 1997).
Take Action
- Pray for courage and discernment to bring
about change.
- Advocate for the removal of landmines as part
of your focus for the PC(USA)'s
Decade of the Child and the World
Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence.
- Urge your congresspersons to support the banning
and removal of landmines.
- Support the United States' Campaign to Ban
Landmines. Contact the Friends Committee on
National Legislation (FCNL), a Quaker
public lobby; FCNL, 245 Second St., NE,
Washington, DC, 20002-5795; (202) 547-6000;
fcnl@fcnl.org.
- Help raise funds to remove landmines and send
the contributions to:
Here's What Some PWs Are Doing
Lula Mae Giese, a member of the Synod of Lakes and
Prairies, is an outstanding advocate for the banning
and
removal of landmines. Her efforts include raising funds
for the removal of landmines (she began by inviting
members of her congregation to a tea where landmines
were the topic), emailing and writing elected officials,
and participating in the Ecumenical
Advocacy Days program in Washington, D.C.
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The Presbytery of
Utah has completed one fundraising campaign for the removal of
land mines and is off to a great start on another. For information
on both campaigns contact Una
Stevenson (a former CCT/PW vice-moderator
for justice and peace). |
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Photo by Blue Nile images |
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Resources
Print
"On Their Behalf: A Call to Presbyterians
for Immediate Action on Land Mines," Presbyterian
Peacemaking Program, December 1997, Item #7027097022
Unfortunately, this eight-page resource is out of print, but some presbytery
resource centers and PW
leaders have copies, and reproduction of this resource is permitted.
"Landmines:
War's Lethal Legacy," Church
World Service, part of the National Council of Churches
USA
An updated study/action guide on landmines, their destructive
consequences and the response of North
American churches and their worldwide partners. Call (800) 297-1516
or email for
more information.
"Landmines:
Education and Action," Church
World Service, part of the National Council of Churches USA
This informative piece includes a special prayer and four landmine
simulations.
Video
U.S. Campaign to Ban
Landmines Action Video, (10 minutes),
produced by Physicians for Human Rights
Physicians for Human Rights was founded in 1986, based on the
belief that health professionals and
scientists are uniquely qualified to play an important role in human rights
investigations, fact-finding and
documentation efforts. To order, email
Physicians for Human Rights or Friends
Committee on National Legislation; $8, plus $4 shipping.
Landmines: Overcoming
a Lethal Legacy (9 minutes), produced by Church World Service
This video may be borrowed (the borrower pays for shipping
and handling) from Church World Service's
Film and Video Library, videos@churchworldservice.org or
(800) 297-1516.
Web
Church
World Service
This site provides resources, programs, suggested projects
and ways to support efforts to ban landmines.
The Friends
Committee on National Legislation
The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is a
public interest lobby founded in 1943 by members of the
Religious Society of Friends. This site offers resources and a
legislative action center that can connect you with your
congressperson. FCNL recently assumed primary responsibility
for the United States Campaign to Ban Landmines.
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Adopt-A-Minefield
The site of the Adopt-A-Minefield program of the United Nations Association
of the USA provides action projects and news stories, including how landmines
are adding to the difficulty of recovering from the Asian tsunami.
Physicians
for Human Rights
Physicians for Human Rights previously held primary responsibility for the
United States' Campaign to Ban Landmines. This site offers reports,
projects and action alerts related to the banning of landmines. |
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Image by Adopt-A-Minefield program |
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