Thousands killed by landmines

[Englander]

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1622406,00.html


Trapeang Veng - More than 8 000 people were killed or maimed last year by landmines, though an international treaty that banned the weapons five years ago has reduced the carnage, an activist group said on Wednesday.

Countries increasingly are shunning landmines since the Mine Ban Treaty came into effect in 1999, but the United States, China and Russia are among those that refused to join and still stockpile millions of the devices, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines said.

Since the treaty, the 143 countries that signed the pact have destroyed more than 62 million stockpiled mines and cleared more than 1 100 square kilometers of land of the weapons, the group said.

Only Myanmar(Burma) and Russia have used mines since 1999, the report said.


International Campaign to Ban Landmines;
http://www.icbl.org/

[UL_Approved]

1. I wonder how long...

...before the U.S. starts using land mines in Iraq.

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. I wonder how long...

...before the US uses land mines in the US.

http://brainbbuttons.com

[teryang]

3. Isn't manufacturing mines a billion dollar UK business?

I understand Princess Diana pissed off the Queen with her anti-mine warfare international campaign.