NOVEMBER 2009 a veteran is … KEY MESSAGES: • Conflicts are no longer fought on defined battlefields. They are fought where people live, work, learn and play. • Canadians generally think of veterans as members of our armed forces who have served in wars or peacekeeping missions and this is true. However, conflicts today also make veterans of civilians, children and others who did not enlist. • MAC’s work prevents civilians, children and others from becoming unintended veterans by limiting the use of indiscriminate, persistent victim-activated weapons through the enforcement and creation of international law. MAC also works to ensure the rights and dignity of those already affected is restored by supporting programs that assist survivors and their families, clear land, and provide risk prevention education.
BACKGROUND: • The 2009 Landmine Monitor report findings will be released on November 12th. Check out www.lm.icbl.org to get the latest statistics. • The 2008 Landmine Monitor reported 5,426 casualties — 71% were civilians. Men made up 48% of civilian casualties, where gender was known, and children constituted 46%.
• Significant dates to organize events around include the International Day for Preventing Exploitation of the Environment in War & Armed Conflict (November 6); World Science Day for Peace & Development (November 10); Remembrance Day (November 11); and the release of the Landmine Monitor 2009 report (November 12).
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Make History Happen: MAC’s 2009–2010 National Campaign
Photo: Simon Conway
• Animals and the environment are also adversely affected by landmines, cluster bombs and explosive remnants of war. The most famous example of this is Motola, the Thai elephant who lost a foot and part of a leg in a mine accident 10 years ago. In August 2009, she received an artificial limb (www.breitbart.com/ article.php?id=D9A411180&show_article=1)