C’est hier matin que Paul et Heather assistaient à une séance de 30 minutes de Chat sur le site officiel du Sir Britannique. Nous vous livrons ci-après la transcription de ce dernier :
Moderator- Ok Lets Go!
Paul- Greetings from Heather and Paul to all you lovely people out there. We are happy that you’ve joined us for this important web chat on a subject that is very dear to our hearts, Landmine Clearance and Survivor assistance is what we do at Adopt A Minefield
Moderator-Elizabeth from Canada asks: What is the estimated number of landmines out there? How long will it take to remove them?
Paul- Hi Elizabeth, Welcome to our chat. In answer to your question currently there are thought to be more 70,000,000 mines out there. The true figure will only be know when they have all been dug up, this could take between 10 and 20 years and this is why we are devoting our efforts right now to seeing the job done, in the end it comes down to money, so everybody who helps us with donations also helps us to clear the world of Landmines and to help the survivors of these dreadful weapons
Moderator-Maris USA asks: How long does the whole process of getting an artificial leg and being able to walk freely?
Heather- Hi Maria, it all depend which country you are in. In the western world you generally need 3 visits the 1st being to take a cast and 2nd one for a test and alignment and the 3rd to check it’s all come together correctly. But in places like Cambodia where there is more need for function than the cosmetic appearance a limb can be made in a couple of hours. As the limb is more basic, and generally needs to be used to move freely through the rice paddy field. So to summarise in the western it can be a few weeks but in some 3rd world countries it can be done in a few hours.
Moderator- John T Reeder from the USA asks: What can I do as an individual to help eliminate landmines? I lost my right leg to cancer when I was 10 and want to help other save their legs.
Paul- Hello John T – The best answer to your question is to donate now to adopt a minefield which means – you will immediately join us in our campaign to eliminate landmines. This also means you will be helping to prevent people losing their limbs and helping to support survivors who may already have lot Limbs. You can email and tell all your friends and contacts to look at landmines.org.uk and help us sort out this global problem. Also you and your friends can take part in our Night 1000 Dinners 2003, we will be giving details of this later in the web chat.
Moderator- Martha from the USA asks: I read an article about the « Dogs of Peace » and was wondering if you can tell me more about it? Are the dogs in any danger?
Heather- Hi Martha, the truth is all animals living or working near fields riddled with landmines are in danger of harm. One of the main problems I had initially with dogs working in mine clearance was your very question ‘Are the dogs in any danger’. After much research I have come to the conclusion, that 1000s of animals lives are being saved because of these highly trained de-mining sniffer dogs, so when you weigh it all up one totally justifies the other. These dogs are trained for 18 months before they even meet their handler, and only a few past the test to be trusted to go into a minefield as their life and the life of their handler is at risk. In addition these dogs are saving 1000s of lives with regards to the local men, women and children who live there.
Moderator- Greg Hevel from the USA asks: Which countries have the biggest problems with landmines and why?
Paul- Hi Greg, Hope the weather is good in the US and all is well with you. The answer to your question is – all of our programme countries have severe landmine and un-exploded ordnance problems, we basically have relationships with countries that we know we can fund to a decent level at the moment we fund work in Afghanistan, Iraq, Cambodia, Vietnam, Mozambique, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Angola and Laos. Besides these countries there are many others with big problems and the problem is always caused by the same thing war (what is it good for – absolutely nothing!!) armies lay mines in wartime and when they leave the battlefield they fail to remove these terrible weapons. The only way to stop them being a danger is to get them out of the ground.
Moderator- Catherine Tuzon from the USA ask : How many prosthetics have you been able to give to victims and do you have a count on the number of landmines you have successfully cleared to date as a result of your charity? What has been the cost as well?
Heather- Hi Catherine, since joining Adopt a Minefield, we have funded the fitting of 2,300 survivors so far we’ve also raise of $10,000,000 (approx £6,000,000) which has funded the clearance of 8,000,000 square metres of minefield, 123 million of that still under clearance plus 11,000,000 square metres of battlefield. The reason we managed to fund 11 million square metres of battlefield in the last year is because this particular area in Afghanistan is very flat and relatively easier to clear. Flat ground is always quicker and easier than the rugged terrain. 366,000 people have benefited directly from our work.
Moderator- Kallin Curry from the USA asks: I’m afraid I’m not very knowledgeable about these landmines. How does one go about locating them and doing away with them without getting hurt themselves?
Paul- Greeting Kallin, Don’t worry, I didn’t know much (Heather: And still don’t!) about landmines when I 1st joined Adopt A Minefield And in spite of my cheeky wife’s interruption – I will attempt to pass on what I have learned. First the land is marked out carefully. Then the most common method is for a human de-miner to use a metal detector. Every metal indication given by the detector must be checked in case it’s a mine – though to make the problem more difficult not all mines are made of metal some are plastic, the de-miner will then mark this spot and excavate it very carefully using a probe and other tools.
Moderator-Christa Ketchan from the USA asks: How many children are injured worldwide each year by landmines? As a mother of two children I can’t imagine any child being injured by a landmine!
Heather- Hi Christa – I wish it wasn’t true but the reality is – that someone is killed or injured every 27mins by a mine explosion that’s about 19,000 a year, a 3rd of those being children so that’s about 6,300 innocent children every year. We are so lucky to live in countries where our children can safely play and walk to school; many have to tip-toe through minefields and risk their live every time.
Moderator- Linda Uk asks: I held a Night of a 1000 Dinners last year in my home in Manchester that raised £ 90. I see that this year in the UK there is a No More Landmines Day, what has changed.
Heather- Hi Linda, I think it’s fantastic that you made an effort and managed to raise £90 if everybody did this we would definitely be able to clear an enormous about of landmines and change the lives of 1000s of survivors. The reason we have called this years event No More Landmines Day is that we thought we could expand on Night Of 1000 Dinners by having an entire day and evening dedicated to this worthwhile cause – we still need as many dinners as possible but with making it a full day – we can capture the attention of everyone especially those that are bad cooks! Hope you have a great one!
Paul- Well Done Linda! Let’s hope many people joining us on this web chat will do as you did – and raise money that will make a huge difference. We hope you feel you can pull off another Night Of 1000 Dinners this year and like us have a great time doing it – Bon Appetite!! Alternatively the Adopt A Minefield websites are full of great ideas so there is no excuse for not joining in. Both of us want to thank all you lovely people for tuning in, logging on and grooving out with us today – together we can rid the world of these cowardly weapons and make it a safer place for us and future generations to live in.
Lots of love – Heather and Paul
