Members of Congress, Landmine Survivor, and Anti-Landmine Advocates Speak at a Congressional Briefing.
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On December
6, 2001, members of Congress, anti-landmine advocates, and a Korean
War veteran who lost his leg to a U.S. mine spoke at a House briefing
on the issue of landmines and U.S. policy. The White House is preparing
to announce new policies on the issue in the coming weeks, and Defense
Department recommendations to rollback current policy have been
startling to many humanitarian, human rights, and veterans groups. The briefing
was hosted by San Antonio, Texas Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, who
welcomed the group. He said "In too many places around the
world, survivors of famine, poverty, and political oppression have
to live life wary of sudden death or crippling injury hidden only
a few inches under the ground. It's time we put a stop to this inhumane,
indiscriminate weapon." Congressman Jim McGovern from Worcester, Massachusetts spoke about the letter circulating in the House of Representatives asking Members to sign onto a letter to President Bush urging him to reconsider the radical direction in which new U.S. landmines policy is moving. Click here for how to urge your U.S. Representative to sign this letter. Phineas Washer, a retired pastor and anti-landmine activist from San Antonio, Texas spoke about the terrors experienced by civilians, particularly children living in mine-affected countries. Irvin Axelrod spoke about his experience losing a leg to a U.S. mine and the subsequent years of painful surgeries. He said that he is grateful to have access to American veteran services and medical care, including his $15,000 prosthetic leg, but he is very troubled by the unavailability of such care for most landmine victims in poor countries. Gina Coplon-Newfield, Coordinator of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines, indicated that the USCBL is a coalition of about 500 medical, human rights, humanitarian, religious, and veterans organizations dedicated to a total U.S. ban on antipersonnel landmines and to increased U.S. resources for victim assistance and mine removal. Dr. Caleb Rossiter of the Vietnam Veterans of American Foundation, dicussed the already existing military alternatives to antipersonnel mines.
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Ban Treaty and countries that have ratified it, contact the International
Campaign to Ban Landmines www.icbl.org
US Campaign to Ban Landmines |