This site is designed to inform college students about the basics of the landmine issue worldwide. It is also meant to encourage grassroots participation to advocate that the United States step up as a world leader and sign the International Treaty to Ban Land Mines (This treaty is also called the Ottawa Convention). This treaty was created large in part by pressure from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, an international movement of 1400 NGOs trying to ban the weapon. The organization is stationed in Geneva, Switzerland. As of 2007 there are 155 countries that have signed the treaty; the United States is not one of them. It is time for the United States to become a role model for other nations on this important humanitarian issue.

What's a Land Mine?

Land Mine: A mine is a self-contained explosive device that is put either on or under the ground. The device explodes when triggered by a person, animal or vehicle. Landmines were first used on a large scale in WWII. Since then they have been used in The Korean War (1950-1953), The Vietnam War (1959-1975), and the Gulf War of 1990, among many others.

Antipersonnel Mine: According to the treaty itself, an antipersonnel mine (AP mine), is a mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity, or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons. Mines that are designed to be detonated by a vehicle as opposed to a person, are not considered AP mines, as they require a much higher trigger pressure (normally 100 kg (220 lb.) AP mines are designed to inflict as much pain as possible. The logic behind this is that it takes more time and money to care for an injured soldier than a dead soldier.

"Smart Mine": A smart mine is a self deactivating mine designed to self destruct after a given amount of time. Although "smart mines" are a better alternative to "dumb mines" (regular AP mines) , they still do not discriminate between soldier and civilian. They are also not guarenteed to work. Few simply do not self destruct. This means there is still a chance that a civilian, animal, soldier, or vehicle will trigger it.