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Minefields continue to be a scourge in many areas of the world, years, and sometimes decades, after the combatants who placed them in the ground have gone home. They continue to kill and maim innocent civilians going about their daily lives of living, working, traveling, and playing. Children account for a large proportion of those affected due to their curiosity and playfulness. Afghanistan, trying to recover from decades of wars between different factions, faces one of the worst landmine tragedies. An estimated 10 million landmines and UXOs (Unexploded Ordinance - bombs and shells remaining on the ground) claim an estimated 300 to 400 casualties each month and prevent the safe use of large areas of otherwise arable land. This makes the restoration of “life as usual” a real challenge for many rural - and urban - people.
The Central Ohio Minefield Coalition (COMC) was formed last summer to address the Afghani landmine problem. Organized from the initiative of Michael Greenman of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, the group now includes a number of area churches and is reaching out to universities and public schools. Students and faculty at Ohio Wesleyan University are highly involved in this project. They are working with a United Nations Association of the USA organization’s Adopt-a-Minefield Program. This group is providing funds to several mine infested countries around the world through the United Nations. Support by the Better World Fund allows 97% of the money raised to go directly to mine-clearing work.
The COMC has set an objective of raising $35,000 by the end of June 2003. This amount will be sufficient to support mine clearing operations in Afghanistan by a team of trained “deminers” for a two month period -- enough time to make a real difference for people in an affected area. To date they have raised in excess of $5,000. Individuals, churches, universities or other organizations who would like to join us are invited to contact them at: COMCChair@firstuucolumbus.org. Donations can be sent directly to: Central Ohio Minefield Coalition, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd., Columbus, OH 43214. Contact them if you’d like a presentation to be made at your organization’s meeting. All donations are tax deductible. mgreenman@gmic.org, www.gmic.org.
The Central Ohio Minefield Coalition (COMC) was formed last summer to address the Afghani landmine problem. Organized from the initiative of Michael Greenman of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, the group now includes a number of area churches and is reaching out to universities and public schools. Students and faculty at Ohio Wesleyan University are highly involved in this project. They are working with a United Nations Association of the USA organization’s Adopt-a-Minefield Program. This group is providing funds to several mine infested countries around the world through the United Nations. Support by the Better World Fund allows 97% of the money raised to go directly to mine-clearing work.
The COMC has set an objective of raising $35,000 by the end of June 2003. This amount will be sufficient to support mine clearing operations in Afghanistan by a team of trained “deminers” for a two month period -- enough time to make a real difference for people in an affected area. To date they have raised in excess of $5,000. Individuals, churches, universities or other organizations who would like to join us are invited to contact them at: COMCChair@firstuucolumbus.org. Donations can be sent directly to: Central Ohio Minefield Coalition, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd., Columbus, OH 43214. Contact them if you’d like a presentation to be made at your organization’s meeting. All donations are tax deductible. mgreenman@gmic.org, www.gmic.org.