Little Hope for Burmese Refugees in Thailand

Clear Path International has been assisting Burmese refugees on the Thailand - Myanmar border since 2001.

From the EPOCH TIMES:

Over half a million displaced Burmese fleeing aggressive military operations in Myanmar are creating a humanitarian disaster area along its border with Thailand.

Aid agencies maintain that Burmese troops have destroyed nearly 3,000 villages in the last ten years. They say an unmanageable health crisis is now developing in the refugee camps in Thailand that line the frontier.

"In displaced areas, one in five children will die before their fifth birthday," says Nobel peace laureate Dr. Cynthia Maung, who runs a medical camp on the turbulent Thai-Burma border.

Largely from Myanmar's ethnic minority Karen and Karenni groups, 140,000 Burmese refugees are sheltering in nine camps in isolated patches of jungle along the frontier.

Read the rest of the story here.

US military trains 'air force' of bomb-sniffing bees

US military defense scientists have found a way to train the common honey bee to smell explosives used in bombs, a skill they say could help protect American troops abroad.

Scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico said in an online statement published Monday they had developed a method to harness the bee's exceptional olfactory sense.

"The new techniques could become a leading tool in the fight against the use of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, which present a critical vulnerability for American military troops abroad and is an emerging danger for civilians worldwide," the research laboratory said.

Read the rest of the article here.

BBC: New bomb clean-up treaty begins

New bomb clean-up treaty begins
By Imogen Foulkes
BBC News, Geneva

A new international law is coming into force requiring countries to clear up unexploded bombs and mines or pay teams of de-miners to do it. The treaty on explosive remnants of war covers ordnance such as land mines and cluster bombs.

At the same time, in Geneva, a UN arms review conference is under way amid growing pressure on member states to discuss a ban on cluster bombs.

Read more here on the BBC web site here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6140530.stm

Success for MAG's all-female demining team

Success for MAG's all-female demining team: via http://www.mag.org.uk/page.php?s=2&p=5994
In recognition of their outstanding efforts to save lives, MAG's Cambodian all-female demining team was awarded the Niarchos Prize for Survivorship at a special award luncheon held on 1st November in New York City. MAG Executive Director, Lou McGrath and two representatives from the team, Supervisor Pin Srey On and Project Officer Yean Maly, accepted the $25,000 prize "for [the team's] excellence in service to save lives under the most difficult circumstances."

The team began operations in 2003 as the first ever demining team to be comprised entirely of women. Over the past three years the team's 15 members have worked to make land safe by clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) and edicating local communities about the dangers posed by these explosive devices.

For MAG, the work done to reduce the suffering caused by the remnants of conflict has never been a gender issue. After receiving the award, Lou McGrath said, "Landmines impact all members of the community - male and female alike. It only makes sense that both should have the opportunity to be a part of the solution."

The prestigious award was presented by Ken Rutherford, Co-founder of Landmine Survivors Network (LSN). It was established by the Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation and is given annually to an individual and organisation who promote resilience and recovery among victims of war, conflict, civil strife and terrorism in conflict and post conflict societies.

Judy Collins to Perform War Victim Benefit Concert in Vermont

Dorset, Vermont- The legendary Judy Collins is set to perform a benefit concert in Dorset, Vermont on December 17th at the Dorset Playhouse to aid civilian victims of war in Vietnam, Cambodia and along the Thailand - Myanmar border.

The Christmas themed concert will be her second for the Vermont-based landmine and bomb victim assistance organization Clear Path International.

" When Judy performed in 2004 it was a truly magical night" said event organizer Terri Hathaway, a volunteer for Clear Path International who has traveled multiple times to Vietnam with the program "She had such a wonderful time and was so impressed by our home town choir that she said 'call me anytime you want me to come back' so we did!"

Ms Collins, who will again be performing with the local choir, has thrilled audiences worldwide for more than 40 years with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes. Best known for her Grammy Hall of Fame rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" and her award-winning version of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns," Judy Collins made her first public debut at age 13, performing Mozart on the piano. But it was the music of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and the emerging folk era that sparked Judy Collins' love of lyrics and lifelong affair with the guitar.

This event will be a benefit performance for Clear Path International and is open to the public. Based in Dorset, Vermont, Clear Path assists landmine and bomb accident survivors in Vietnam, Cambodia and on the Thai-Burma border.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 800-595-4849 or by visiting www.cpi.org