HDI Hosts First Mine Action Awareness Program to Seattle, WA

November 8 – 10, 2009

 

The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) (www.thehdi.org) is pleased to announce the launch of its new “Mine Action Awareness Program”.  HDI initiated this program in Seattle on November 8 – 10 in the first of a series of eight mini-tours across the United States.  These programs will bring together U.N. diplomats from mine affected countries and NGOs working on mine action to educational institutions in the U.S. to speak on the steps being taken by the United States and the international community in combating landmines.  This program is made possible through a grant from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. 

 

In Seattle, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mozambique to the United Nations, Ambassador Daniel Antonio, served as the main presenter speaking to students at the Seattle Central Community College, Thomas Jefferson High School in Auburn, WA and the University of Washington-Tacoma on what Mozambique is doing to rid itself of landmines. The Ambassador said that as the landmine problem in Mozambique is so great, they will not be able to comply with their obligation to be free of landmines under the Ottawa Convention by the end of 2009 and have sought an extension until 2014.  

 

In total, close to 300 students had the opportunity to learn more about the continuing worlwide scourge of landmines.  Steve Costner, Deputy Director of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement of the U.S. Department of State, Kurt Chesko, Vice President of the HALO Trust USA, and Steve Ginther, Program Manager for Mine Action at HDI also briefed these students on how their organizations are contributing to disposing of explosive remnants of war.

 

HDI is one of the most active U.S. NGOs involved in landmine removal, agricultural development of formerly contaminated land, as well as victims' assistance. We welcome the opportunity to update the U.S. public on these issues.

 

Funding for this program has been provided by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.

 

 

For further information please contact Steve Ginther at steve.ginther@thehdi.org