As #landmines are in the news recently, a story about a rat who has uncovered more than 100 landmines and pieces of unexploded ordinance in #Cambodia. Unfortunately there are millions more in the country, a legacy of the #Vietnam war and other conflicts. A doctor I know used to live in the region- he told me innocent children are often the victims. But it's left to charities to clear up the mess
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ewxjjw842o

Decisions, decisions. Certainly more decisions to come on UK and European defence.
Landmines are a starter issue. Defensive-only and cheap to build, but so nasty that most decent countries officially banned anti-personnel mines.
Thinking now about the young people who'll either volunteer or be conscripted to serve as our deterrent/defence, and the embarrassing gap while the US withdraws, I'd like them to have enough tools for the job.
1/2
#landmines #UKpol
https://news.sky.com/story/growing-calls-for-uk-to-withdraw-from-treaty-banning-landmines-13341742

Interesting disagreement among #Nordic Europeans about #LandMines
https://mastodon.social/@hanse_mina/114271786079750098
hanse_mina@mastodon.social - Norway criticizes Finland’s move to quit land mine treaty

“If we start weakening our commitment, it makes it easier for warring factions around the world to use these weapons again, because it reduces the stigma,” says Norwegian foreign minister.

https://www.politico.eu/article/norway-criticizes-finlands-decision-to-withdraw-from-landmine-treaty/

#Finland following #Poland, #Estonia, #Latvia and #Lithuania doing so- that's all the nations who have eastern borders with #Russia or #Belarus
https://mastodon.social/@hanse_mina/114263154069632435
hanse_mina@mastodon.social - NATO member Finland plans to quit a global convention banning anti-personnel #landmines and boost defence spending to at least 3% of GDP by 2029 in response to the evolving military threat from Russia, the government said on Tuesday.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finland-plans-withdraw-landmines-treaty-prime-minister-says-2025-04-01/

Poland and Baltic nations to pull out of landmines accord.

Poland and the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are withdrawing from the Ottawa convention banning anti-personnel mines, the four countries, which all share a border with Russia, said in a joint statement.

Quitting the 1997 treaty will allow the countries to start stockpiling landmines again.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250318-poland-and-baltic-nations-to-pull-out-of-landmines-accord?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

“On November 19, the Washington Post reported that the Biden administration intends to provide antipersonnel #landmines to #Ukraine, breaking with its June 2022 policy… The #USCampaignToBanLandmines strongly condemns any use & transfer of internationally-banned antipersonnel landmines to any country or actor. We call on the Biden administration to reverse this decision...”
http://www.banminesusa.org/news/2024/11/20/u.s.-campaign-condemns-transfer-of-antipersonnel-landmines/

The #landmines in #Ukraine mean that the land will be unavailable to everyone. Therefore, even if the war is won, it is lost.

EDIT: Some people in the comments claim that they deactivate after a certain period of time. But even if that is true, the destruction that has been wrought by this war is devastating, and the death toll disgusting. Yet the boundary has not moved.

It is and was a totally senseless war that could and should end now. Or does Zelensky want to reach the round million?