Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

GU Peace Action Protests Canceled

GU Peace Action Protests Landmines

By Joe Harten Hoya Staff Writer

Georgetown University Peace Action planned an entire week of events this week in support of the International Landmine Ban Treaty.

On Monday, Red Square became the site of a simulated mine field, and the movie “Small Targets” was shown. Students passing through Red Square Tuesday and Wednesday were urged to sign a banner asking UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the UN to step up their de-mining efforts and a petition to President Clinton. A presentation featuring victims of landmines was the highlight of Thursday. Speakers were Loung Ung, a former child soldier for Khmer Rouge, Georgetown graduate student Ken Rutherford, a landmine victim, and Irvin Axelrod, an army veteran and President of the Washington Amputee Association. On Monday, March 1, the day the International Landmine Ban Treaty will go into effect without US support, a rally at the White House is planned.

Peace Action came up with the idea in January when it learned the Landmine Treaty would go into effect March 1 and that the U.S. was not one of the 135 signees, according to Peace Action event organizer Amber Waldref (COL ’99).

Currently, between 60 and 70 million landmines are planted in 68 countries with 100 million more stockpiled, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

The group hopes to give a petition with over 500 signatures from the Georgetown community to President Clinton, in effort to convince him to sign of the treaty.

“We have been amazed at the amount of people that want to sign our petition,” Waldref said, “They have been talking intelligently about the issue and giving their own opinion.”

Red Square acted as a focal point for undermining landmine activities. The Peace Action Committee brought a landmine field constructed of bubble wrap covered with paper to Red Square on onday, with petitions available to be signed all week at nearby tables.

“We wanted to end the week with our speakers,” Waldref said. The speakers shared their personal experiences with landmines, discussed the political issues surrounding the Landmine Ban Treaty, and quoted many statistics about landmines and their effects. The program was held in ICC 103 at 7:30 p.m.

The university, which had been working with Rutherford on this subject for several years now, reflects Peace Action’s sentiments. “Georgetown University supports the students [organizing Ban Landmines Week] and the work they have done in the effort to ban landmines,” said Associate Director of Media Relations Blake Smith.

This week’s events were presented in coordination with the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the Landmine Survivor Network and the Lecture Fund.

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