Youth Against War: Join Song Kosal
JOIN SONG KOSAL
YOUTH AGAINST WAR
The People's Treaty against Landmines
In December 1997, people and government representatives from around the world gathered in Ottawa. They came together to sign an agreement not to use or make landmines. While government representatives signed the official treaty, people who wanted to show their commitment to a ban on landmines came to sign the People's Treaty against landmines. They signed in over 60 places in Canada, they signed in Asia, Africa, and Europe. The statement they signed said that they believed in the ban on landmines and would work to support it.
The landmines ban treaty was called the People's Treaty because the effort to ban landmines was started by a small number of people - not government officials - who realised that landmines were hurting a lot of people and decided to do something about it.
It is also called the People's Treaty because it will take continued work by a lot of people before it begins to have an effect.
The treaty bans the use, production, and export of anti-personnel mines. All countries who sign it agree to destroy all the mines they have, and to take them out of the ground in their own country. Countries who sign the treaty also promise to help all other countries destroy their mines, take them out of the ground, and help people who have been injured by mines. In a sense, countries who sign the treaty are admitting that they made a mistake in having made and used these weapons in the past.
Two young girls were asked to be the first to sign the People's Treaty in Ottawa - Song Kosal from Cambodia and Lindsay Willcox from Nepean. Xx people have signed the People's Treaty in Canada alone since Kosal and Lindsay showed their support for a future where there would be no more victims of landmines.
What are landmines?
Landmines are bombs that explode on contact. They have been used by militaries in many different wars and conflicts on every continent, especially in the last few decades. They are put in the ground by hand, or scattered over vast areas by airplanes. And then they wait for a passer-by. Mines can last for many years before a person or animal comes in contact with them and causes them to explode. They are like soldiers who never sleep and who kill anyone they happen to see.
How do mines affect youth?
They take away their food.
Where mines are planted, crops are not planted. No food grows and parents and children alike go hungry.
They take away their education.
Where there are mines, children might not be able to play, go to school, or do their chores. They cannot do the things that children normally do. This prevents them from learning as their parents have done.
They take away their parents.
Mines kill and maim parents. Children are dependent on their parents not only emotionally but also financially. When a parent is injured or killed by mines, children must find some other way of providing for themselves and the rest of the family.
They take away their lives and limbs.
When pursuing their every day activities, children can stumble upon interesting looking objects that turn out - too late - to be mines. Losing an arm, a leg, or an eye at a young age may mean no jumping, no running or playing. Because they are still changing rapidly, the growth of children's bodies can be affected by a mine accident. For girls, a mine accident may cause their bodies to grow in a way which stops them from having children.
Finding a husband or wife and finding a job also becomes more difficult.
They take away their future.
When a country is badly mined, it is even more difficult to rebuild after a war. Mined roads make it impossible to transport goods. Mines in the fields make it impossible to grow crops. Mines in the towns make it dangerous for families who have fled the fighting to return home and get their lives back together. Medical care for those who survive mine accidents can absorb what little money there is for social care. It is hard for a strong society and independent economy to develop when these problems exist.
Song Kosal and the Youth Against War campaign
Song Kosal is a landmine survivor. The 13 year old lost a leg to a landmine at the age of four, but has put a face on the landmine problem to which many people have been able to relate. Kosal was the first person to sign the People's Treaty in December 1997.
In October 1998, she was invited to a Red Cross seminar in Australia dedicated to discussing the effects of war on children. While the seminar had both international and national experts speaking about landmines, de-mining and child soldiers, Kosal interacted with local school children to raise awareness about the horrific weapons.
Kosal used this opportunity to speak out against landmines and to express her interest in continuing to educate people about the issue by launching the "Kids Against War" campaign. This campaign is not only an essential tool for involving youth in decision-making, but for making youth in countries like Canada think about why they do not have to worry about war on a daily basis.
On December 2nd, 1998, the eve of the 1st anniversary of the treaty, the YOUTH AGAINST WAR campaign is launched in Canada with the desire to JOIN SONG KOSAL. The campaign is being launched simultaneously in Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal and Saint John, NB, and is already underway in Brazil, the United States, Cambodia and Australia. With the 20th century coming to a close, it demonstrates the next generation's - our generation's - commitment and desire for a peaceful world.
What can Youth do about mines? A Call to Action
The Canadian effort to contribute to the complete eradication of landmines benefits from youth action against this horrible and indiscriminate weapon.
As the generation soon to inherit the problems left over from the numerous and too frequent battles of this century, youth are seeing the need to get involved.
By signing the Youth Against War Treaty, youth are promising to work for peace in the world and to take the first steps towards achieving this goal.
The first steps can take place in our own homes, schools and communities in stride with other youth around the world. By signing, Canadian youth are expressing their commitment to peace and to working with other youth to strengthen this goal around the world.
If we, as young Canadians, cannot commit to a treaty of peace and against war, how can we expect war will ever end in countries which have been ravaged by combat for as long as we have lived?
Sign the Treaty, Ban Landmines - there are NO MORE EXCUSES.
YOUTH AGAINST WAR
Join Song Kosal
WE WANT NO MORE WAR.
WE WANT NO MORE LANDMINES.
WE WANT NO MORE MINE VICTIMS.
WE PROMISE TO WORK FOR PEACE IN OUR WORLD.
Name:
Address:
Signature:
Return form to Song Kosal:
Box 880
Phnom Penh Cambodia.
