Posters galvanise tripartisan support for US ban on landmines
On the evening of Monday 29 May, The Hon Alexander Downer (Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs), The Hon Graham Edwards (ALP Member for Cowan and landmine survivor) and Ms Janet Hunt (Executive Director, ACFOA) assessed the posters collected from across Australia for the global 'USA Ban Landmines Today' Call for Posters. All three made statements urging the US to sign and ratify the Mine Ban Treaty, as well as other countries that have not yet signed and ratified. Mr Downer said he had pressed the issue when he had last visited Washington and that Madaleine Albright had been sympathetic.
Senator Vicki Bourne (Democrats spokesperson for Foreign Affairs) had to pull out of the assessment due to a sudden illness in the family, but expressed her party's support for the US to sign and ratify the Mine Ban Treaty.
Thus, the Australian Call for Posters resulted in representatives of the three major political parties in Australia all calling on the US to sign and ratify the Mine Ban Treaty.
The posters from across Australia showed considerable effort and passion for the issue of banning landmines. All three panellists conducting the assessment commented on the high quality of the entries. Those entries that met with the global Call for Posters entry criteria have now been forwarded to the US, where they will be displayed in Washington along with other entries from around the globe.
The following people were the entries selected by the panel: 21+ Age Category
Best: Mrs Thelma Oliver from North Mont Albert, Victoria
Second Best: Mrs Sheena Jones from Boolarra, Victoria
11-15 Age Category
Best: Alessia Pegoli, Ivanhoe Girl's Grammar School, Victoria
Erica Casey, Clairaux Catholic School, Geelong, Victoria
Second Best: Katherine Perveris, Aitken College, Greenvale, Victoria
Andrew Riley, Scotch College Junior School, WA
5-10 Age Category
Best: Samuel James Mangler, Scotch College Junior School, WA
Second Best: Michael Chiswell, Scotch College Junior School, WA
