By Simona Beltrami, Italian Campaign to Ban Landmines
 Drawing by a 10-year old student in Piedmont, Italy and sent to the governments of India and Pakistan as part of the ICBL's Youth Against War initiative.
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Rome, St Peter’s Square on a sunny April morning. As bombs were falling on Iraq with their heavy load of death and suffering, hundreds of colourful balloons flew against the clear Roman sky, symbolizing the hope of younger generations and their commitment to build a world free from war and from the scourge of landmines.
Since this highly symbolic launch, the Campaign has gone “virtual” – making the net its primary vehicle – while still remaining a very real tool for change! Through a special page set up on the Italian CBL’s website (www.campagnamine.org), Italian youth surfing the net are invited to say no to war and the use of landmines by signing up to the YAW Treaty, and to read more about landmines and the story of Song Kosal. In the run-up to the closing of signature collection the Italian CBL is planning to step up its work on this, by adding new features (photos, background information on India and Pakistan, etc) to the page and giving it wide publicity through other websites and through its member organizations.
Meanwhile, a group of 34 ten-year-olds from a primary school in the northern town of Casale Monferrato (Piedmont) have done some school work on the effect of landmines, with special reference to children, and have written a letter to the governments of India and Pakistan to urge them to join the Ottawa Treaty. The letter is accompanied by drawings of deminers at work, peace flags and symbols, and the effects of landmines.
Other activities so far have included the distribution of leaflets and balloons in schools and church-based youth groups, and a YAW stall at peace rally “Arena di pace” in Verona in early June.
Letter to the governments of India and Pakistan written by Italian youth:
Casale Monferrato, 26 May 2003
Dear Sirs,
We are a group of 34 children from a primary school in Casale Monferrato. This letter marks the conclusion of a series of lessons aimed at raising awareness on the problem of anti-personnel mines.
We have seen how mines work, how they are made, how many types there are and how long they stay active. We have also seen where they can be found and have learned about the situation in Angola and Afghanistan, two of the most affected countries in the world. Mines are maid to maim, not to kill, so as to cause much more damage.
Children are the first victims, although mines cannot recognise who is stepping on them, as there are no “smart” mines.
We want no more mines, no more wars, no more victims of war and we undertake to promote peace. This is why we join the Youth Against War Treaty and we strongly urge your governments to halt the production, stockpiling and use of anti-personnel mines, thus respecting fundamental human rights.
In the Declaration on the Rights of the Child we can read that: ”The child shall enjoy special protection, and shall be given opportunities and facilities, to enable him to develop physically, mentally, morally…” , “The child shall in all circumstances be among the first to receive protection and relief”, and “The child shall be protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation”.
We know that your governments use mines heavily, especially in border areas. Remember that mines remain active for years. Even when war is over, they continue to kill and maim.
Therefore we urge your governments to join the Ottawa Treaty, following the example of 131 other countries, including Italy.
There can be no peace with landmines, so ban them.
Signed: 5th grade pupils from primary school “4 Novembre”, Casale Monferrato, Italy
