| Posted: April 25 2005,17:57 |
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen
progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of
action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade? |
Progress
towards a culture of peace and non-violence has been made in the
Australasian region regarding landmines. The Australian Government has
renewed its commitment to the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning
anti-personnel landmines by actively participating in the Nairobi
Summit for a Mine Free World in 2004. Australia with other countries
promoted a culture of peace by lobbying non-signatory states to join
the mine-ban treaty, by devising new strategies on raising the global
awareness of landmines and by pledging more money to the clearance of
landmines and to landmines victims. Australia has also destroyed its
stockpile of landmines including approximately 130,000 mines weighing
more than 27 tonnes. Finally in 2003/4 Australia spent AU$8.2 million
funding mine action activities in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Laos, Sri
Lanka and Vietnam.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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There
are many obstacles preventing progress in landmines work. The failure
of some nations to sign and ratify the Ottawa Convention. The continued
production and trade of anti-personnel and anti-vehicle landmines by
states. The use of landmines by non-state actors, who use landmines as
their most available weapon. It is very difficult to discourage NSAs
from useing landmines as they are not party to the mine-ban treaty and
they are often not acknowledged by governments. Funding is also a
problem; clearing landmines costs a hundred to a thousand times more
than placing them.
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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The
Australian Youth Against Landmines Association (TAYALA) has raised
about AU$10,000 for landmine affected communities in Cambodia,
including the building of a fresh-water well so that families do not
have to make the hazardous walk through minefields to find water.
TAYALA has raised awareness of this abhorrent weapon of war in
educational settings such as secondary schools and colleges by
educating Australian youth about the horrific carnage that landmines
cause. Delegates from TAYALA actively participated in the International
Youth Symposium on landmines held in November 2004, in conjunction with
the Nairobi Summit for a Mine Free World. TAYALA has also taken a
leading role in the foundation of the International Network of Youth
Against Landmines, which now stands with about 30 members from all
continents across the globe.
Here
is the President of TAYALA, Mr Jonathan Greenacre (centre) having talks
with the Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer MP (left), on
landmines and Australia's role in solving this global problem.
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ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
TAYALA,
in partnersheip with AUSTCARE, will be hosting a youth symposium on
landmines involving about 40 delegates from secondary schools in Sydney
for Landmine Action Week (May 23 - 29, 2005). This event will teach
youth of Australia about the devastating effects of landmines and will
educate them on how to raise money for landmines victims and raise
awareness on landmine related issues in their own schools. TAYALA is
also planning with AUSTCARE to hold a regional youth symposium on
landmines involving delegates from the South East Asian and
Australasian regions for 2006.
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Postal address of organization
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Mr Jonathan Greenacre
22 Taylor St, Annandale
NSW, 2038, Australia
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E-mail address of organization
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antilandmines@mail2president.com
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Website address of organization
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http://www.aplaceof.info/tayala
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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International peace and security
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Education for a culture of peace
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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SOUTH EAST ASIA: Cambodia
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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AUSTRALASIA: Australia
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