Landmine Monitor release in Battambang

Last week, the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines organized the Landmine Monitor Report 2009 release in at the Jesuit Service center in Battambang, which doubled as a send-off event for representatives from Cambodia headed to Cartagena for the Second Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty. Hundreds of survivors and people living in mine-affected communities attended the event, as did representatives from the Cambodia Campaign to Landmines, the Australian Embassy, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Center, and UNDP Cambodia.


In addition to sharing relevant information from the Landmine Monitor, the interfaith event included dancing, singing and moving words from survivors and people active in the campaign to ban landmines and cluster bombs.

Ms. Song Kosal opened the event (she'll also be opening the global conference), then representatives from Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian communities gave their blessings.

Next, there was a beautiful Apsara (the traditional dance in Cambodia) wheelchair dance:

The dancers served as an inspiration for Spanish volunteer Maria, who designed the logo:

Next, Sister Denise Coghlan provided an overview of key findings, followed by Man Sokheunn, a young survivor who was featured in a book by award-winning Spanish artist Gervasio Sanchez. He spoke about the importance of banning landmines.

Representatives from the Australian Embassy and the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority also gave remarks.

The event closed with a performance of the landmine dance, which was created in Banteay Preap in 1996 but continues to be performed.

IMPACT article on the UNDP Cambodia website

Another article about IMPACT was just posted on UNDP Cambodia's website. You can see it here.

IMPACT on Equity Weekly in Cambodia this Sunday and Monday

If you're in Cambodia, tune into TVK's Equity Weekly program this Sunday at 8 pm to see a feature on IMPACT.

If you're busy on Sunday, you can see the program when it's rebroadcast on Monday at noon.

Cartagena, Colombia, opening is set

If you happen to be in Cartagena, Colombia, the week of 30 November, please stop by the Cartagena Conference Center's Claustro de las Animas to check out IMPACT: an art exhibit about landmines in Cambodia.

If you want to hear more about the exhibit, come to the special reception on Tuesday 1 December from 18:00 to 18:45.

IMPACT will be on display throughout the Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World.

If you don't plan to be in Cartagena this December, perhaps you'll consider making the trip after seeing the photos here.

And they're off to Colombia

After the exhibit ended in Phnom Penh, a moving company came and took all of the pieces away. -- in an open-bed truck through the streets of Phnom Penh.

It made me a little nervous but I'm happy to report that all of the various artwork has either been sent to Colombia or safely stored for the next opening, wherever that may be...