November 7
, 2003
Land
Mine Conference Attracts Global Participation
 Keynote speaker Mary Jean
Eisenhower
|
A conference entitled “Clear
a Path to a Safer World: Addressing the Tragedy of Landmines” will
be held November 14 to 16 at Smith College. Representatives
from nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and government agencies,
landmine survivors, concerned citizens, and students will participate
in workshops and discussions involving such issues as landmine
removal, survivor assistance, and mine risk education. Anthony
Lake, former MHC professor and national security adviser to
the Clinton administration, will speak about national policy,
the effect of landmines on economic development, and his experience
with the Marshall Legacy Institute, which trains demining dogs.
The keynote address will be given by Mary Jean Eisenhower,
CEO of People to People International, an organization that
promotes understanding between people of different cultures
around the world.
United
Nations demining equipment |
Brianna Armbruster ’02 is helping organize student outreach for the conference. “The
conference is a wonderful opportunity to
learn about a real-world issue,” Armbruster said. Saturday evening will
feature a networking dinner at which students are welcome to bring their re´sume´s
and talk to representatives from organizations and government agencies about
internships, research, and career possibilities. Some of the participating
organizations include the United Nations Mine Action Service, Adopt-A-Minefield,
and Clear Path International, a Vermont-based NGO that serves landmine and
bomb accident survivors, their families, and their communities in former war
zones in Southeast Asia.
Working
in the field |
Armbruster served
as a Take the Lead mentor during the first two years of the
program at MHC. “Take the Lead taught me about the power of change,” said
Armbruster, who majored in philosophy and critical social thought at Mount
Holyoke.
“The landmine problem really spoke to me,” she said.”I am interested
in power relationships and the differences between cultures.”
For more information
about the conference, go to www.poluscenter.org.
he
un
he
counter is
1,172
|
