Just over 15 years ago I took Princess Diana walked along the paths cleared through minefields in central Angola. The funny thing is I wish I had managed to get a promise of a tenner every time a clip is shown, or I was asked "what is he?" - We will be cleaned mine more! However, instead of what he was like what is actually the more interesting question is why was there in the first place? Why he believes his life and my limbs and Angola that deminers have cleared the path through a minefield?
The first time I entered the minefield I was a little more nervous than they seem, and I do not have 70 reporters shouted to the shot right or half a billion people watching me on TV sets around the world. It's a question I wish I had asked when I had the chance.
I think he was more than aware of her power over the media world and he knows better than most that when he showed an interest in the topic around the world showing interest as well.
The first time I entered the minefield I was a little more nervous than they seem, and I do not have 70 reporters shouted to the shot right or half a billion people watching me on TV sets around the world. It's a question I wish I had asked when I had the chance.
I think he was more than aware of her power over the media world and he knows better than most that when he showed an interest in the topic around the world showing interest as well.
Diana's involvement would raise the profile of the fight against landmines and the impact on the signature of the Ottawa Treaty banning mining but also gives a lot of people, including international donors, the feeling that the job was almost done. There are a lot more to do.
Today is International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and the battle against the mine is to win but we need one final push to actually accomplish this task.
If you live in one of over 70 countries or areas affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war, your daily routine is dangerous. In Libya, Syria part, or cities such as Helmand, Annlog Mogadishu Veng and you still need to watch your step and the steps your child.
I was recently in Kabul and am happy to report that the threat may be completed in less than 10 years (if funding continues). 15 000 Afghan deminers are dedicated to making this happen. They stabilize the country and provide a "peace dividend". Most Afghan deminers supported a large family of dozens of people and support their work with you not only make the land useable and safe for children to go to school, but also to support and feed the hundreds of thousands of people who directly benefit from the salary paid to the courageous deminers.
People say that carelessly mine but they are actually very discriminating - they are targeting children are disproportionately poor and curious. At least 11 people per day were killed or injured by landmines last year.
If you have a choice whether or not you consciously go into a minefield? Our experience shows that most people injured by mines know they are in a minefield when they hurt, but because they have little choice of what land they can access, how they can scrape together living and put food on the table of their families, they take risk. Simply put, my problem is solved. With a little more effort and money we can remove the threats that mines present.
Mines the community can go in and clear mines safely, efficiently and effectively. Or, we can leave the mines to be cleared by other means - one leg at a time by innocent civilians or children playing.
There are thousands of national deminers working on hands and knees with their daily detector and bayonet, serves to make their country safe and free of landmines.
