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News Advisory:

WHO: American Landmine Survivors

WHAT: Landmine survivors will gather in Washington, DC on March 1st to:

-- Mark the fact that the treaty has today come into force internationally
-- Remember victims worldwide with a brief prayer ceremony
-- Remove artificial limbs and lay them in front of White House gate
-- Urge President Bill Clinton to sign the Landmine Ban by December 31, 1999 (Current U.S. intentions are not to sign until 2006)

WHEN: Monday, March 1, at noon

WHERE: White House Sidewalk (Pennsylvania Avenue Side, opposite Lafayette Park)

WHY:
-- Someone steps on a landmine every 22 minutes.
-- There are approximately 100 million landmines planted around the world
-- More than 25,000 individuals stepped on landmines last year

Landmine survivors on landmines:

"We Americans, who have experienced a landmine -- a weapon devised to maim -- explode under our legs and in our faces, do not accept the U.S. intention to sign the ban by 2006. More than 150,000 people will lose life and limb in that timeframe. 133 countries have signed the mine ban treaty and we ask: WHY NOT US?"
-- Ken Rutherford, Co-founder, Landmine Survivors Network

"We want to walk into the next century with honor and hope for a landmine free world, Mr. President. We are coming to Washington to convince you to finish the job."
-- Jerry White, Co-founder, Landmine Survivors Network

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Landmine Survivors Network (LSN), founded for and by survivors, works to provide humanitarian relief, peer support, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration for landmine victims struggling to resume productive lives in their countries. Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan is the Honorary Chair of LSN, and co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

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