Soroptimist International Wales South - SI Swansea launch'Limbs for Life' in Wales South

11 March 2000

SI Swansea launch'Limbs for Life' in Wales South

Report from Maggie Crawford (SI Swansea)

Over 100 Soroptimists from 20 Clubs in Wales attended a Conference in Swansea to raise awareness of the'Limbs for Life'project. This very successful event was organised by Swansea Soroptimist Programme Action Manager Janet Vine. Guest speaker Stephen Thomas, Director of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs, informed the Conference that only 80 out of the 180 countries belonging to the United Nations had signed the Ottawa Treaty agreeing to stop the manufacture, storage, export and planting of antipersonnel landmines: surprisingly the USA, Russia, China, India and Pakistan are still active in the use of landmines.

RP Pat Rodway, Susan James, Janet Vine, Stephen Thomas
and Ann Garvie SI Project Co-ordinator

Landmines are known as 'the sleeping menace'because they can stay active for 10-20 years and there is no mechanical method for their destruction. Cambodia has an estimated 10 million landmines in a country populated by 8 million people. Samples were on display to show how attractive these lethal weapons can appear to unsuspecting children who are frequently blinded as well as losing limbs.

The late Diana, Princess of Wales was an originator of the publicity campaign to draw attention to the indiscriminate planting of these cruel devices and of the dire consequences on their victims. Worldng in conjunction with the International Red Cross, Soroptimist International have chosen "Limbs for Life" as their quadrennial project for 1999-2003. Ann Garvie, Soroptimist International Project Co-ordinator, had travelled from Glasgow to inform the Conference of the support that will be given to a small factory, which is also receiving help from the Red Cross, just outside Geneva, in the manufacture of components required for artificial limbs. She stressed the importance of dealing with the psychological trauma and maintaining the dignity of people by ensuring that artificial limbs fit correctly and are the same coloured pigment as the person's own skin.

An explicit video was shown to reinforce our concern of the harrowing effects of the loss of limbs and how the help of agencies and organisations such as Soroptimist International can have a beneficial effect on the innocent victims. The event raised in excess of £500. Our thanks to those of you who have supported us, particularly those who managed to attend on the day. MC