最相さんが「ＫＬＣＣとは」を、英訳されました。カンボジアの支援先ＮＧＯの方にもＫＬＣＣのホームページをみてもらえるように、英語版ホームページを作っていきたいということで、まずは代表のコーナーにのせてみました。
What is KLCC?
KLCC is a NGO group whose mission is to promote landmine issue to the public including school children and help the work of landmine survivors’ support.
It was established in Kumamoto in 1999.
Details:
Things never be changed unless you go one step forward
This is a sentence which I found in a book titled, “Landmines and a Frame” written by Chris Moon who was a final torch runner at the Nagano Winter Olympic Games in 1998. He used to be a deminer worked in Cambodia for 1 year and 8nonths and for 3month in Mozambique where he was blustered by a landmine. Reading his book, I learned about landmine issue and the situation in Cambodia in details for the first time and shocked. At the same time I was moved by Chris himself, his words and the fact that he had continued banning landmine campaign even after he became amputee. Then I made up my mind to start a banning landmine campaign myself. I wanted all the young people in Japan to know about Chris, and the situations of heavily mine-affected countries. For this purpose, I thought, it is most effective to invite Chris Moon to Kumamoto and have him talk about his activities.
Thus KLCC (Kumamoto Landmine Clearance Campaign) was established in 1999.
Mr. Chris Moon arrived at Kumamoto Airport in May, 2000. He stayed for 6 days attracted so many people by his personality. He participated in the 100k Aso Ultra Super Marathon (100k run) with rise and fall of about 400m at the maximum. He completed this run in 13 hours 16 minutes 25 seconds in the heavy rain.
Again in May, 2001, and in August in 2004, he came back to Kumamoto to collaborate with our ban landmine campaign. In 2001, we planned some events in Minamata and he met some congenital Minamata disease patients and had a good time with them. He said, after visiting the Minamata Disease Museum, “Environmental issue is very important for us, and landmines are also giving a huge damage to our environment. It is definitely one of the environmental issues to be solved as quickly as possible.”
With the reported statistics by ICBL in 2003, currently there are approximately 60 to 70 million landmines are buried in 79 countries and 8 regions and 15,000 to 20,000 people including children have been damaged or killed by landmine. (Due to the complicated situations there has been no report from ICBL regarding the confirmed numbers of victims and landmines since 2003.)
And recently there are many children who were killed or heavily injured by the UXO explosions and cluster bomb explosions in about 22 countries
Therefore each one of us needs to do something to change the situation: no matter how small or little each one’s activity is, it is the most important thing. I strongly believe that doing a little thing is much better than doing nothing.
We, KLCC, have funded all the money donated to us through Chris Moon’s activities to HALO TRUST, a demining NGO and Cambodia Trust (survivor support,) both based in Britain and Concern Worldwide Cambodia based in Ireland for the survivor support.
Since February, 2001, I have visited Cambodia quite often and saw the activities of these NGO’s. They both have been doing tremendous works and respected by local people on the spot. I myself stayed in Cambodia for 5 weeks doing volunteer work of writing 6 case studies with Concern Worldwide Cambodia.
We are also supporting Em Boun’s school in Compong Spue Province in Cambodia with donation from children in Kumamoto. Mr. Em Boun is a landmine survivor who lost his right leg and got damaged heavily on his right hand and he manages a private school for little children in his and nearby villages. As for the continuous support of this school, we have used the donation from Kumamoto Prefectural Elementary School for the Blind and Mansei Elementary School in Oguni Town in Aso.
“Sanso Hiking Group”, a charity shop ”Komura” in Oguni Town, and Kumamoto Petroleum Merchant Association are also our continuous supporters. We are always grateful to all the members and people related to them. Musashi Y’s men’s club and Terretto Ultra Marathon club also help us in many ways always.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to each one of you for your warm support.
I am determined to continue this supporting activity as long as I am alive. I am prepared to go and give a talk at anytime, anywhere.
With the motto, “let us do whatever we can do when we can without forcing ourselves,” I would like to continue to be of help to people who are suffering from landmines together with you.
Thank you very much.
February, 2007
Hiroko M. Saishou
Representative
Kumamoto Landmine Clearance Campaign (KLCC)
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世話人会報告
