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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">September 21, 1998 No. 217</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY LAUNCHES LANDMINE</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">OUTREACH PROGRAM</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today launched a public outreach campaign
to engage the Canadian public, particularly youth, in a partnership with the
government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to meet the continuing
challenges posed by anti-personnel (AP) mines. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">As part of the campaign, the Minister announced the creation of the Canadian
Landmine Action Fund, which was conceived and developed jointly by the Department
of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and by Mines Action Canada, an NGO.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"From the beginning, the humanitarian tragedy caused by AP mines has resonated
with Canadians. They were among the first to bring this issue to the attention of
governments and, as a result, we have formed a solid partnership around our joint
commitment to seeing AP mines eliminated," said Mr. Axworthy. "This fund builds on
that partnership by offering all Canadians an opportunity to contribute directly
to landmine clearance and victim assistance activities in communities around the
world."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Minister made his comments at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Orleans,
east of Ottawa, where he met with students and staff to tell them about the fund
and to introduce them to other elements of the outreach campaign.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">One of the innovative approaches of this campaign is the creation of a team of
youth mine action ambassadors. Five young people representing each region of the
country, plus a national co-ordinator, have been chosen and rigorously trained to
travel throughout their region meeting with service groups, the business
community, other students and teachers, as well as youth groups, and other
interested organizations to heighten awareness of the AP mine issue. The youth
ambassadors' work is being partially supported by the Canadian Institute for
International Affairs through Canada's Youth International Internship Program --
part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy. Ambassadors will
each work in partnership with a host organization, already involved in the AP mine
issue, in their region.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The youth ambassadors were on hand at the launch today and met with the Sir
Wilfrid Laurier students to demonstrate and field-test some of the electronic
information tools developed as part of the outreach program. A CD-ROM highlights
26 milestones that led to the adoption of the historic convention banning AP mines
at an international conference in Ottawa last December. The story is told through
dozens of images, text, maps and video clips.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Working in small groups, the students also had a chance to research the AP mine
issue using the newly re-launched Safe-Lane Web site. The Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade first introduced Safe-Lane last November in the
lead-up to the December conference, and has now revamped the layout and content to
highlight the tremendous progress that has been made since then.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The youth ambassadors will be able to use these tools, as well as two videos -- a
24-minute version and a shorter 7-minute adaptation -- based on interviews with
delegates to last December's conference, including first-hand accounts of mine
victims and mine-action professionals working in the field.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School is recognized for its expertise and extensive
use of technology in the classroom as a learning strategy. The school also has a
strong student and faculty commitment to the AP mine issue, and will continue to
be involved well beyond today's launch, particularly in bringing the AP message to
other schools.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Axworthy was joined at today's event by the Secretary-General of the Canadian
Red Cross, Pierre Duplessis, and a member of the Steering Committee of Mines
Action Canada, Debbie Grisdale, along with representatives of the Ottawa-Carleton
English Public School Board and other invited guests.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Close to 10 000 copies of the CD-ROM are being distributed to public libraries,
public and private schools, and universities and community colleges across Canada.
The Safe-Lane Web site can be found on the Internet at <www.mines.gc.ca>.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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