4 ms·

Reminder that unexploded ordinance kills over 10,000 people every year (worldwide, not in Germany)

by dmoy 7y ago

hinkley 7y ago
I recall someone discovering that the kind or color of plants growing near landmines can help identify some of them. They leak a little nitrogen and the plants grab it. The researchers were proposing seed bombing affected areas to speed the removal process. But I dunno what would be worse. Clearing unidentified mines from hardscrabble or trying to dig located mines out from under roots (especially when they won’t locate every last one of them)
- jazzyjackson 7y ago
  Yeah I was really excited about this when I heard of it, the idea is less about identifying bombs for removal than just as a way to mark areas dangerous or safe according the presence of metals in the soil Here, I found the company [1] via a 2004 slashdot thread [2] Looks like they closed shop in 2008, according to a wiki citation they are mentioned in a comparison of landmine detection methods, where as risks it mentions "indeterminate false positive" and "Issues of ecological control of a new genetically engineered species" [3] From reading [3] it sounds like landmines are not the only source of nitrous oxide in the environment, so the flowers may trigger without the presence of mines [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aresa_Biodetection https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aresa_Biodetection [2] https://science.slashdot.org/story/04/01/27/191211/genetically-modified-flower-detects-landmines https://science.slashdot.org/story/04/01/27/191211/genetical... [3] http://www.greatcore.com/demining-comparison.htm http://www.greatcore.com/demining-comparison.htm
  - hinkley 7y ago
    Yeah sounds like it's statistical in nature. We have looked at some mine-sweeping tech that might, for instance, be an effective way to remove a small number of mines from a large area. Knowing that this area is mostly clear as opposed to saturated might make it cost effective to sweep. Aren't there areas so riddled that a single mine detonating can end up triggering others? Or have I been watching too many movies?
cyberferret 7y ago
From memory, most of these casualties are from landmines that are still planted in South-East Asian countries during the Korean and Vietnam conflict? I am thinking that Afghanistan etc. may also figure quite high in the statistics. Sadly, the primary victims seem to be children, who come across these 'interesting' metal objects in the ground, or inadvertently tread on them while playing or working the fields. More needs to be done by the forces who planted them to clear designated minefields after the conflict has ended.
- freddie_mercury 7y ago
  Not that it makes it any better, but the primary victims aren't children, it is usually the main provider. Who is plowing a field or looking for food in the forest.
- elfexec 7y ago
  > From memory, most of these casualties are from landmines that are still planted in South-East Asian countries during the Korean and Vietnam conflict? What is South-East? Did you mean Southeast-East? Korea is an East Asian nation. Vietnam is a Southeast Asian nation. South Asians are indians, pakistanis, etc. As to your point/question about landmines casualties in korea and vietnam, you are incorrect. The landmines in korea are in the DMZ ( demilitarized zone - which is the misnomer as it is the most militarized zone ). As for vietnam, laos, etc, most of their deaths are likely due to unexploded bombs. > I am thinking that Afghanistan etc. may also figure quite high in the statistics. Most landmine casualties are probably in afghanistan, iraq, etc. Current or recently active war zones where the situation hasn't be pacified or settled.
- dmoy 7y ago
  Yea the majority are from landmines, not bombs. Like 80%+. Most of those are from Afghanistan and Syria, with a steep drop off and followed by Ukraine, Iraq. I don't think vietnam-area or koreas feature in the top 10 anymore.

Reminder that unexploded ordinance kills over 10,000 people every year (worldwide, not in Germany)

by dmoy 7y ago

Reminder that unexploded ordinance kills over 10,000 people every year (worldwide, not in Germany)

I recall someone discovering that the kind or color of plants growing near landmines can help identify some of them. They leak a little nitrogen and the plants grab it. The researchers were proposing seed bombing affected areas to speed the removal process. But I dunno what would be worse. Clearing unidentified mines from hardscrabble or trying to dig located mines out from under roots (especially when they won’t locate every last one of them)

jazzyjackson 7y ago
Yeah I was really excited about this when I heard of it, the idea is less about identifying bombs for removal than just as a way to mark areas dangerous or safe according the presence of metals in the soil Here, I found the company [1] via a 2004 slashdot thread [2] Looks like they closed shop in 2008, according to a wiki citation they are mentioned in a comparison of landmine detection methods, where as risks it mentions "indeterminate false positive" and "Issues of ecological control of a new genetically engineered species" [3] From reading [3] it sounds like landmines are not the only source of nitrous oxide in the environment, so the flowers may trigger without the presence of mines [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aresa_Biodetection https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aresa_Biodetection [2] https://science.slashdot.org/story/04/01/27/191211/genetically-modified-flower-detects-landmines https://science.slashdot.org/story/04/01/27/191211/genetical... [3] http://www.greatcore.com/demining-comparison.htm http://www.greatcore.com/demining-comparison.htm
- hinkley 7y ago
  Yeah sounds like it's statistical in nature. We have looked at some mine-sweeping tech that might, for instance, be an effective way to remove a small number of mines from a large area. Knowing that this area is mostly clear as opposed to saturated might make it cost effective to sweep. Aren't there areas so riddled that a single mine detonating can end up triggering others? Or have I been watching too many movies?

cyberferret 7y ago

From memory, most of these casualties are from landmines that are still planted in South-East Asian countries during the Korean and Vietnam conflict? I am thinking that Afghanistan etc. may also figure quite high in the statistics. Sadly, the primary victims seem to be children, who come across these 'interesting' metal objects in the ground, or inadvertently tread on them while playing or working the fields. More needs to be done by the forces who planted them to clear designated minefields after the conflict has ended.

freddie_mercury 7y ago
Not that it makes it any better, but the primary victims aren't children, it is usually the main provider. Who is plowing a field or looking for food in the forest.
elfexec 7y ago
> From memory, most of these casualties are from landmines that are still planted in South-East Asian countries during the Korean and Vietnam conflict? What is South-East? Did you mean Southeast-East? Korea is an East Asian nation. Vietnam is a Southeast Asian nation. South Asians are indians, pakistanis, etc. As to your point/question about landmines casualties in korea and vietnam, you are incorrect. The landmines in korea are in the DMZ ( demilitarized zone - which is the misnomer as it is the most militarized zone ). As for vietnam, laos, etc, most of their deaths are likely due to unexploded bombs. > I am thinking that Afghanistan etc. may also figure quite high in the statistics. Most landmine casualties are probably in afghanistan, iraq, etc. Current or recently active war zones where the situation hasn't be pacified or settled.
dmoy 7y ago
Yea the majority are from landmines, not bombs. Like 80%+. Most of those are from Afghanistan and Syria, with a steep drop off and followed by Ukraine, Iraq. I don't think vietnam-area or koreas feature in the top 10 anymore.