WESTERN SAHARA LANDMINES: Documentary Photography From The African Desert By Paulo Nunes dos Santos At GAIA Photos

A landmine victim outside a medical center near Rabouni refugee camp

in the desert region of Western Sahara Africa.

Photo © Paulo Nunes dos Santos All Rights Reserved - Follow Me On Twitter

Western Sahara: The Desert Of Landmines is a feature story by Ireland's Paulo Nunes dos Santos now appearing on Gaia Photos.

As photojournalist Paulo Nunes dos Santos explains, "Sixteen years of fighting between Moroccan and Polisario forces, from 1975-1991, has left Western Sahara contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). During the conflict Morocco constructed a 2500 km defensive wall, known as the Berm."

Further, Paulo Nunes dos Santos says, "Landmine and ERW contamination hinders safe movement throughout Western Sahara for the local population and United Nations observers. Landmine Action has documented instances of mine laying along roads and tracks and at water points. As long as this state of affairs persists, nearly 200,000 Saharawi refugees currently residing in camps located in Algeria will be unable to return safely to Western Sahara and the conflict will remain frozen."

Paulo Nunes dos Santos visited the desert region of Western Sahara Africa and shares the legacy of unexploded ordnance UXO in his photo essay Western Sahara: The Desert Of Landmines, now appearing on Gaia Photos, a new international photography source of nearly 60 photojournalists from around the world whose mission is to promote quality and diversity in documentary photography.

PLEASE LEARN MORE ABOUT Explosive Remnants of War, Cluster Munitions and Disarmament

Please visit us and see other photo stories on Gaia Photos by Paulo Nunes dos Santos. You can also search Gaia Photos for assignment photographers and subscribe to our continually updated new features page too!

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John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
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CAMBODIA LANDMINES: Documentary Photography Of Survivors From Gaia Photos By Paulo Nunes dos Santos

Landmine survivors laying down in the shade of a building under construction on the outskirts of Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Photo © Paulo Nunes dos Santos All Rights Reserved

Cambodia: Land Mine Survivors is a feature story by Ireland 's Paulo Nunes dos Santos now appearing on Gaia Photos.

As photojournalist Paulo Nunes dos Santos explains, "Decades of war have left scars in many forms throughout Cambodia. Mines, the most lasting legacy of the conflicts, continues to claim new victims daily. Unofficial reports estimate that more than 40,000 Cambodians have suffered amputations as a result of mine injuries in the past 30 years."

Further, Paulo Nunes dos Santos says, "International non governmental organizations (NGO's) together with local authorities, are now trying to minimize the problems caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Until just recently, thousands of Anti Personal Mines were made and sold every day by countries that openly champion democracy and human rights."

Paulo Nunes dos Santos visited Siem Reap, Cambodia, the home of Angkor Wat, and shares the legacy of unexploded ordnance in his photo essay Cambodia: Land Mine Survivors, now appearing on Gaia Photos, a new international photography source comprised of 51 photojournalists from around the world whose mission is to promote quality and diversity in documentary photography.

Please visit us and see other photo stories on Gaia Photos by Paulo Nunes dos Santos. You can also search Gaia Photos for assignment photographers and subscribe to our continually updated new features page too!

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John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
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CAMBODIA: Miss Landmine Pageant Banned By Cambodian Government

CAMBODIA: Miss Landmine Pageant Banned By Cambodian Government

Photo © John Brown All Rights Reserved

A recent story that appeared in the online edition of BBC News reported," A beauty pageant for landmine victims has been cancelled by the Cambodian government, which branded it an insult to disabled people."

The article continues, "The contest […] would damage "the dignity and honor" of participants." Between four and six million landmines are thought to have been laid in Cambodia during its three decades of civil war [1]. Twenty women were to have competed for the title of Miss Landmine and the prize of a high-tech prosthetic limb.

Government spokesperson Khieu Khanarith said the competition would "make a mockery of Cambodia's landmine victims."

Norwegian organizer Morten Traavik expressed disappointment, but said the contest would go ahead on the internet.

Please continue reading the BBC News report.

HOW DO YOU WEIGH IN?

Negotiating the minefield of public opinion regarding this sensitive subject, the San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center remarked, "They way to empower women in the Third World is by throwing out imperialists, and destroying feudalism, comprador capitalism, and patriarchy. Only communist-led revolutions will be capable of enacting the sweeping changes needed to liberate women in our contemporary world."

Unless I'm missing something wasn’t there a few communists hanging around during Cambodia's two decades of civil war? If I remember correctly, Vietnam, a communist country, ran things here in the Khmer empire before Russia turned off the tap in 1989, forcing them to go home.

By the way, what about communist run Laos? Are the Lao Hmong women and children currently being raped and disemboweled by rampaging Lao military and LPDR security forces being liberated by a communist-led revolution?

Whatever the case, I wish all of Cambodia's Miss Landmine contestants, aged from 18 to 48, the best of luck and good fortune.

To the Cambodian government and the rest of the world; while you're out banning contests, do us a favor and ban Communists, people who believe in their brand of BS, LANDMINES AND CLUSTER MUNITIONS.

After all, if the were no landmines, there'd be no Miss Landmine Cambodia Pageant!

EDITORS NOTE

Learn more about what's happening in Laos and get detailed information regarding Cambodia's de-mining efforts.

Also, please view a photo story by fellow Gaia Photos member Paulo Nunes dos Santos about Cambodia's Land Mine Survivors.

APPENDIX

1. The Civil War lasted 20 years.

John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
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My Photoshelter Photography Archive Homepage
GAIA Photography and Photojournalism