10 Mar 2010
The University of Manchester has teamed up with United legend Sir Bobby Charlton, the Mines Advisory Group and Rapiscan Systems in a bid to reduce the threat of death or injury from landmines.
Undetected mines kill and maim every day. And whilst thousands of are successfully cleared, the only clearance method available is painstakingly slow and has seen little advancement over many years.
Tonight at Old Trafford, ahead of United’s home clash with AC Milan, Sir Bobby will launch The Landmine Clearance Initiative with one clear ambition: finding a better way.
Sir Bobby recently joined a humanitarian trip to Bosnia and was immediately moved by what he discovered: “When I visited Bosnia I was appalled by the injuries I saw, especially to children, caused by abandoned mines. On the plane home, I just kept thinking: there must be a better way.”
Up to 20,000 civilians a year become casualties of the millions of landmines that lie hidden beneath the earth of more than 80 countries around the world. Manual clearance is meticulous, slow, dangerous and expensive. Other than a few enhancements, it is a method that has been in use since the end of the Second World War, but we believe there is a better way.
Assembled by Sir Bobby Charlton, The Landmine Clearance Initiative comprises a team of three partners with outstanding individual skills.
The University of Manchester has its own multi-disciplinary team drawing upon world-leading research expertise in electrical engineering, physics and mathematics.
Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is an organisation focused on humanitarian landmine clearance with vast experience in using and operating de-mining equipment in different conditions and situations.
Rapiscan Systems is a global company with expertise in manufacturing and distributing high-quality, affordable inspection and metal detection systems.
The partners will look at ways to refine non-invasive detection methods, applying the latest electromagnetic and sonic techniques to improve metal detectors’ discrimination of threat objects.
Notes for editors
Contact:
Jon Keighren, Media Relations Manager, The University of Manchester
0161 275 8384
If you would like to help The Landmine Clearance Initiative, please visit www.findingabetterway.com
SOURCE