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Rep. Woolsey Announces Campaign to Help Rebuild Afghanistan

10/1/02

Woolsey Seeks $10 Million to Demine and Replant the Breadbasket of Afghanistan

Who:


Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Honorary Chair of Roots of Peace Harvest of Hope
 

Jody Williams, Nobel Laureate, former coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines
 

Heidi Kuhn, Founder of “Roots of Peace,” which raises funds for global demining

What:

Rep. Woolsey will announce the introduction of legislation (H.R. 5497) to help demine the breadbasket of Afghanistan – the Shomali Valley. With Nobel Laureate, Jody Williams and founder of Roots of Peace, Heidi Kuhn, they will launch the Roots of Peace Harvest of Hope campaign to raise funds and awareness of global humanitarian demining.

When:

Tuesday, October 1 at 5:00 PM Press Conference

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM reception for Members of Congress

Where:

2261 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC

The International Committee of the Red Cross estimates that 200,000 Afghans have been killed or wounded by mines in 23 years of war. Each year, an estimated 15,000-20,000 people, mostly innocent civilians are killed or maimed from landmines worldwide. Says Rep. Woolsey, “In order for Afghanistan to rebuild after more than 20 years of warfare, the agricultural fields must be cleared of landmines.”

“After the fighting is over and the peace treaties are signed, the landmines left behind wait silently to maim and kill innocent victims,” said Rep. Woolsey. “We must do everything possible to protect children and to provide for societies that are trying to rebuild.”

The Roots of Peace “Harvest of Hope” campaign will raise funds to demine and replant the rich agricultural lands of the Shomali Valley in Afghanistan. Once the breadbasket of Afghanistan, the Shomali Valley is now littered with landmines that maim and kill innocent men, women, and children, and leave thousands of acres of fertile land unworkable.

Roots of Peace is a Marin County based humanitarian non-profit organization dedicated to the eradication of landmines by returning demined land to productive agricultural use. By restoring the land’s economic viability, Roots of Peace programs strengthen farm communities and help restore a sense of peace through the age-old cycle of planting, cultivating and harvesting. Roots of Peace has successfully demined hundreds of acres in the Balkans and has been selected by the UN Global Compact as one of four international models sowing the seeds of democracy and hope.

Strategic demining partners include the U.S. State Department, The HALO Trust, Chemonics International and the United Nations Association Adopt-A-Minefield program. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey serves as the Honorary Chairperson of Roots of Peace Harvest of Hope campaign and is leading efforts to raise funds for humanitarian demining.

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