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PSALM STUDENTS LEND THEIR LEGS FOR A MINE FREE WORLD

IMG_5478PSALM students  hosted a LEND YOUR LEG SOLIDARITY DAY at school. The school community  was invited to join us and roll up one pant leg, wear some cool socks and symbolically “stand” in solidarity with the victims and survivors of landmines, cluster bombs and other explosive remnants of war and persons with disabilities.  “Lend Your Leg”  encourages people worldwide by a simple but symbolic gesture of rolling up a pant leg to raise awareness about the damage landmines and cluster munitions still cause and showing solidarity with all survivors of landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

APRIL 4th, International Day of Mine Awareness, Lend Your Leg!
APRIL 4th, International Day of Mine Awareness, Lend Your Leg!

What is “Lend Your Leg”?

 Watch the official LEND
YOUR LEG video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGduCYrPlAo.

Long after wars are waged some weapons remain a lurking threat to civilians in the peacetime that follows. Landmines and cluster munitions are indiscriminate weapons that wait underground for years and sometimes decades maiming and killing children, farmers and everyday citizens who happen upon them. “LEND YOUR LEG” began when people were asked to roll-up their pant leg to draw attention to the landmine problem in Colombia and show solidarity with the victims.

 “Lend Your Leg” turned into a country-wide then international phenomenon.  PSALM joins the international community to  “Lend Your Leg for a Mine Free World”, and show solidarity with all survivors of landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

PSALM students are committed to educating the public about the the indiscriminate nature of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions leading to the destruction of innocent life, especially children. Students feel it is unacceptable that unarmed civilians become targets of these insidious and indiscriminate weapons long after wartime hostilities cease. PSALM students were outraged that children, the most vulnerable of society, were all too often the victims of these indiscriminate weapons, many left after conflicts long since over, coming upon them in the most innocent of activities like playing or going to school. These weapons instill fear in whole communities, deepening poverty and acting as a lethal barrier to development. Members of the treaties to ban landmines and cluster munitions must complete the task of ensuring that all victims of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war see their needs fulfilled and their rights respected and aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being.


BACKGROUND: On March 1st, PSALM recognized their 19 year anniversary as a school social justice club.  PSALM are working members of the 
West VirginiaUnited States, Catholic and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munition Coalition. PSALM youth leaders are excellent ambassadors, amazing in their understanding of complex issues and their expression of compassion and concern for those who suffer, especially the most vulnerable of our world.

 The Holy See has noted the ‘deplorable humanitarian consequences of anti-personnel mines.’Pope Francis has expressed his solidarity towards victims of anti-personnel mines and praised the global effort to end the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions. Pope Francis points out that, “Anti-personnel mines are subtle because they prolong war and nurture fear even when conflict has ended. No child should live in fear of landmines!” “Let us give space to reconciliation, hope, and love that are expressed in the commitment for common good, in international cooperation to help the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters, in the implementation of policies based on our common dignity”.

No one can remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world… I would like to make an appeal to those in possession of greater resources, to public authorities and to all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater solidarity”Pope Francis

 Solidarity “is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all”Saint John Paul II 

 For information/research:

United States Campaign to Ban Landmines: www.banminesusa.org

International Campaign to Ban Landmines: www.icbl.org

Cluster Munition Coalition: www.stopclustermunitions.org

West Virginia Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs: www.wvcbl.org