Students learn of land mine dangers
11/3/2009
By Laura Podgornik
Staff Writer
The third annual University of Wisconsin - Superior Peacebuilding Conference is underway this week and the Landmine Awareness Exhibition enabled students and the general public to learn about, experience and petition against the use of the landmines during warfare.
Adam Wisocki, a UWS student and member of the United States Army reserve, ran a section of the exhibit entitled Mine Risk Education. Wisocki guided students through his station while explaining the many ways countries inform their residents about the presence of potential landmines.
“They use a lot of pictures since many people like sheep herders are illiterate,” said Wisocki as he directed students to a poster depicting an injured man.
Wisocki, an Iraq War veteran, became involved with the exhibit due to feelings against this type of warfare.
“I don’t agree with the use of landmines,” he said. “They’re an indiscriminate form of warfare and noncombatants shouldn’t be harmed.”
Wisocki was stationed in Baghdad and believes that the problem of landmines is going to continue to affect the people of Iraq long after the U.S. ends their occupation of the war-torn country.
Another student directly affected by landmines is transfer student Pachara Sungden. Sungden’s native country Thailand isn’t an aggressor. Yet, citizens of Thailand are losing their limbs and sometimes their lives to landmine injuries.
“We aren’t involved in any wars, but our country is in danger,” said Sungden.
Sungden was in charge of an exhibit on the International Committee of the Red Cross. ICRC helps those who have been injured by landmines through assisting in physical therapy and helping victims receive prosthetic limbs.
Wisocki, Sungden and a number of other students were recruited to help with the conference and the exhibit by Political Science Professor Haji Dokhanci. Dokhanci, a seventeen-year staff member, provided a great number of the displays students used educate the public. Dokhanci was able to collect the items thanks to a 10,000 grant given to the university by the Wisconsin Humanities Council five years ago.
Dokhanci says the exhibit originated from a student from Sri Lanka.
“He had brought a book to class and it sparked from there,” said Dokhanci. “The exhibit, now in its 8th year, is where the concept of the Peace building conference originated.”
The Landmine Awareness Exhibiton is free to the public and runs from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. November 3 and 4 in the RSC Ballroom.
Adam Wisocki, a UWS student and member of the United States Army reserve, ran a section of the exhibit entitled Mine Risk Education. Wisocki guided students through his station while explaining the many ways countries inform their residents about the presence of potential landmines.
“They use a lot of pictures since many people like sheep herders are illiterate,” said Wisocki as he directed students to a poster depicting an injured man.
Wisocki, an Iraq War veteran, became involved with the exhibit due to feelings against this type of warfare.
“I don’t agree with the use of landmines,” he said. “They’re an indiscriminate form of warfare and noncombatants shouldn’t be harmed.”
Wisocki was stationed in Baghdad and believes that the problem of landmines is going to continue to affect the people of Iraq long after the U.S. ends their occupation of the war-torn country.
Another student directly affected by landmines is transfer student Pachara Sungden. Sungden’s native country Thailand isn’t an aggressor. Yet, citizens of Thailand are losing their limbs and sometimes their lives to landmine injuries.
“We aren’t involved in any wars, but our country is in danger,” said Sungden.
Sungden was in charge of an exhibit on the International Committee of the Red Cross. ICRC helps those who have been injured by landmines through assisting in physical therapy and helping victims receive prosthetic limbs.
Wisocki, Sungden and a number of other students were recruited to help with the conference and the exhibit by Political Science Professor Haji Dokhanci. Dokhanci, a seventeen-year staff member, provided a great number of the displays students used educate the public. Dokhanci was able to collect the items thanks to a 10,000 grant given to the university by the Wisconsin Humanities Council five years ago.
Dokhanci says the exhibit originated from a student from Sri Lanka.
“He had brought a book to class and it sparked from there,” said Dokhanci. “The exhibit, now in its 8th year, is where the concept of the Peace building conference originated.”
The Landmine Awareness Exhibiton is free to the public and runs from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. November 3 and 4 in the RSC Ballroom.
