MAG's lifesaving work stretches back to 1989 – 25 years of making people safe!  Surrounded by misery and suffering in war-torn Afghanistan, ex-British army engineer Rae McGrath witnessed first-hand the horrific impact of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) on civilians, and recognised the limitations these lethal weapons were placing on reconstruction and delivery of aid.  With seemingly little being done to clear landmines and UXO from the world’s conflict zones, McGrath returned to the UK determined to find ways, with his brother Lou, to protect communities from these lethal weapons.  Twenty-five later, this lifesaving work is still continuing.

In 1992, MAG joined forces with Human Rights Watch, Medico International, Handicap International, Physicians for Human Rights and Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, to form the lobbying coalition International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).  The many years devoted to campaigns, research and lobbying against the arms trade were to pay off in 1997 when the Ottawa Treaty – which banned the production and use of anti-personnel mines – was signed by 122 countries.  Later that year, the ICBL jointly received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its efforts in eradicating the threat of anti-personnel landmines.

Against the backdrop of the intensive campaigning was the growing involvement of Diana, Princess of Wales, in the global landmine issue. Before her untimely death in August 1997, the Princess had been actively speaking out against the production and use of landmines and made several visits to affected countries, such as Angola.  The Princess developed close ties with MAG and was the keynote speaker at a MAG photographic exhibition in London two months before her death.

MAG relies on donations to clear the remnants of war, such as landmines and cluster munitions.

Landmines: a landmine is defined by the Mine Ban Treaty as "a munition designed to be placed under, on or near the ground or other surface area and to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person or a vehicle."   Landmines are generally divided into two main groups - anti-personnel and anti-tank - and have four main component parts: an outer structure made of either plastic, wood, metal, Bakelite, rubber or even glass; a fuse or firing mechanism; a detonator; and high explosives.   Some contain thousands of pieces of shrapnel, designed to fire out to great distances, while others have been made with a minimum amount of metal and are therefore difficult to detect using metal detectors. 
Cluster munitions: cluster bombs, or cluster munitions, are weapons that can be dropped from the air by planes or fired from the ground. They open in mid-air and release numerous (sometimes hundreds) explosive bomblets - 'submunitions' - over a wide area.  Most of these bomb-lets explode immediately, but many don't, killing and maiming civilians long after a conflict has ended.  Your generosity makes a remarkable difference to the lives of families affected by conflict.

·         £15 could help MAG to deliver lifesaving ‘mine risk education’ to a conflict-hit community

·         £30 could help keep Syrian refugees safe from unexploded mines and weapons

·         £60 could allow MAG to clear 40 square metres of land

·         £100 could help MAG to clear 65 square metres, space enough for one classroom

So please sponsor me and show your support by making a donation now

Using Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: where appropriate, for UK taxpayers Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

P.S. You can read more about some of the amazing work that MAG does at http://www.maginternational.org/what-we-do/