In Afghanistan, Goats Provide Livelihood for Landmine Survivors and More

In Clear Path's first survivor assistance project outside Kabul, 18 beneficiaries in the eastern city of Jalalabad received goats and animal husbandry training from CPI's local Afghan partner, Afghan Disabled & Vulnerable Society.

Clear Path International now Independent, Expanding in Afghanistan

After two years as a subcontractor in Kabul, Clear Path International is now a full-fledged independent grant recipient of the U.S. Department of State with a growing vision for aid to landmine accident survivors and people with disabilities in Afghanistan.

Clear Path International Releases Annual Report

In the period covered by the report, the U.S.-based organization with offices in Vermont and on Bainbridge Island, Washington, assisted 6,325 beneficiaries in Afghanistan, 1,679 in Vietnam, 929 in Cambodia and 538 on both sides of the Thai-Burma border.

Afghanistan: Better Access to Schools for Disabled Girls and Boys

It’s one thing to be disabled and face the kind of discrimination typical for anyone with a disability here. It’s another to be disabled girl and go to school in one of the most conservative Islamic countries in the world.

The last thing you need is to face physical barriers as well, particularly in a wheelchair.

Clear Path International's Afghanistan Partner Reaches Out And Speaks Up For Survivors

We had reached one of Kabul’s many neighborhoods. Kristen, Peter and Zabi had taken me here to see another one of Clear Path’s implementing partners in Afghanistan, the Afghan Landmine Survivors Organization. Life seemed more normal here than in the fortified and rarified sections of the downtown area with its foreign embassies, company headquarters and NGO offices.

Afghanistan: Better Tools, Better Lives

A steel landmine probe. A deminer’s trowel. A flail hammer. Mine field marking tape. Newly polished safety visors. These tools may not sound familiar to you, but mine clearance professionals use them every day.

The Eyes of Zab Mohammed: Fear & Hope On My First Trip to Afghanistan

I can’t explain it. I’ve met hundreds of landmine and bomb accident survivors in the past nine years. I’ve visited them at home after years of painful recovery. I’ve seen them shortly after their accident their families in tears. I’ve seen the faces of boys scarred by shrapnel and girls who couldn’t walk because of burn injuries. I’ve seen survivors who could no longer see or touch because they lost their sight and their hands.

It moves me every single time but I usually remain composed.

Landmines and UXO kill and maim hundreds in Afghanistan in 2007

Most victims are males aged 1-26, largely from the insurgency-affected southern provinces where the worsening security situation has hampered de-mining activities.

Young & Rubicam Creates Radio Spot to Support Landmine Victims: Tell us what you think!

All of us at Clear Path International are grateful to Young & Rubicam Malaysia for creating a 35 second radio spot for CPI. Please click "read more" to listen it and let us know what you think.

Good News, Bad News For Mine Clearance In Countries Where Clear Path International Has Assistance Programs

Although increased funding and fewer casualties were reported in 2006, many countries are not on course to meet their Mine Ban Treaty clearance obligations, says a new report from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

YouTube: Thank you, Martha!

This video was shown on the 10th anniversary Celebration of Martha Hathaway's work with landmine and bomb survivors in Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanistan and the Thai-Burma border.

Senator Leahy Honors Clear Path | Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion Perform to a Sold Out Crowd

10th Anniversary of Public-Private Partnerships at US Dept of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement

Ten years ago an initiative was begun at the US Department of State that would energize the mine action community in a creative and exciting way. In October of 1997 the State Department initiated the Humanitarian Mine Action Public-Priivate Partnership Program. Clear Path has benefitted greatly from the program as have 56 other NGOs.

Esquire: The Devil in the Dirt

There are so many landmines in Afghanistan, the country is literally about to blow. But removing these mines is no easy task.

Rutland Herald: CPI continuing to grow its reputation as a force for humanitarian relief

By PATRICK McARDLE Herald Staff
DORSET - Clear Path International is continuing to grow its reputation as a force for humanitarian relief with new developments this year in Afghanistan and Slovenia.

O & P Edge: CPI Clearing the Way for a Safer Future

The bulk of (Clear Path International's) work is deadly serious. With programs in Vietnam, Cambodia, along the Thai-Burma border, and now Afghanistan, the realities of war—even wars that ended more than 30 years ago—could not be any more dramatic. Dealing with the everyday horror can be overwhelming, but Matthee recalls a moment that makes even the most trying days seem worthwhile.

Reuters: Decade after Diana campaign, few use landmines

Ten years after the death of Princess Diana and the first global treaty against antipersonnel landmines, experts say only a handful of rebel groups and perhaps one state dare use what has become a pariah weapon

Clear Path International to Assist Afghan Landmine Survivors As Part of U.S. Department of State Contract

KABUL, Afghanistan – Clear Path International (CPI), a U.S.-based humanitarian mine action nonprofit organization, has received a multi-year contract from DynCorp International to start a landmine survivor assistance program in Afghanistan on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.

United States Campaign to Ban Landmines Expands Its Mandate to Include Cluster Munitions Advocacy

From the USCBL: We are pleased to inform you that the Steering Committee of the US Campaign to Ban Landmines recently agreed to expand the mission of the coalition to include advocacy toward a prohibition on the use, production, and transfer of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians.

Memorial Day in The United States: Project Healing Waters

Recently I have been working a bit with an organization called Project Healing Waters. PHW helps disabled veterans learn to fly fish and tie flies and aspires to give them new hope in their struggle to overcome their disabiilities.

Flickr: Children of War Photo Pool

From war zones all over the world, the images show children acting like children (or trying to) while the adults around them act like monsters.

Clear Path Newsletter Available in PDF

The 2007 Winter/Spring CPI Newsletter is now available online. Read about our recent matching campaign with the US Dept of State, how we introduced a hippopotamus to Cambodia, and updates from Chi and Lobke, two of our representatives on the ground in Southeast Asia!

YouTube: Improvised Explosive Devices of the Vietnam War

A fascinating video on how unexploded US ordnance was used in Vietnam by North Vietnamese forces. Considering how much ordnance is STILL on the ground to this day, there must have been no shortage of the stuff.

Listening Post: How would YOU improve Clear Path?

How would readers of this blog (all three of you) improve upon how we are communicating the mission of Clear Path? What do you reccomend we do to advance our work?

Canada to invest in Afghanistan`s minefield clearance and community-led development

Canada will provide $8.8 million dollars for demining activities in Kandahar Province and across Afghanistan as well as $1.9 million dollars to promote community-led development in Kandahar Province

AFGHANISTAN: UN rejects landmines along border

“We regret the decision of the government of Pakistan to proceed with the laying of landmines and we call upon both governments to strengthen their commitment to cooperative solutions to the security problems that this region faces,” Chris Alexander, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan, said on Monday in the capital, Kabul.

Rutland Herald: Small Vermont organization having big international impact

James Lawrence, director of partnership programs for the State Department's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, said government officials have begun to seek out partners in the private sector who can assist people whose lives have been altered by land mines. "Clear Path has good local support, low overhead, they provide direct support to the people who need it. That's just the kind of things we look for," he said.

Manchester Journal: Judy Collins to Benefit Clear Path International

The concert will benefit Clear Path International, an organization born out of wanting to make the world a better place. They reach their philanthropic help, loving arms and compassionate energy all the way to Vietnam, Cambodia, the Thai-Burma border and most recently to Afghanistan serving the victims, survivors and the families of landmine and unexploded bomb accidents.

Mines to Vines Founder Blogs from Afghanistan

"As he courageously greets his Afghan 'friends' each day, he constantly reminds them that they are not landmine victims, but rather landmine survivors! His medicine is effective in healing the human spirit, as the Afghan smiles greet him as he energetically glides around the facility exuding his Italian charisma."

Muppets teach children a land mine lesson

In Afghanistan the creators of Muppet stars Miss Piggy and Fozzy Bear have teamed up with two charities to teach children a lesson in survival: how not to get killed or maimed by the millions of land mines still buried in the Afghan soil.

Nobelity: Purchase this critically acclaimed film and help Clear Path

Filmed across the U.S., France, England, India & Kenya, Nobelity is a stunning look at the world's most pressing problems through the eyes of nine Nobel Laureates, including Wangari Maathai, Richard E. Smalley, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Kabul, Afghanistan Photos Posted to Flickr

Clear Path International's executive director Martha Hathaway and board member and co-founder Kristen Leadem just returned from a trip to Kabul, Afghnaistan. They were there on a fact findng trip for the US Dept of State's Office of Weapons Removal...

Soldier Killed by Soviet-Era Landmine in Afghanistan

Landmines and unexploded bombs remain active for decades after wars end. The story below is a sad reminder of the potency of the explosive remnants of war: Afghanistan: Soldier killed in mine blast KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A...

Martha, Executive Director of CPI on Vermont Public Radio

Vermont Public Radio interviewed our executive Director, Martha Hathaway, on her upcoming trip to Afghanistan and the work of Clear Path International in Asia. You can hear the interview here. The text of the article is below (source VERMONT PUBLIC...

Afghanistan: Massive Demining Follows Years of Warfare

"Landmine Monitor's 2005 Afghanistan report --the 2006 report is scheduled to be released on Sep 13 --has stated that in the previous year, over 33 sq km of mined areas and nearly 70 sq. km of battle areas were...