Børrea Schau-Larsen / Norway / 2009 / 28 min

Steve Ballinger and his wife, Cassandra Mckowen, co-founded Cleared Ground Demining in 2005 with the intention of making a difference in the world of mines action. The film puts the experiences of humanitarian deminers to the fore: What motivates them to spend their lives clearing the land of unexploded ordnance? Since WW2 cluster munitions have affected the lives of more than 400 million people worldwide. 90% of victims are civilians; 2/3 of these are children. In December 2008 The Convention on Cluster Munitions was signed in Oslo, Norway to set a new standard of international humaninatrian law to protect civilians in conflict. But how effective will this treaty be when the major military powers refuse to sign and financial institutions keep pouring money into the making of these weapons? This film raises important questions relating to the use of indiscriminate weapons and brings our attention to the long-term ramifications for affected communities.

Living in a Minefield

A powerful doc that explores the dangerous existence of people living among landmines in Cambodia

Marit Gjertsen / Norway / 2006 / 56 min / Norwegian - English - Central Khmer with English subtitles

“In this country you have to make it on your own. If you are afraid and just stay at home, you will have no food to give to your children.” Cambodia has one of the highest numbers of mine injuries in the world. Almost fifty thousand Cambodians have been injured or killed by landmines. The war is over, but still almost a thousand people are killed or injured by mines every year. An Vi lives in Somloth, a small village in Cambodia. An Vi has been the sole provider for her eight daughters since her husband passed away while working in the woods. In order to provide food for herself and her children, they have started cultivating land knowing it is covered with mines. If An Vi dies, the daughters are lost for. But the family has no other choice than living with the mortal threat.