on behalf of everyone thank you Kiyoshi Amemiya

[Steve Bildermann]

A Japanese businessman has invented a special hydraulic excavator designed specifically to safely remove landmines. Kiyoshi Amemiya was struck by the horrific damage caused by landmines during a 1994 trip to Cambodia. Upon returning to Japan, he outfitted a backhoe-like machine with 40 spinning blades inside a drum with is strengthened to withstand up to 10,000 explosions. An integrated electromagnet then picks up the metal fragments.

Amemiya refuses to sell the machines to the world's militaries, instead donating them to countries in need through the United Nations.

Yahoo News

Campaign to ban landmines

Anti-personnel landmines

An anti-personnel mine is an explosive device designed to maim or kill the person who triggers it. Mines are indiscriminate in terms of target and time. They go on killing and maiming-soldiers and civilians, men and women, adults and children alike-decades after the fighting has ended.

[GomiGirl]

Oh don't get me started on the use of cluster bombs..

Anti-personnel weapons are used against civilians and that is just wrong...

Laos is still suffering and they were bombed during the Vietnam war..

Amemiya refuses to sell the machines to the world's militaries, instead donating them to countries in need through the United Nations.

I smell a Nobel prize.. a well deserved one!!