Clearing the Fields

Library Journal

Cahill, editor of A Framework for Survival (BasicBks, 1993), brings together an impressive group of internationally recognized experts in healthcare, human rights, and military affairs to pose "solutions to the global land mines crisis." The volume forms a complete and insightful policy primer on how to remove the 100 million landmines now deployed in over 60 countries, which claim 15,000 victims worldwide each year. Contributors call for international agencies and the U.S. government to act on the matter and provide an analytical framework for weighing immediate and long-term concerns and assessing the technical political, and moral aspects of the situation. While Paul Davies's War of the Mines; Cambodia, Landmines and the Impoverishment of a Nation (LJ 8/94) provides a moving humanitarian case with his in-depth study of landmines in Cambodia. Cahill's volume translates that concern into effective international and national policy dedicated to removing landmines both from past wars and from future wars. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.-James Rhodes, Luther Coll., Decorah, Ia.

Booknews

The Library of Congress CiP shows Cahill as author, but he's actually the editor of this collection of articles, of which he wrote two and collaborated on one. The 16 chapters address the terrible problem of land mines, which kill and maim thousands of people every month around the world, with more than 100 million mines currently deployed in over 60 countries. Contributors describe the terrible personal suffering as well as the debilitating medical problems and costs caused by land mines, with analysis of the roots of the problem, solutions, and goals for humanitarian assistance and policy changes. Lacks an index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)