Night of A Thousand Dinners in Oshawa

To our fellow Rotarians and friends in District 7070: 

You Are ALL  Invited to our N1KD   (Night of 1000 Dinners / Meals for a Mine Free World)

October 12 @ 6:00 p.m.; The Officers Mess of the Ontario Regiment, 53 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON L1G 4R9

Hosted by The Rotary Club of Oshawa 

Landmines may be off the front page in Canada but they are still big news in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Bosnia, Syria and Colombia. They maim people every day, stop children from going to school and prevent many from earning a living.
There are over 100 million landmines left either in stockpiles or in the ground – down from 200 million. Accidents are also down. However, the need for support and removal is still there.
Since the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines in 1997, The Rotarians and Rotary Clubs in District 7070 have been big contributors to the landmine movement. Toronto Rotary Club Past President Sandy Boucher is the Past Chair of Rotarians For Mine Action and Rotary Club of Toronto member Chris Snyder is the current Chair of The Canadian Landmine Foundation.

Chris is asking all Rotary Clubs in Canada to rejuvenate their support for the Canadian Landmines Foundation with the Night of A Thousand Dinners (now called meals for a Mine Free World). And the two Rotary Clubs on Oshawa are joining forces to do just that.

For example, from the 1960s to the 1990s, Cambodia was in an almost constant state of war. Saturation bombing, civil war, and genocide scarred its landscapes and its people.

As a result, five million explosive remnants of war remain hidden in the countryside. Long-forgotten landmines, grenades, rockets, artillery shells and cluster bombs kill and injure people and deny farmers and families thousands of hectares of land.

Today, 640 km2 of Cambodia is contaminated with landmines or other explosive remnants of war. Since 1979, more than 65,000 Cambodians have fallen victim to one of these explosive devices. 20,000 killed. 45,000 injured. 9,000 suffered amputation.

People who find these explosives need to know how to respond. They also need the devices removed quickly and safely so they can get on with their lives.

YOU CAN HELP
Cambodian Self Help Demining operates demining and explosive ordnance disposal teams in rural Cambodia.

When villagers find mines and other explosive remnants of war, one of five EOD teams are dispatched to neutralize the explosives and conduct mine risk education. The Canadian Landmine Foundation is proud to sponsor EOD TEAM 5.

CSHD was founded in 2008 by an ex-child soldier named Aki Ra. He’s been demining since 1993 and has personally cleared more than 50,000 landmines. To date, CSHD teams have cleared 3 million square metres of land.

CSHD are accredited by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, and have fundraising support in the United States and Australia. The Canadian Landmine Foundation is committed to helping Canadians support Aki Ra and his life saving work.

Help us support CSHD’s work. $270 clears 100 m2. $1,875 funds one week of work. $7,500 funds one month. Together, we can transform Cambodia from unSAFE to SAFE.

You, your Club members and the public in Durham Region are invited to come to a gala dinner and evening at:

The Officers Mess of the Ontario Regiment, 53 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON L1G 4R9
Thursday, October 12

Ticket Price: $ 75.00 per person (cash or cheque) , a tax receipt will be issued for a portion of the ticket price

Time: Reception from 6: 00 pm to 7:00 pm Cash Bar

Dinner: a Roast beef dinner served at 7:00 pm (any special dinner requests let Gordon Dowsley know at 905 576 3636 or gdowsley@yahoo.com)

Tables: of 8 people (If you would like to reserve a table of 8 for you or your Rotary Club, we would be very pleased. To do so, please accompanied your request by full payment)

You may purchase your tickets directly from Oshawa Rotarian Gordon Dowsley at 905 576 3636 or gdowsley@yahoo.com

Distinguished Guest Speaker: Senator Art Eggleton, Canadian Defence Secretary at the time of the signing of the Landmines Treaty

Please reply to Oshawa Rotarian Gordon Dowsley know at 905 576 3636 or gdowsley@yahoo.com if you are able to attend.

Perhaps a group of Rotarians from your Club may wish to take part . We hope to see you there.

If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, please make cheque payable to

The Canadian Landmine Foundation and mail to: 


The Rotary Club of Oshawa
P.O. Box 91 
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 7K8 

Thank you for your continued support.

Ron Dick

President

Rotary Club of Oshawa