It is estimated that up to 300 Afghans are injured or killed by landmines every month - the highest rate in the world. Many cases go unreported because the injured do not have access to medical care. Landmines also pose a direct threat to economic recovery. More than 800 km² of residential area, commercial land, roads, irrigation systems, and primary production land are littered with mines and unexploded ordnance.

LAMP is organized as a member of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) which coordinates the Adopt-a-Minefield™ Campaign in partnership with the United Nations and other public and non-governmental organizations. Through Adopt-a-Minefield™, donors sponsor demining in any of six countries of the world. Donor groups or communities may adopt a specific minefield for clearance in five of these countries, but in Afghanistan both demining and ordnance defusion is performed by a specific team. This is identified as an Adopt-A-Team approach. The short term goal of LAMP is to sponsor the work of 30 Afghan deminers in a specific district for two months. The cost of this project is about $30,000.

The Night of a Thousand Dinners (N1KD) began as an opportunity for people all over the world to come together, enjoy a meal, and help solve the global landmine crisis. Throughout the world, citizens gathered in groups to eat, socialize, and support this important cause.

The Night of a Thousand Dinners has now evolved to include gatherings of every conceivable kind and size; from formal luncheons to potlucks, from cocktail parties to tea parties, from barbeques to clambakes - it’s a local event that’s a global event. N1KD is celebrated every year on or around the first Thursday in November.

The Night of a Thousand Dinners has energized tens of thousands of caring citizens and has grown into an international phenomenon! This simple concept of gathering friends and family as members of a global community in support of a common cause has been a great success. Since its launch in 2001, nearly 2000 dinners (or gatherings) have been held in over 50 countries and over $2.3 million has been raised.

In La Crosse, Wisconsin, LAMP has hosted three successful dinners raising $23,000 for mine removal in Afghanistan.

2006: LAMP's N1KD will be on Saturday, November 11. And on November 12 and 13, don't miss the United Nations Assembly Film Festival at UW-L. More info soon!

For more information about LAMP, contact Ray Starrett by e-mail RayStarrett@charter.net or call 608-788-4767. The website for N1KD is http://www.1000dinners.com and for Adopt-A-Minefield™ is www.landmines.org.