Yellowknife (Mar 19/04) - Kevin Keane and his box of landmines were an unusual sight at a Rotary Club luncheon, thursday at the Explorer Hotel.

Dedicated to helping the people of the world with this problem, Keane said there are 50 to 100 million landmines in the ground, spread over 82 countries. It costs as little as $3 to put a mine in the ground. Removing it can cost as much as $1,000.

The Ottawa Treaty of 1997 prohibits the production, use, stockpiling and transfer of landmines. Though signed by much of the world, including Canada, many countries -- including Russia, China, the U.S. and Israel -- did not ratify the treaty.

"It's always nice to hear about issues that affect people outside our community," said club president Seamus Henry.

Rotary instrumental in the fight

As a Youth Mine Action Ambassador for the Canadian Landmine Federation, Keane is travelling the world trying to recruit help in the fight.

"Rotarians have been instrumental in addressing world crisis," Keane said. "The battle (against landmines) is being won and spearheaded by Canadians."

Rotary Clubs in southern Ontario and the U.S. raised more than $100,000 last year to aid the fight against landmines.

Keane is from Toronto, but his passion has taken him to many places since meeting a young boy in Sarajevo who lost his leg to a landmine.

Rebel groups around the world are among the leading users of landmines.

"There is no mechanism under international law that can penalize non-state actors," he said.

Keane also gave a presentation at a screening of the film Kandahar on Wednesday night at the Capitol Theatre.