High school students do their part to end land mine danger

Students at a Georgia high school pioneered the International Organization of Students Against Land Mines

By Stacey Wilkins

In this story:

Land mines shatter the lives of children

Creative campaigns boost education effort

Even Superman, Batman teach youngsters

ATLANTA (CNN) -- A long way from the world's war zones, students at a Georgia high school are joining the fight to eradicate land mines.

Teenagers there have started the International Organization of Students Against Land Mines, using the Internet to help raise thousands of dollars to clear minefields.

"People from all over the world look at the International School Website and they can respond, and we can send them a little startup package which will show them how to get started with a little land mine program in their school," said Stephanie Limberger of the Atlanta International School.

As many as 10,000 children are killed or maimed around the world each year

Land mines shattering the lives of children

Land mines are shattering the lives of children in 68 countries, with more than 115 million unexploded mines buried in the ground around the world. The United Nations says the mines kill and mutilate up to 10,000 children every year.

Youngsters often are caught up in a conflict they do not understand, many mistaking the explosives for toys.

"There are certain activities which make children susceptible to being injured by mines," said Dr. Robin Coupland of the International Red Cross. "One is their curiosity. When they see strange objects, they will pick them up."

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Creative campaigns boost education effort

Students at the school are members of just one of the groups searching for new ways to rid the world of land mines. Creative campaigns that use cartoon characters and animation are being introduced in some of the world's most dangerous places.

International organizations like UNICEF are designing videos that speak to children in their language. Animated videos teach children how to avoid the explosives.

Cartoons like this teach children how to recognize land mines

Even Superman, Batman teach youngsters

Even comic-book characters like Superman and Batman are training kids how to identify land mines so they won't accidentally set them off.

"The message in every one of the mine books is that the kids themselves, just by taking action, by doing the right thing, by sharing the information, by teaching other people about mines, that they are as much heroes as any of ours ... you don't need super powers to be a super hero," said DC Comics' Jenette Kahn.