(VNF) - The US non-governmental organization Roots of Peace on June 21 announced its partnership with United Earth, National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) and Projects for Good to launch a plan to solve the landmine crisis. Quang Tri province of Vietnam is one of this project's beneficiary.

A Vietnamese UXO victims works in the pepper garden. (source: Roots of Peace)

The consortium will focus their initial efforts on Quang Tri province, the former de-military zone, Vietnam where millions of landmines, UXO and cluster munitions prevent rural farmers from cultivating their fields.

According to Roots of Peace, the clear vision is to to remove all explosive remnants of war by Earth Day 2020 and plant fresh black pepper trees on former battlefields. That will cost an estimated $20 million.

Over 23,000 high school students in 170 countries working with NSHSS will join this effort to raise both awareness and funds for Quang Tri, Vietnam.

Projects for Good, an innovative Silicon Valley company, joins this effort by providing an online place to create partnerships which will impact Vietnam. “Projects for Good is proud to partner with Roots of Peace as we turn MINES TO VINES–replacing minefields with pepper vines in the former battlefields of Quang Tri,” stated Patrick Furlotti, CEO.

More details are available at www.roofsofpeace.org, www.projectsforgood.com, www.nshss.hk./.

( Phi Yen )