Your AIT Story Issue 17: Clinton Smith
Clinton has the world’s most dangerous and rewarding job—clearing landmines for communities in conflict areas. From Kosovo to Iraq, he trains local staff to clear mines, teaches children about mine risk and plays football on former mine field to win trust from communities. During his home visit to Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management, Clinton shared with us his unusual experience over the past 14 years. "When I drink beer, the best stories come to my mind," chuckled this naughty big boy.
Clinton clears landmines in war and conflict areas.
Lin: How did you start clearing landmines?
Clinton: When I was in boys high school, my favorite daydream was to escape the normal 9 to 5 life and live my own adventure. Then I joined the South African army and learnt to deal with the explosives. It became my lifetime addiction. When I demolish them in bulk, I really enjoy the Big Bang!
When I got out of the army, I realized there are only around 1000 crazy fools like me in this world. So international agencies all scrambled for us and sent us to places that nobody else wants to go. Kosovo, Mozambique, Iraq…I am a seasoned traveler for wars and conflicts.
Lin: That sounds so exotic. What are you doing now in Iraq?
Clinton: I oversee the operation, finance and programs in Iraq on behalf of a Danish agency. I also teach local staff how to treat landmines safely. My teams go out every day to clean up mine contaminated areas.
Clearing landmines is like digging a pit with a teaspoon. It is painfully slow. One person can clear maximum 20 square meters in a day. And it requires high concentration. In normal working environment, colleagues can share snacks and jokes. But in landmine fields, we are very serious.
One thing unique about working in Iraq is that whenever I go for a meeting, the armed security guards follow me! In the compound I live, 13 security guards are on duty 24 hours. I feel like I am in the reality show "Survivor".
Lin: We wish you safe and sound. How do you detect mines in the field?
Clinton: We train our dogs, mice and we ask locals. Now genetically modified plant can also help us! Spread the seeds from air and within a few weeks, the plans will grow and cover the field. Where mines had been buried, the plants would grow red (see picture below). What a magical technology!
Clockwise: reward hero mouse with banana, mine risk education, create safe path (white stone means safe while red means danger) and mine-detection plant
Lin: That's so interesting! How is your life after work in Iraq?
Clinton: After work, I like to close the door, turn on the music and get lost. Sometimes I go to the bar in our compound. But there are only eight staff living there and we see each other every day. So no chance for exotic encounter!
But this special environment ties a strong bond between us. We adapt to the situation and stand up for challenges together. We are comrades. You can never turn a colleague into a comrade in normal working place!
Also, we have two weeks off every two months. So I fly back to hug Thailand!
Lin: You must be overloaded with stories. Share with us!
Clinton: I remember one village in Kosovo. Landmines blocked their short path to farmlands and water point. When I first arrived there, it felt like a death valley. Kids hobbled around in amputated legs and people stared at us in silence.
After three months of work, we told villagers that mines were cleared and they were free to go around, but nobody believed in us. I realized mines were still hanging in everyone's mind.
We decided to play football on the former mine field. When we walked to the field with football, villagers whispered to each other. When we started kicking the ball, few curious youngsters came over. Slowly, women, children and elderly came. Eventually the whole village surrounded the field, watching in silence.
"I could sense the rapid current rushing under the silence. Despair and fear were washed away and hope started to spark in everyone’s eyes. After the football game, people were talking and smiling. The village came alive."
Illustration picture from internet: Clinton and his colleagues play football on cleared mine field to win trust from community and clear their 'mental landmines'.
Lin: That's so powerful story! Is there any character that lasts in your memory?
Clinton: Once in a mountainous village in Kosovo, we tried to locate the mine contaminated area. I heard that local herdsmen know where landmines are, so I asked one herdsman: Can you show us?
Excited at my words, he ran off the track to the bushes, quickly dug out a landmine, raised it over his head and proudly announced to us: See, landmine!
I broke out in a cold sweat and shouted: Danger! Come back! Reluctantly, he put down the landmine, as if it was his familiar toy.
Every time when I think of him, I am amazed by people's understanding about landmines after living with them for a long time. They know their mines! And they are confident about this fact!
Lin: What's your deepest impression over the past 14 years?
Clinton: People are really resilient. They can manage to live a normal life amid landmines. Some villages developed their own safe paths to go around the mines. I am sure people got injured in this trial and error process. But I am always impressed by the courage and ingenuity of people!
Lin: What's your plan during your two-week break here?
Clinton: My master thesis may explode anytime. When I go back Iraq, I will clear mines in the daytime and write thesis at night. What a fruitful life!
But for now, I just want to drink beer and go sabai sabai (relaxing in Thai).
Happy Clinton at DPMM gathering. Click here to be our DPMM friends.
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Your AIT Story is a weekly student interview blog at Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Our vision is to reach out to students in every corner of this campus, listen to their stories and connect them. Together, we can share our experience and celebrate our time in AIT!
