During my absence the 2005 edition of Landmine Monitor was launched.

This year's publication reports that global use of antipersonnel mines and the number of mine casualties have fallen (good news) but over 200,000 square kilometers of the world are thought to be contaminated by mines and an estimated 15,000-20,000 people are maimed or killed by mines and UXO each year (bad news).

LM is essential reading for anyone interested in the landmine issue.