EXPLOSIVE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Approximately 20,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year by land mines and other explosive remnants of war. Farmers, relief workers, and thousands of people displaced by war are most at risk, as are young boys and girls in desperate need of open areas suitable for outdoor recreation. Land mines also hinder reconstruction and development by denying recovering communities access to land that could be used for a variety of purposes, including much needed housing.

With all of this in mind, the United Nations Mine Action Service has been trying since last December to convince television stations across the United States to run a Public Service Announcement underscoring the dangers--and to raise awareness of the increasing use--of land mines. Major cable networks, including CNN and Lifetime, along with network affiliates far and wide, have all refused to run the 60 second advertisement.

Hard-hitting and powerful... CLICK HERE to see for yourself what the networks and their affiliates have deemed as being so inappropriate for us to see.

Wow, that totally freaked me out and gave me goose bumps.

The US networks find it inappropriate to broadcast because ignorance is bliss. If someone gets yanked out of their comfort zone, they might turn the channel, then ratings drop then advertising revenues drop. Of course they won't broadcast this. I think the ED drug commercials are far more risque than this ad (BTW I could not post this with the brand name of the drugs, it prompted me that the content was inappropriate!). Thanks for posting this!

Censorship of the media is a always such a hot items to talk about. What about censorship BY the media. This is something I think we should see and see often to get across to us how bad things are 'over there'. Do we need another 911 only with land mines before we pay attention to what is happening in our world. Until then, terrorism was something 'over there'. Genecide is something 'over there'. When it happens to one, it happens to all. It is taking something away from all of us.

Hello once again!! Just wanted to know why it is such a big deal whether they showed this ad in the states???I know,I know it's all about the principle and all!!!Guess i'm just an ignorrant Aussie!!!If they decided to run this ad,would it sway the American public one way or the other??I certainly know how most Aussies feel about it all!?!

I don't think that the commercial is real enough. It should have shown the leg of the girl completely blown off as is the case of most landmine explosions. How is it that we are, in the minds of the networks, more sensitive to the content of commercials rather than the content of detective, murder--who-done-it shows.

Amazingly, people will pay $8.00 to see 2 hours of blood, guts, and gore but can't handle a free 60 second depiction of real-life horror.

As an aside, would all of the same people that have lamented the networks decision not to air this commercial also lament networks' decision not to air graphic anti-abortion commercials?