This from Steve...

Hello, dear boy/girl/friend/acquaintance/business  associate/Family.

Please help me to help save a village.

As you will  have gleaned from the above formal introduction, I'm off to Death Valley soon  to raise awareness of the landmine problems still suffered in countless  villages of the far east.
I've been in the thick of it, in Cambodia a few  years ago (many of you helped my cause then) and I've seen it, close up, in  full body armour.

They need the landmines cleared.

Clearance will allow  them, hundreds of thousands of decent, innocent people, the dignity of simple  employment; they need power lines fixed, water wells repaired and much  training to stimulate their pitiful economies. They need agricultural land  made safe so farmers can grow crops again; survivors need their dignity and  children need schools; fishermen need to fish from the river banks again and  shepherds are desperate to tend their sheep in safe meadows.

They need the  landmines cleared.

I did it before, so I can do it again: that is, ask you  for your support (you must know I'd never beg.....!). I want to  raise all the funds I can to help this cause, and to do so I will attempt to  cycle 350 miles across the barren, inhospitable terrain of Death Valley on the  Nevada/California border. Listen, you can't even get a mobile phone signal  there; a week without contact with any of you - imagine. Just how inhospitable  can it get! No mobile - that's primitive, practically penal. Think of my  suffering.....and maybe then you'll support me.

I will ride, as in  Cambodia, on the back of a tandem, pilot-ed by my old friend Tom Dickinson.  Tom is a retired Detective Chief Super (Fraud Squad) and still as fit as a  flea, so I warn you, we're going to cover every mile our ageing extremities  can manage. Maybe we'll cover the lot!

Please take a look at the link  below, and consider supporting me on my great adventure, for the sake of  the poor hordes living in peril and poverty thanks to the millions of little,  invisible Khmer Rouge "leaving presents".

I take my responsibility as a  Mines Advisory Group (MAG) Ambassador seriously, as you knew I would. It's a  privilege and an honour.

My own website www.steveharley.com  includes a 2,000-word piece I wrote on the Cambodia trek for the Mail On  Sunday magazine, which will give you a feel of the actual problems faced in  much of south-east Asia.
http://www.magclearsmines.org/page.php?s=1&p=5090

THEY NEED THE LANDMINES CLEARED - urgently. Your donation will  go towards training local men and women (many themselves limbless from  landmine explosions) to become de-miners.
Please help me to help save a  village.

With the usual good thoughts, as  ever,

Steve

 

MAG’s second ‘Give Landmines the Boot’ Celebrity Shoe Auction ran on eBay for 10 days until Friday 8th December. There were almost 60 lots up for grabs including David Bowie’s signed white boots, Pamela Anderson’s signed PVS stilettos, Ricky Gervais’ shoes as worn on Extras, Lily Allen’s trademark trainers and Phil Collins’ drumming shoes. All the proceeds from the auction will be used to support MAG’s landmine and unexploded bomb clearance operations in conflict-affected countries worldwide.

Julie with David Bowie's shoes (Photo Jane Quinn)

 

The Manx Landmine Action volunteers collected donations in the foyer
of Julie’s concert on the Isle of Man on 30 April 2006.

They, and Julie, would like to thank everyone who donated.

With ffinlo Costain, longtime worker for landmine clearance.

(Photos Jane Quinn)

 

4th April  2006 is the UN International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. MAG is creating a ‘Mass of Shoes’ in Trafalgar Square to raise awareness for the 15,000 – 20,0000 civilians injured or killed each year by landmines and other unexploded munitions. The Mass will use 2,000 single shoes – each shoe commemorates a life lost by a landmine or unexploded bomb in 2006 so far.  JOIN JULIE FELIX IN LONDON AT 2pm ON 4 APRIL FOR THIS EVENT AND HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS URGENT SITUATION.

Trafalgar Square, London, was the setting for the most recent MAG charity event.  
Vanessa Redgrave joined Julie Felix for this urgent appeal.

A mountain of shoes was displayed to represent landmine casualties.  

Julie has long believed in the work done by the Mines Advisory Group.  Most recently, she helped by contacting many of her friends in the music and entertainment world and requesting they donate shoes to this celebrity shoe auction which was launched in Carnaby Street, London, on 23 March 2006.

There were over 80 lots with contributions from a huge variety of stars – from Claudia to Macca to Darcey to Rooney – so there should be something for everyone!

Vanessa Redgrave and Martin Bell also support MAG

All proceeds will go towards helping MAG clear landmines and unexploded bombs from conflict affected countries worldwide, so please get bidding and pass this on to all your friends, family and colleagues.

TO ALL OF YOUR WONDERFUL FEET WHICH GAVE UP SHOES, BOOTS, SANDALS AND SOCKS IN ORDER TO HELP US WITH THIS URGENT CAUSE BY JOINING A UNIQUE AND EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR MAG....WE THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.
Total  raised  =   £13,196

Julie Felix and the entire team at The Mines Advisory Group

 

(Photos Jane Quinn)

15 April 2005:  Julie performed at the Waterside Arts Centre in Manchester and invited the Manchester based charity, Mines Advisory Group, to come along to collect funds and raise the profile of their organisation.  All money raised by MAG goes toward landmine clearance.  Julie urges everyone to become actively involved in this most urgent of causes.  http://www.magclearsmines.org

 

Photo Jane Quinn

Julie's commitment to the anti-landmine campaign remains steadfast, especially in these uncertain times. On 22 November 2002, Julie visited ffinlo Costain and Alexandra Lagelée of Adopt-A-Minefield to learn more about their organisation and to find ways to join them in this urgent cause.

Adopt-A-Minefield (UK) works with individuals, local groups and businesses as part of the effort to solve the glocal landmine crisis. The campaign helps save lives by raising funds for mine clearance and survivor
assistance. They currently fund substantial projects in six countries: Mozambique, Afghanistan, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia and Vietnam.Landmines are dreadful and cowardly devices which remain in the ground long after wars have ended, waiting to explode.Imagine if it was your back garden, park or shopping street: maybe you have to grow your own food, farm your animals, buy your groceries; perhaps you just want to walk your dog like you used to, before the war which ravaged your once peaceful home. If you put a foot wrong, a mine could kill or maim you...

Please visit www.landmines.org.uk to learn more.

 

Friday 12 April 2002. Musical evening with Julie Felix and John Paul Jones, at Borders Books, Music & Café, Oxford Street, London.

John Paul Jones (legendary Led Zeppelin bassist and critically acclaimed solo musician) and Julie Felix played a free gig at Borders Books Music & Cafe, Oxford Street, London on 12 April 2002.

Since early 2001, these two diverse musicians have been working with MAG (Mines Advisory Group) to bring awareness to the anti-landmine campaign. Following the success of the MAG concert, Guitars Against Landmines, at Manchester's Lyric Theatre (the Lowry) earlier this year, the two decided to
team up again at Borders where contributions to MAG were accepted.

 

 

 

John and Julie rehearsing for the Borders musical evening,

Photos Jane Quinn

Julie Felix has been acutely aware of the consequences of military aggression on the Third World since the 60's. Having visited countries affected by mines, Julie sought out a way to become personally involved in the clearing of landmines from these wounded lands. Along with Julie, John Paul Jones lends his services and musical talents to support MAG and help address this urgent cause.

 

GUITARS AGAINST LANDMINES CONCERT
The Lowry in Manchester, Sun 27 Jan 2002.
Julie hosted this concert. She was joined by John Paul Jones, Bill Wyman & The Rhythm Kings featuring Georgie Fame, Steve Harley, Kiki Dee with guitarist Carmelo Luggeri, Roy Harper and Homelife, plus others. Photos Jane Quinn.

Bill Wyman, Roy Harper, Julie Felix & John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones & Roy Harper

Concert Review & More Pictures

 

WHY WE MUST DO SOMETHING
Every 20 minutes someone is killed or injured by a landmine somewhere in the world.
In Cambodia approximately 100 people are killed or injured each month by a landmine.
In Cambodia in a 12 month period (Feb 2000 - Jan 2001), the total number of casualties was 785. 21% resulted in death, 28% resulted in amputation and 51% resulted in injury.
£10 will keep a fully trained deminer in the field for a day.
£750 pays three months salary for an Angolan deminer so that they can respond to the need of people affected by landmines and clear those mines.
90% of landmine victims are civilians.

Donations to MAG will help to clear landmines from farmers' fields, children¹s back gardens and pathways to drinking water. MAG has over ten years experience in 20 countries. Current mine action activities include Angola, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, northern Iraq, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Somaliland, southern Sudan and Vietnam. MAG has recently completed assessments of further mine requirements in Uganda and Chad and plans further interventions through 2002.

Since the 60's Julie Felix has been acutely aware of the consequences of military aggression on the Third World. Photographs of Princess Diana in Angola's minefields had a deep effect on Julie's sensitivity to the landmine issue.

Having visited countries affected by mines, Julie sought out a way to personally be involved in the clearing of landmines from these wounded lands. Through MAG (The Mines Advisory Group) she has found an effective way to lend her services and talents to this urgent cause.

Julie met with MAG staff in Sept 2001 to discuss plans for the benefit concert,
Guitars Against Landmines

Front: Pam Dawes of Cohesion and MAG; Kath Simonds, Fundraising Manager of MAG
Back: Jane Quinn (Julie's Assistant) and Julie Felix. Photo Jane Quinn.

In the 60's we fought against war; and now we must focus on the wreckage left behind by such conflicts - past or present. We are painfully discovering that there are devestating consequences to be dealt with.

If you wish to help, please visit the MAG website to find out how. www.mag.org.uk

 

On 1 November 2001, in the presence of Ambassador Vuong Thua Phong of the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietman, Adopt-A-Minefield and Mines Advisory Group launched their new partnership to save lives in Vietnam.
Together they will clear mines and unexploded ordnance from Charlie 1, the former American firebase in Vietnam's Quang Tri province. Julie attended the launch reception at the Royal Albert Hall.

Julie is pictured with Sir Paul McCartney who is also an active supporter of the anti-landmine movement.

Julie discussed the urgent need for mine clearance with Anna Brecon of Emmerdale and Stephen beckett of Coronation Street.

Julie and Anna Brecon who portrays Lady Tara on ITV's Emmerdale.	Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, patrons of Adopt-A-Minefield.
Photos Jane Quinn