(robin swanson) with a metal detector.(sophie fouron) why did it take so much time to start demining? (robin swanson) there was an initial phase of demining immediately after the war ended. after about two weeks, they were actually sustaining casualties, mainly because they couldn't detect the mines. so then, they took a political decision back in london that it was not worth taking any more casualties now that the war was over. so the aim then was simply to fence it off and leave it. (john fowler) and for over 30 years, there were no accidents involving human beings and mines. but the british government were signatories to the ottawa demining convention and came under increasing pressure to do something about the mines in the falklands. then, the british government began a demining campaign which has now gone on every summer for the last six years. the actual guys who do most of the work are from zimbabwe in africa. they are tremendously tough, tremendously skilled. we recognize what a great job they do. and as a communit