Lou McGrath: Advocating for Demining and Search Clearance Skills

Lou McGrath, OBE, a long-standing advocate of demining and search clearance skills, discusses his experiences in the world of explosive ordnance disposal. From witnessing the devastating effects of landmines to founding the Mines Advisory Group and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, McGrath has dedicated his career to clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance. He emphasizes the importance of training local people in clearance efforts and the need for coordination and collaboration in the field. McGrath also discusses the role of the Institute of Munitions and Clearance Search Engineers in promoting safety and efficiency in demining.

Lou McGrath OBE is an esteemed figure in the field of humanitarian mine clearance. With a brief military career and a passion ignited by the aftermath of the Russian withdrawal from Afghanistan, McGrath has been a relentless advocate for the safety and skill enhancement of d-mining and search clearance engineers. Co-founder of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and a member of the founding organizations of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), Lou has dedicated much of his life to the eradication of landmines and the safe clearance of unexploded ordnance worldwide. Through his commitment, he has played a significant role in shaping the policies and practices around explosive ordnance disposal and contributing to the global movement against the use of landmines.

Lou McGrath's background and the founding of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) highlighted a significant void in post-conflict mine clearance which the organization aimed to fill through training local populations.
The transformation of mine clearance work acceptance, moving from reactive to proactive, ensuring safety, and building local capacities during ongoing conflicts.
The influence of Princess Diana in elevating the landmine issue to a global stage, contributing to shifts in policy and perspectives on the destructive legacy of these weapons.
The critical nature of coordinated efforts, shared knowledge, and the importance of organizations like the Institute of Munitions Clearance and Search Engineers in promoting effective solutions in explosive ordnance disposal.
McGrath's advocacy for inclusivity in demining roles, paving the way for gender equality and opportunities for amputees in the sector.

Quotes

"The thing with a landmine is it's victim activated...if you leave a landmine there and you do nothing about it, in 30 years' time when the conflict's long forgotten, a young child might be playing in that area and activate that landmine."
"We needed to actually train people with the ability to carry out safe clearance and become a local organization."
"[Princess Diana] became the person who we were able to persuade to take on board this campaign. And it was through her that governments began moving forward."
"It's what you do...isn't this in any sort of profession in life, you have to be able to bring about the best expertise, exchange knowledge and information."
"But the benefits and the value of was people with lots of limbs could never get jobs in a lot of countries...Being able to go in as a team...and the whole of the village can see that you're clearing their village changes...and made people think, well, he's just as whole as I am."