Often-repeated statistics state that countries like Mozambique and Bosnia have 2 million or more mines still in place, and that Angola has somewhere between 10 million and 15 million. The Post reports that the imprecise nature of mine warfare in the late 20th Century has made it almost impossible for either side in a conflict to determine how many mines were planted, where they are planted, and the types of mines planted. Although mine clearance is expensive, often mine fields are located in areas that can be fenced-off, areas that are economically unimportant, or in areas that are economically important where mines can be removed expeditiously. Mine-clearance technology is also rapidly advancing. And Third World nations sometimes find it to their advantage if the number of existing mines is exaggerated.
More mines can mean more money from industrialized nations to clear mines.
The Post reports that the United Nations is developing new ways of gathering data to redirect attention away from numbers of mines to focus on the socioeconomic costs of mined land that might otherwise be used productively. The article was written by Post reporter Laurie Boulden, and appears on page C1. According to the Journal , while surveying consumer preferences may be fundamental in most industries, home builders are late in catching on. If a given model didn't sell, the builders simply reduced the price. The surveys' findings have changed many preconceived notions about what people really want in a home.