"Windows Minesweeper (Winmine) is an offence against the victims of the mines, and to those who sacrifice themselves, risking their own life, clearing the lands contaminated by these implements," says the International Campaign to Ban Winmine (ICBW).

So it wants you to delete the programme and replace it with its own Winflower game. And it wants Microsoft to substitute the game with something more respectful with its next version of Windows.

The beta version of Windows XP includes Minesweeper , but there's still time to get it removed - if people lobby hard enough.

So far, The ICBW effort has managed to clear up Minesweeper from a pathetic 696 PCs. But how can this campaign not be a good thing? First stop; kill an addictive little game. And from there, destroy the landmine manufacturing industry and aid the removal of planted mines.

So pledge your support here.

Bomber Blincoe Bootnote

On a more selfish note, blacklisting Minesweeper could help my mum kick her three hour-a-day habit. More experienced computer users learn to ignore the freebie game, but Mother Blincoe appears to have learned little else.

Thanks to Aussie reader Andrew Smith for the link. ®

Related Link

International Campaign to Ban Winmine