UXO

February 16, 2014

Omar and I took two days cycling from Vang Vieng to the capital of Laos, Vientiane.  Once there we decided it would be worth our time to visit COPE Center and their UXO museum.  The more I am learning about Laos and it’s history of being bombed, the more interested I become and saddened for the people of Laos who suffer from America’s use of cluster bombs.

I certainly didn’t learn about The Secret War in school and if you didn’t either then please take the time to look it up.  The terrible end result is that Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita, despite the fact it was never in a war with America.

We meandered to COPE and the UXO center, finding treats like tangerines and dragon fruit on the way.

These signs are still posted over Laos as 30% of the 270 million bombies dropped here didn’t explode on impact.

As more locals every year continue to lose limbs from these unexploded bombs sitting in rice paddies or dense jungle brush, COPE began to provide free prosthetics to those who couldn’t afford them.

Traditional houses in Laos have a minimum of 3 steps as they believe odd numbers to be lucky - now try navigating that without a leg or two.  Village locals who lose a limb often remain in their huts for years till they can receive a free limb and regain their mobility and livliehood.

Locals have devised a wheel chair that can drive over the rough terrain in rural areas no problem.  Just pull/push the stick in the middle and start steering.

These metal sculptures are made from bomb scrap metal.  Many poor villagers still collect metal as it is their only source of income. 

One bombing mission every 8 minutes for 24 hours for 9 years!!!!!!

 

The big bomb opens up, just like the picture above, and out drops hundreds of smaller bombs or bombies.  COPE would like to see cluster bombs banned for good.  America is not one of the nations to have signed the petition yet.

 

There are people alive today in Laos who still remember the horrors of the war.  There are also people alive today who weren’t alive for the war and still suffer thanks to UXO's.

This feels a lot more real when we cycle past UXO clearance centers and see people missing limbs as part of our daily ride.

 

We took the time to donate to COPE center and I hope you do too.

 

As little as $75 will buy a prosthetic leg for someone who needs it.

 

www.copelaos.org