This is my last post of the day, I think I've given my loyal readers enough to think about and read and catch up on. However, this is likely my saddest post of my trip. I doubt I could get more sad than this.
I'll sum it up simply, and then I urge you to read this link to get more information, and then at the end of the blog, I have the link to the COPE center I visited today as well.
The thing that Laos is actually known for is for being the most heavily bombed country in history. This country was not even in the battles between Vietnam and the US, and has more unexploded bombs left in the country than there were bombs bombed during the whole of World War II.
http://legaciesofwar.org/about-laos/secret-war-laos/secret-bombing-laos/
This experience, and seeing the actual people that have been affected and blown up by the bombies (unexploded cluster bombs from the Vietnam/US battles) made me furious. In 3 days, the US dropped 20 million dollars worth of bombs were dropped on Laos, and in the past 40 years only 2.5 million dollars has been spent on helping repair all the damage.
I know I wasn't alive then, I wasn't there, I don't know what was/is right or wrong, but seeing people hurt just last year by bombs left 30-40 years ago... made me extremely sad.
However, the upside was, for just 75 dollars, I was able to donate a prosthetic leg to some one who needs it/or will need it. I felt happy I could help out in some way, and make a difference in some one's life... maybe even many peoples lives.
http://www.copelaos.org/
I'll sum it up simply, and then I urge you to read this link to get more information, and then at the end of the blog, I have the link to the COPE center I visited today as well.
The thing that Laos is actually known for is for being the most heavily bombed country in history. This country was not even in the battles between Vietnam and the US, and has more unexploded bombs left in the country than there were bombs bombed during the whole of World War II.
http://legaciesofwar.org/about-laos/secret-war-laos/secret-bombing-laos/
This experience, and seeing the actual people that have been affected and blown up by the bombies (unexploded cluster bombs from the Vietnam/US battles) made me furious. In 3 days, the US dropped 20 million dollars worth of bombs were dropped on Laos, and in the past 40 years only 2.5 million dollars has been spent on helping repair all the damage.
I know I wasn't alive then, I wasn't there, I don't know what was/is right or wrong, but seeing people hurt just last year by bombs left 30-40 years ago... made me extremely sad.
However, the upside was, for just 75 dollars, I was able to donate a prosthetic leg to some one who needs it/or will need it. I felt happy I could help out in some way, and make a difference in some one's life... maybe even many peoples lives.
http://www.copelaos.org/
I was in my late teens then. I was anti Vietnam War (not anti solider) I hated what was happening and now to find out it still is affecting innocent people is shocking and so very sad
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