http://laovoices.com/2011/05/02/funding-increase-for-uxo-clearance/

The Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO Lao) has received its new budget, UXO Lao Director Mr Bounpone Sayasenh said at the annual meeting held in Vientiane on Friday.
Unexploded ordnance clea-rance is not getting cheaper, with fuel costs rising and the value of the US dollar falling, and costs are becoming harder to meet each year. The 2011 budget for UXO Lao is about US$7.9 million compared to 2010, when the budget was about US$6.8 million.

UXO Lao works to clear bo mbs in the provinces of Luang Prabang, Huaphan, Xieng Khuang, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Saravan, Xekong, Champassak and Attapeu. The organisation’s workers have set themselves an ambitious goa l for 2011, with challenges ahead as they come to grips with detector problems.

The organisation had many visitors throughout the year and received a lot of media attention, which they hope will help procure future funding. UXO Lao has cleared more than 19,185 hectares of land since 1996.
More than 16,000 hectares of the cleared land is agricultural, bringing benefits to more than 3.3 million people. Staff have visited almost 8,500 villages and conducted community awareness activities on the dangers of unexploded ordnance.
So far UXO Lao staff have destroyed more than 973,000 devices, of which 46 percent were cluster bomb sub-munitions.

Good good news.
;)

Does anyone know the types of detectors that they are using?  Magnetic/Electromagnetic?


llX wrote on 3^rd May, 2011 at 6:54am:

Good good news. ;)

I'm not sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-qAa81rN9w
:)


PEACE wrote on 3^rd May, 2011 at 2:27pm:

Does anyone know the types of detectors that they are using?  Magnetic/Electromagnetic? llX wrote on 3rd May, 2011 at 6:54am: Good good news. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFIbhUGtCGY&feature=related

Thanks for sharing.  Geez - they are  extremely big.     The little 'bomblets' are the more dangeerous ones because they are smaller and extremely hard to see and avoid.  Can that be true?  

Lao culture we like to hunt and farm. So most likely people will find these bombie in the wood. Government need to educated people, especially children about the danger if UXO. Since 1975 about 20,000 civilians died and one person is being killed everyday by UXO.
:-[ :'(

$7-8 million a year to spend on detection/clearing is not alot.  How does the gov't prioritize on where to clear next? I would think by population size.  There will be much more funding in the future and alot will eventually come from the USA.

Agreed Laos need $70-$80 million a year not $7 million. U.S government should be paying for all of it. They say it'll take about 3,000 year to clear all UXO in Laos with $7 million a year funding. Vietnam has sued the U.S government for Agent Orange chemicals. Why not Laos?

Funding for UXO in Laos also created jobs for the locals. Mine Advisory Group make about $200-$300 a month.
>:( :-/

Did the US drop agent oragne on our side?

PEACE wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 3:19am:

Did the US drop agent oragne on our side?

I don't think they drop Agent Orange in Laos. But I heard during the  war they were thinking about dropping a Nuke on Vietnam. If they do that mean Viet Cong lose.
8-)

If the US did drop the Enola Gay-like nuke on Vietnam then I would still be in Laos and not be a Laopride member :D.

PEACE wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 3:29am:

If the US did drop the Enola Gay-like nuke on Vietnam then I would still be in Laos and not be a Laopride member :D.

If they drop one during the war we probably be dead too .Laos is next to Vietnam.
:D :o

We will be fine and we probably can take over Vietnam as well and I am sure the US will give us all of Vietnam ;).


llX wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 6:52am:

PEACE wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 3:29am: If the US did drop the Enola Gay-like nuke on Vietnam then I would still be in Laos and not be a Laopride member :D. If they drop one during the war we probably be dead too .Laos is next to Vietnam. :D :o

Big fish eat small fish that's how nature work. If we don't control them they'll control us. If U.S won the war we can take Vietnam then take over world. Heheheh
:D ;D


PEACE wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 12:11pm:

We will be fine and we probably can take over Vietnam as well and I am sure the US will give us all of Vietnam ;). llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 6:52am: PEACE wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 3:29am: If the US did drop the Enola Gay-like nuke on Vietnam then I would still be in Laos and not be a Laopride member :D. If they drop one during the war we probably be dead too .Laos is next to Vietnam. :D :o

That would be something if we have the south China sea - oil/gas revenue and tourism money to modernize the country 8-).

   
llX wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 3:25pm:

Big fish eat small fish that's how nature work. If we don't control them they'll control us. If U.S won the war we can take Vietnam then take over world. Heheheh :D ;D PEACE wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 12:11pm: We will be fine and we probably can take over Vietnam as well and I am sure the US will give us all of Vietnam ;). llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 6:52am: PEACE wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 3:29am: If the US did drop the Enola Gay-like nuke on Vietnam then I would still be in Laos and not be a Laopride member :D. If they drop one during the war we probably be dead too .Laos is next to Vietnam. :D :o

MrLao4ever even if we just united with Issan. Laos will be better off. Issan and Laos has the population of 25 million ethnics Lao combine.
;)

I prefer the South China sea over Issan any day because of oil below the water of the South China sea.

llX wrote on 5^th May, 2011 at 12:29am:

MrLao4ever even if we just united with Issan. Laos will be better off. Issan and Laos has the population of 25 million ethnics Lao combine. ;)

Hey, Bro, have you EVER met an Isaan who claims to be Lao? Because I haven't! They always say they're "Thai", the younger generation in particular.

The reunification of Lan Xang is NOT a good idea economically. The majority of them are going to be looking for handouts. The Lao government already have enough on their plates.

Just my opinion. 8-)

Exactly agree withLarb Dip.  These Issans do not acknowlege that.  


Larb Dip wrote on 5^th May, 2011 at 3:25pm:

llX wrote on 5th May, 2011 at 12:29am: MrLao4ever even if we just united with Issan. Laos will be better off. Issan and Laos has the population of 25 million ethnics Lao combine. ;) Hey, Bro, have you EVER met an Isaan who claims to be Lao? Because I haven't! They always say they're "Thai", the younger generation in particular. The reunification of Lan Xang is NOT a good idea economically. The majority of them are going to be looking for handouts. The Lao government already have enough on their plates. Just my opinion. 8-)

Thailand is number one rice exporter because of Issan. Issan is Lao.
;)


PEACE wrote on 5^th May, 2011 at 2:44am:

I prefer the South China sea over Issan any day because of oil below the water of the South China sea.

Some do some don't. They try to brainwash Issan since 1906 that they not Lao. They're not allow to speak or write Lao lauaguage in school.
:)


PEACE wrote on 5^th May, 2011 at 6:28pm:

Exactly agree withLarb Dip.  These Issans do not acknowlege that.   Larb Dip wrote on 5th May, 2011 at 3:25pm: llX wrote on 5th May, 2011 at 12:29am: MrLao4ever even if we just united with Issan. Laos will be better off. Issan and Laos has the population of 25 million ethnics Lao combine. ;) Hey, Bro, have you EVER met an Isaan who claims to be Lao? Because I haven't! They always say they're "Thai", the younger generation in particular. The reunification of Lan Xang is NOT a good idea economically. The majority of them are going to be looking for handouts. The Lao government already have enough on their plates. Just my opinion. 8-)

So the majority of Issan people (from old Laos) living in Thailand speaks Thai and not Lao language.  Is there an Issan language?

PEACE wrote on 6^th May, 2011 at 3:02am:

So the majority of Issan people (from old Laos) living in Thailand speaks Thai and not Lao language.  Is there an Issan language?

About 40% 26 million of Thai population is Lao. They still speak Lao mixed with Thai. Just like us Lao-American speak Lao at home English at work. Issan language mean Lao language. I still has Lao Issan  relative in Udon Thani. They eat sticky rice and padak just like you and me. Many Lao has relative living in Thailand. That's why they call Lao/Thai "ban ai muang nong."
;)

'Tai Orathai' is from Thailand and I understand the words/lyrics from most of the songs that she sings because she sings in Lao language.  Therefore 'Tai' is khonLao then living in Thailand.  


llX wrote on 6^th May, 2011 at 3:10am:

PEACE wrote on 6th May, 2011 at 3:02am: So the majority of Issan people (from old Laos) living in Thailand speaks Thai and not Lao language.  Is there an Issan language? About 40% 26 million of Thai population is Lao. They still speak Lao mixed with Thai. Just like us Lao-American speak English and Lao. Issan language mean Lao language. I still has Lao Issan  relative in Udon Thani. Many Lao has relative living in Thailand. That's why they call Lao/Thai "ban ai muang nong." ;)

Tai Oratai is Lao Issan she sang more Lao word in her music, and so does other artist. She is one of my favorite Lao Issan singer.
;)


PEACE wrote on 6^th May, 2011 at 3:19am:

'Tai Orathai' is from Thailand and I understand the words/lyrics from most of the songs that she sings because she sings in Lao language.  Therefore 'Tai' is khonLao then living in Thailand.   llX wrote on 6th May, 2011 at 3:10am: PEACE wrote on 6th May, 2011 at 3:02am: So the majority of Issan people (from old Laos) living in Thailand speaks Thai and not Lao language.  Is there an Issan language? About 40% 26 million of Thai population is Lao. They still speak Lao mixed with Thai. Just like us Lao-American speak English and Lao. Issan language mean Lao language. I still has Lao Issan  relative in Udon Thani. Many Lao has relative living in Thailand. That's why they call Lao/Thai "ban ai muang nong." ;)

Do you ever see her live in Minnesota? I am sure she makes her tour up there becasue  of the larger Lao population?


llX wrote on 6^th May, 2011 at 3:24am:

Tai Oratai is Lao Issan she sang more Lao word in her music, and so does other artist. She is one of my favorite Lao Issan singer. ;) PEACE wrote on 6th May, 2011 at 3:19am: 'Tai Orathai' is from Thailand and I understand the words/lyrics from most of the songs that she sings because she sings in Lao language.  Therefore 'Tai' is khonLao then living in Thailand.   llX wrote on 6th May, 2011 at 3:10am: PEACE wrote on 6th May, 2011 at 3:02am: So the majority of Issan people (from old Laos) living in Thailand speaks Thai and not Lao language.  Is there an Issan language? About 40% 26 million of Thai population is Lao. They still speak Lao mixed with Thai. Just like us Lao-American speak English and Lao. Issan language mean Lao language. I still has Lao Issan  relative in Udon Thani. Many Lao has relative living in Thailand. That's why they call Lao/Thai "ban ai muang nong." ;)

She was here couple of time. I think she also perform at california too. That's where most of Lao people live around 120,000. Lao-American does like Lao Issan music.
:)


PEACE wrote on 6^th May, 2011 at 3:29am:

Do you ever see her live in Minnesota? I am sure she makes her tour up there becasue  of the larger Lao population? llX wrote on 6th May, 2011 at 3:24am: Tai Oratai is Lao Issan she sang more Lao word in her music, and so does other artist. She is one of my favorite Lao Issan singer. ;) PEACE wrote on 6th May, 2011 at 3:19am: 'Tai Orathai' is from Thailand and I understand the words/lyrics from most of the songs that she sings because she sings in Lao language.  Therefore 'Tai' is khonLao then living in Thailand.   llX wrote on 6th May, 2011 at 3:10am: PEACE wrote on 6th May, 2011 at 3:02am: So the majority of Issan people (from old Laos) living in Thailand speaks Thai and not Lao language.  Is there an Issan language? About 40% 26 million of Thai population is Lao. They still speak Lao mixed with Thai. Just like us Lao-American speak English and Lao. Issan language mean Lao language. I still has Lao Issan  relative in Udon Thani. Many Lao has relative living in Thailand. That's why they call Lao/Thai "ban ai muang nong." ;)

I was wondering if UXOs have contributed to any animal specie extinction in Laos.  These would be the larger size animals like the Saola unicorn.

UXO killed about 20,000 Laotian since 1975 and injured thousand thousand more. No doubt, it also kills a lot of animals too.
:-[ :'(

PEACE wrote on 7^th May, 2011 at 3:22am:

I was wondering if UXOs have contributed to any animal specie extinction in Laos.  These would be the larger size animals like the Saola unicorn.

There would be no way to know that.

But the fact that around one person per day continues to be killed by American UXO should not be overlooked or forgotten by anybody.


Old Man

Seem like Laos is curse or something. Our belove motherland has alway been invade, destroy and control by foreign power. Our people suffer and live in poverty. When I think about UXO and the victims it bring tear to my eye.  
:'( :-[

Never again.

The past is th past. Laos is moving forward and modernizing.
;)


wrote on 7^th May, 2011 at 7:44am:

Never again.

Here is another dumbfound question from me.  Is there still wild elephants in Laos?

Yes, there are still wild elephants deep in the forest. Visitors can see or ride elephants at Ban Gun Zoo, about an hour's drive from Vientiane.



http://www.laopride.com/pictures1/elephants-in-laos-1.jpg





http://www.laopride.com/pictures1/elephants-in-laos-2.jpg





http://www.laopride.com/pictures1/elephants-in-laos-3.jpg





http://www.laopride.com/pictures1/elephants-in-laos-4.jpg

That is very goodd to know that these elephants are still in the wild :).  

These days, there's not much wild elephants left in Laos. But having said that, the wild elephant population in other countries are also declining.

Riding elephant look fun.
:)

What other animals are there in Byun Gan Zoo?