2005 - 2006 Landmine/UXO Victims in Central Vietnam

Chi of the Vietnam office compiled the last two years of UXO accident rates in central Vietnam and has posted his findings here. From 2005 to 2006, Clear Path Vietnam responded to 209 UXO accidents.

BBC Series: Life on the Burma-Thai border

There are three main camps around Mae Sot - Mae La, Noe Po and Umpium. Together, they are home to about 97,500 people. Many camp residents - particularly the recent arrivals - are just grateful for a safe place to stay and food to eat.

Clear Path YouTube Video Reaches 10000 Views

We produced this 7 minute video a few years ago with NPR's Corey Flintoff as narrator and the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart donating the music.

Thai Burma Border: Recreational Therapy At Care Villa

I had heard them singing before. I had heard them talking before. I had heard them praying before. But I had never heard them laughing. The guys of the Care Villa; a special group of mostly young men, severely handicapped due to landmine accidents.

CNN and YouTube: Cambodia's poor scavenge for mines

This story is not news to anyone who reads this blog, or folks who have seen Skye FItzgerald's film BOMBHUNTERS. CNN is reporting on unexploded ordnance scavengers in recognition of LANDMINE AWARENESS DAY in Cambodia.

Remnants of War: Sara Smits in Syracuse University Magazine

"I’m fueled by the memories and knowing there are people who are struggling with the issues surrounding landmines.” She finds purpose in her research and does speaking engagements to raise funds for Clear Path. “They do amazing work,” Smits says. “I want to somehow give back to the people who gave me so much information and so much inspiration.”

The World's Most Dangerous Weapon: A letter from the Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions

The room is filled with about 100 NGO's, passionate about banning cluster munitions. Some legislators showed up from France and Norway and told us that they are very influenced by what NGO's report to them from the field, and they depend on us for their decisions.

Countries head to Norway for cluster bomb talks

The meeting is an effort by the Norwegian government to start an international campaign against cluster bombs, which reportedly kill and maim thousands of civilians each year. Many of those killed are children.

Pollution: Landmines Are a Global Health Problem

Pollution. Consider for a moment what the word means. If it's defined as "the presence in the environment of any substance of sufficient concentration to be harmful to humans or cause long-term damage to the natural environment," landmines fit the bill.

Thai Burma Border: The Circle of Inspiration

The idea was there: we cannot give these guys back their hands, their eyes, their lives the way it used to be. But we can encourage them to bring back a little joy, a bit of fun, some challenges and to make one day a bit different than the other.

Thank you, Senator Leahy

Yet again I am so proud to be a constituent of yours. As a volunteer for Clear Path International, I have witnessed first hand the devastating effects of cluster bombs.

Thai - Burma Border: At 21 Years Old, Another Life Shattered

Sometimes you can hear the shootings, explosions, panic, but today it is very quiet....Then we receive a phone call. One of the girls that we dropped yesterday for the mine risk education mission has stepped on a landmine. I remember her face; she was sitting next to me in the truck.

One Boy Killed, One Man Loses Hand In Accidents Involving Ordnace in Vietnam

One man lost a hand and a boy his life in two accidents with unexploded ordnace in central Vietnam this week.

Year of the Pig: A Year of Ease?

The Lunar New Year’s Eve is on February 16th, 2007. February 17th is the first day of the year of the Pig. Many Vietnamese believe that this would be a year of ease. We hope that is what the Pig will bring for 2007.

The Not So Funnies: Mary Worth On Dioxin and the Legacy of The Vietnam War

Mary Worth visits Vietnam and learns of one of the enduring legacies of a brutal conflict in a way only Mary Worth can: "They're innocents, maimed by dioxin! Victims of a war not of their making!"

For What It's Worth: Landmines Video from YouTube

In one of my routine searches on YouTube for landmine related videos I found this short piece that is nicely done...

Fund Reviewing Investments in Companies that Manufacture Cluster Bombs

The fund has already divested in companies involved with landmines and whaling, due to New Zealand's stance against those issues. The fund follows the United Nations principles for responsible investment.

U.S. gives Vietnam $400,000 to plan clean-up of Agent Orange hotspot

The money will be used to help pay for a $1 million study on how to remove dioxin from the soil at the former U.S. base in Danang, one of three Agent Orange hotspots recognized by the U.S. government. Dioxin is a highly toxic ingredient of Agent Orange, an herbicide U.S. forces used to strip away foliage from jungles during the Vietnam War.

My first Cambodian birthday party, with Arn Chorn Pond

It only takes a moment of conversation to become captivated with Arn. He is warm and kind with an infectious smile. He lights up when he talks, which lights up the room around him.

Washington & Oregon Students Learn About Landmines

“It seems that most efforts are concerned with removing landmines and preventing future injuries, but your work seems unique in not abandoning the victims whose lives have already been changed. I am extremely motivated to start fundraising for this organization.”

Welcome to Phnom Penh - I blame Imbert for this!

I’ve been a huge fan of CPI since I was introduced to them a few years earlier, always admiring the work they do. Still, I am not unconvinced that Imbert hasn’t cast some magical spell on me as well.

Lobke is Home Again on the Myanmar Border

A quick coffee, breakfast and once more I questioned myself how life can be so good here for me, while the people I share the streets with face problems we can hardly imagine

Clear Path's Burmese Refugee Program Rep Visits CPI Vietnam

The clear presentation of Dong Ha’s CPI-staff drags me into their projects and for a moment I forget that I’m part of the same organization. I am amazed by the difference they make in peoples lives; it deserves great respect.

Clear Path Welcomes the New Year with a New Team

This great new group of people adds to the current team -- equally impressive -- that includes the founders, our other existing board members, Francesca Thompson, Nancy Norton and Lori Trieu, our five fulltime employees in Vietnam -- Tran Thi Thanh Toan, Tran Duc, Le Thi Yen Nhi, Trang Hong Chi & Phang Thi Ai Phuong and our partner organizations in Cambodia and along the Thai-Burma border.