Unexploded
ordinance: the legacy of modern warfare.
href="http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DD5ACEEF-42DC-4FA0-82CE-7C053457C9E1.htm">Reportedly,
Laos has the undesired distinction of harboring the most UXO's of any
country. Courtesy of Uncle Sam, of course.
It's hard to imagine they have more than Iraq, but maybe nobody has
gotten around to estimating the number in Iraq.
Anyway, in Laos, there is a UN-sponsored team clearing the ordinance.
Unfortunately, at the rate they are going, they estimate it
will take 400 years to finish the job.
Even
children are learning new rhymes centered on the deadly objects.
They
sing: "Don't go play too far ... don't make your parents worry where
you are ... in the mountains there are bombs ... don't go play too far."
It's a sad state of affairs.
I always thought that this UN landmine commercial should be shown widely in the US. It never got the exposure that I thought it deserved.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXVCYQ1qix8
I remember reading somewhere that Afghanistan has the highest number of amputees per 1000, mainly because of unexploded cluster bomblets.