itzdarave

What a great start to the Monday morning for 4th of July week and on the heels of SCOTUS wins. If you needed further proof of what dedicated lobbying and international advocacy does, just take a look at the work of Legacies of War.

Legacies of War just released the latest news that the US announced an increase in funding for the UXO (unexploded ordnance) sector in Laos to $15 million, an all-time high since a mere $2 million a decade ago.

Legacies of War applauds the increase in U.S. funding for the unexploded ordnance (UXO) sector in Laos to $15 million, the highest level in history. It is a five-fold increase since 2009, when Legacies of War first called for an increase in U.S. commitment to remove unexploded bombs leftover from the Vietnam War-era. The funding, appropriated by Congress and administered by the State Department, goes to support the dozen groups working in Laos on demining, victim assistance and risk education.

Read the full press release here.

TUNE IN: LLOTP’s founding editor, Chanida Phaengdara Potter, will be on air tomorrow, June 30th at 11:00AM on MPR News with Tom Weber as she and Elizabeth Tolzmann (of Mines Advisory Group) chat about the amazingChannapha Khamvongsa and her life’s work at Legacies of War, Laos, UXOs and the efforts around the issue. And possibly debunking the myths of ?#?Lao? food. Possibly. Live streaming here.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and post us questions and comments to keep the conversation going. Use hashtag #?BeLaod?

-Staff, editor@littlelaos.org 

Source: Historic: US announces increased $15M to remove bombs in Laos | Little Laos on the Prairie

We’ve had some good times.  Although its been several years since we’ve hung out seems like it was like yesterday.

Circa 2006

“He Is Not Dead

I cannot say, and I will not say
That he is dead. He is just away.
With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand,
He has wandered into an unknown land
And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be, since he lingers there.
And you—oh you, who the wildest yearn
For an old-time step, and the glad return,
Think of him faring on, as dear
In the love of There as the love of Here.
Think of him still as the same. I say,
He is not dead—he is just away.”
? James Whitcomb Riley

It was interesting.. Until the chat got flooded with spam and pervs.. oh well..

You can find them on youtube, facebook, & twitter. Just search the keywords: “erika david”and “melody mills”