In this issue, I dig deeper into how Laos is dealing with some 80 million unexploded bombs, sh*t on Henry Kissinger, talk about Burkina Faso and Mali's troubles and arts scene, and the border dispute of the century between Guyana and Venezuela. Expect an explosive interview with Pakistan's Imran Khan, a Nigerian 'Game of Thrones' on Netflix for Easter, an article on how Africa is using AI for African languages, and a lot of good news from Ecuador, DRC, Bangladesh, Guatemala and Honduras, and so much more.
Over 1.8 million unexploded bombs have been cleared in Laos since 1996
What happened:
Lao Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Padeumphone Sonthany at a press conference last week announced that over 1.8 million unexploded ordnance (UXO) bombs have been cleared from 79,599 hectares of land from 1996 to February 2023.
Why this matters:
6.8 million people live in Laos. It is the most heavily bombed country per capita in history. The U.S. dropped more than 270 million bombs on Laos between 1964 and 1973, during the so-called Vietnam War. Around 30% of them (some 80 million!) remain unexploded and are scattered across the country. To this day, very few of these bombs have been removed, and they're still claiming victims. More than 20,000 people have been killed or maimed by them since the war ended. Other sources state that figure at least 50,000. Currently, 50 people are maimed or killed every year. Around 40% of those are children. The man who ordered this, Henry Kissinger, is still alive, and the 'Is Henry Kissinger dead' Twitter account, too. Kissinger also has a Nobel Peace Prize under his belt.
Tell me more:
The bombs are scattered across 1/4 of villages in Laos, making this land unfarmable; malnutrition and poverty being the most common consequences for the Gen Z and millennials of Laos (70% of the population is under 30). The country is one of the poorest in Southeast Asia. The U.S. and Canada have been giving some aid (not enough, if you ask me) for the removal of these bombs, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter keeps saying 'ban them, now', but even if Laos would remove the danger, the bombs' empty shells have become a staple of the landscape and of everyday life in some villages in Laos. This piece by Amanda Goh for Insider last year showed how some people build homes, canoes and tools out of them. When you tell stories about resistance, make sure you include the people of Laos in them.
Fun fact about Laos, written by ChatGPT
"Feast on this! Laotian cuisine is a mouthwatering mix of fresh herbs, spicy chilies, and tangy fermented fish sauce. Be sure to try their national dish, larb, a zesty minced meat salad. Your taste buds will thank you!" Beware: Larb is nothing for you vegan or vegetarian peoplem as larb is basically a salad---made out of meat. I found a recipe online that looks pretty easy to make. Thank you, Sarah of The Woks of Life!
Burkina Faso's still dealing with a lot of violence
What happened:
Armed "terrorist" groups last Thursday killed at least 44 people in two villages, Kourakou and Tondobi, in north-eastern Burkina Faso.
Why this matters:
For years now, Islamist extremists linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State have been the source of a lot of violence in the country. More than 10,000 people have been killed in Burkina Faso and its neighbors Mali and Niger, according to one NGO estimate, and at least two million people have been displaced. This attack is one of the deadliest attacks since Captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power in a coup last September. Burkina Faso is home to more than 20 million people.
Tell me more:
People in the villages say that the attack was probably 'revenge for the killing of two extremists a few days earlier who had tried to steal cattle.' The security situation is very tense, as official figures say that these extremist groups effectively control about 40% of the country. There's been so much frustration about the lack of stability in the country that there were two military coups last year. Plus, the activities of all political parties and civil society organizations in the country have been suspended since the last coup.
Any good news?
I find it hard finding good news or non-conflict-related news from Burkina Faso; I mean, try googling Burkina Faso and look at the results. However, thanks to journalist Yinka Ibukun, I stumbled across a [refreshing piece by Katarina...
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Below you'll find some of the sources used for this issue. Only sources that support "media embedding" are included.
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Over 1.8 million unexploded ordnance (UXO) devices have been cleared from 79,599 hectares of land from 1996 to February 2023, making agricultural land safe for farmers and freeing up other areas for development.
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Yei Yang, maimed by an unexploded bomb, lives with the horrific legacy of America’s secret war in Laos.
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The US dropped more than 270 million bombs on Laos during the Vietnam War. In many villages, these bombs have become a staple part of the landscape.
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The Nobel Peace Center presents the Nobel Peace Prize and its ideals. It is an arena where culture and politics merge to promote involvement, debate and reflection around topics such as war, peace and conflict resolution.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the pledge while in Cambodia to attend the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
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The US must heed former President Jimmy Carter's call and rid the US arsenal of these indiscriminate weapons.
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The US dropped more than 270 million bombs on Laos during the Vietnam War. In many villages, these bombs have become a staple part of the landscape.
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Pork Larb is a Southeast Asian meat salad from Laos that only takes minutes to make. If you've never had this quick and easy pork larb, you HAVE to try it!
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Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks that left 44 dead, but jihadist violence in the northern Sahel is common.
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Humanitarian need and political instability grow as armed groups expand their control of northern Burkina Faso. Learn more about why Burkina Faso features on the IRC’s 2023 Emergency Watchlist....
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The United Nations’ highest court has ruled that it can hear a case between South American neighbors Guyana and Venezuela about a border dispute that dates back to 1899. The decision Thursday to reject Venezuela’s challenge to the case’s admissibility means it will go ahead at the International Court of Justice, though likely taking years to resolve. The ruling was a second defeat for Venezuela’s attempts to have the case tossed out. It came more than two years after judges rejected a challenge by Caracas to the world court’s jurisdiction.
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JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Famine-like conditions in South Sudan's southeast have left 13 people dead due to lack of food and water, an aid agency has said.
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Violent earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea, but rarely cause widespread destruction
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More than 17 million birds have been killed nationwide this season. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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Senior Yolngu lore man and Gumatj clan leader Yunupingu has died after a long illness. The keeper of songlines was one of the most influential Indigenous leaders of the past century.
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The cause of the incident is unconfirmed until laboratory tests are concluded. But some farmers allege it is linked to aerial fumigation.
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Gov’t orders Gordon Kricke to leave country within 48 hours for ‘non-respect of diplomatic customs’, ministry says.
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Ryyan Alshebl has become the mayor of a German village just eight years after fleeing the civil war in Syria.
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Zimbabwe’s decision to ban raw lithium exports and encourage local processing is helping Chinese and western companies gain a foothold in its mining industry while putting local players at a competitive disadvantage.
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Bangladesh government on Tuesday launched national mobile browser ‘Torjoni’. State minister for information and communication technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak inaugurated the browser at the BCC Auditorium in Agargaon.....
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Corazón Contento y Salud Inclusiva son las dos nuevas herramientas que se apoyan en idiomas mayas para promover servicios e información de salud.
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El Zoológico Rosy Walther ya cuenta con el primer acuario de peces de agua dulce nativas de Honduras. ¡No esperes para visitarlo!
Each week, What Happened Last Week curates news and perspectives from Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The newsletter is written by Sham Jaff and focuses on stories that rarely receive sustained attention in Western media.
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