Channapha Khamvongsa is the founder and executive director of Legacies of War. A Lao refugee, she&am
Channapha Khamvongsa is the founder and executive director of Legacies of War. A Lao refugee, she’s leading advocacy to clean up unexploded bombs in Laos as well as organizing Lao Americans to heal the wounds of war.From 1964-73, the US military dropped 2 million tons of bombs over Laos, making it the most heavily bombed country in history. The conflict was known as the Secret War due to US government denials of its existence. The targets of these bombs were North Vietnamese troops and their allies located within Laos. But millions of bombs didn’t detonate and are still buried in fields, river beds, and more. Since the war’s end, at least 20K people have been killed or wounded by these explosives. Many are accidentally detonated by children who find the bombs, or by farmers while tending to crops. Under Channapha’s leadership, Legacies of War has successfully advocated for big increases in US funding for bomb removal in Laos. Her work is saving lives and reclaiming land left contaminated by a horrific US campaign. Legacies of War also provides space for healing war trauma in diasporic communities through art, education, and community organizing. Learn more about Channapha’s leadership in this NY Times profile. -- source link
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