From the Washington Times
Vietnam peace milestone
By Stroube Smith
January 29, 2006
"Friday marked the 33rd anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam Peace Accords, the agreement that was supposed to bring "peace with honor" and end the conflict in Southeast Asia that bitterly divided Americans.
Some of the current vitriol in U.S. politics dates back that far, a poison that still seems to frustrate any effort toward civility and bipartisanship on almost anything.
Fittingly, the ceremonies in Paris were marked by an eerie silence, with no word or gesture to reflect relief that years of war were coming to an end."
Read the rest of the article here.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Audio Post: "Why We Fight"
Clear Path International advisor Joan Widdifield, in addition to her tireless work for our cause, is also a film critic. She recently saw the documentary film "Why We Fight".Her review of the film (she liked it) is posted here as an MP3 file.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Clear Path Advisor on the Thai-Burma Border
Clear Path Advisor, Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, is visiting one of the Clear Path funded clinics on the Thai-Burma border. He has sent in this report.
After enduring a near-record number of consecutive days of rain in Seattle, we were happy to come to the dusty but sunny town of Mae Sot on the Thai-Burma border and visit the CPI-funded prosthetics workshop at Dr. Cynthia's Mae Tao Clinic. In the bustle of pickup trucks, mopeds, noodle shops and internet cafes, it's easy to forget that only a few miles away inside the jungle mountains of Eastern Burma, landmines are being laid as the Burmese army uproots and displaces ethnic hilltribe villagers away from their resource-rich homelands.
By chance when we arrived, the prosthetics team was taking a hot sheet of thermoplastic out of the oven to drape over a below-knee prosthesis mold. It was a little jarring to see this modern polymer material being used in a clinic where bamboo-roofed teashops abut open-air aluminum and cinderblock buildings. The atmosphere in the workshop was one of hushed concentration as the longyi-clad technicians smoothed and trimmed the plastic over the mold. I felt the same way I did when I watched a 747 fuselage being mated to the wings during a tour of the Boeing plant.
The head of the prosthetics workshop, a solid Karen hilltribe gentleman named Saw Maw Kel (himself an amputee) told me that their workshop has produced more than 300 prostheses in the past year, and over 70 using the new time and cost-saving thermoplastic technology. So far the durability and acceptance of the new legs have been good. The workshop has made some cosmetic and functional changes to adapt the prostheses to local conditions: a more natural looking ankle, a groove to keep the rainy season waters out of the stump, an ankle bushing made of a locally available wood to use when the metal bushings run out.
Who knows how much of this tinkering will turn out to work in the long run, but I felt good to see that they had taken ownership of the technology. Still, they are hungry for more teaching and information exchange. Saw Maw Kel had one request for the CPI team: for the next visit, come and stay a couple of weeks longer!
After enduring a near-record number of consecutive days of rain in Seattle, we were happy to come to the dusty but sunny town of Mae Sot on the Thai-Burma border and visit the CPI-funded prosthetics workshop at Dr. Cynthia's Mae Tao Clinic. In the bustle of pickup trucks, mopeds, noodle shops and internet cafes, it's easy to forget that only a few miles away inside the jungle mountains of Eastern Burma, landmines are being laid as the Burmese army uproots and displaces ethnic hilltribe villagers away from their resource-rich homelands.By chance when we arrived, the prosthetics team was taking a hot sheet of thermoplastic out of the oven to drape over a below-knee prosthesis mold. It was a little jarring to see this modern polymer material being used in a clinic where bamboo-roofed teashops abut open-air aluminum and cinderblock buildings. The atmosphere in the workshop was one of hushed concentration as the longyi-clad technicians smoothed and trimmed the plastic over the mold. I felt the same way I did when I watched a 747 fuselage being mated to the wings during a tour of the Boeing plant.
The head of the prosthetics workshop, a solid Karen hilltribe gentleman named Saw Maw Kel (himself an amputee) told me that their workshop has produced more than 300 prostheses in the past year, and over 70 using the new time and cost-saving thermoplastic technology. So far the durability and acceptance of the new legs have been good. The workshop has made some cosmetic and functional changes to adapt the prostheses to local conditions: a more natural looking ankle, a groove to keep the rainy season waters out of the stump, an ankle bushing made of a locally available wood to use when the metal bushings run out.
Who knows how much of this tinkering will turn out to work in the long run, but I felt good to see that they had taken ownership of the technology. Still, they are hungry for more teaching and information exchange. Saw Maw Kel had one request for the CPI team: for the next visit, come and stay a couple of weeks longer!
Monday, January 23, 2006
Clear Path's Humanitarian Work Recognized
On January 23, 2006, leaders of the Quang Binh Committee for Population, Family and Children (CPFC) paid a visit to Clear Path's Vietname Office in Dong Ha town, Quang Tri province. Mr. Le Thanh Tan, CPFC chairman, was authorized to award CPI a Merit Certificate issued by the Quang Binh Province People's Committee. The certificate recognizes Clear Path's active contribution to humanitarian work in the province.
Quang Binh is one of the two provinces that CPI offers all of its services towards Landmine/UXO survivors, their families and their communities. In the last two years of 2004 and 2005, Clear Path had implemented over US $ 80,000 in the province under four major components of Emergency Outreach Service (EOS), Supplementary Beneficiary Service and Scholarship (SBS & SC), Medical Equipment Donation (MED) and one full-scale project of Accident Survivor Assistance (ASAP) in Le Thuy district.
Since its first operation in the province in November 2003, Clear Path's list of beneficiaries has come up to 429 todate.
Quang Binh is one of the two provinces that CPI offers all of its services towards Landmine/UXO survivors, their families and their communities. In the last two years of 2004 and 2005, Clear Path had implemented over US $ 80,000 in the province under four major components of Emergency Outreach Service (EOS), Supplementary Beneficiary Service and Scholarship (SBS & SC), Medical Equipment Donation (MED) and one full-scale project of Accident Survivor Assistance (ASAP) in Le Thuy district.
Since its first operation in the province in November 2003, Clear Path's list of beneficiaries has come up to 429 todate.
14-Year-Old Boy Lost Hand in War-Era Munition Accident
It was Sunday, January 8, 2006, a day off school and Nguyen The Thang was busy in the backyard moving some bonsai trees to plant in the front entrance. Tet, the Vietnamese traditional Newyear festival is coming in two weeks, and everyone is busy preparing their home for a new appearance to welcom the lunar new year.
While planting the third tree, Thang dug up something metal. The conical shape of the item attracted his curiosity. Thang bended down, picked it up for a close look. The item was a bit heavy, rusty looking and stuck with dirt. The 8 grade student sat down and tapped it against a rock to get loose the dirt. Beyond his expectation, the thing detonated right in his hand.
Thang was immediately transported to the commune aid station for first aids and forwarded to the provincial hospital for intensive treatment of his injuries. The doctors have saved his life but unable to keep his left hand as the blast had totally crushed it.
Thang is from Hoa Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province. His village is just north of the former DMZ.
While planting the third tree, Thang dug up something metal. The conical shape of the item attracted his curiosity. Thang bended down, picked it up for a close look. The item was a bit heavy, rusty looking and stuck with dirt. The 8 grade student sat down and tapped it against a rock to get loose the dirt. Beyond his expectation, the thing detonated right in his hand.
Thang was immediately transported to the commune aid station for first aids and forwarded to the provincial hospital for intensive treatment of his injuries. The doctors have saved his life but unable to keep his left hand as the blast had totally crushed it.
Thang is from Hoa Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province. His village is just north of the former DMZ.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Thanks, Jim! Subscription Donations are Catching On
Our latest donation (from our good friend Jim in the Netherlands) is a monthly contribution of 10 dollars a month automatically charged to his credit card. These monthly donations are EASY to make and are a great way to help us sustain our organization. Jim's donation amounts to 120 dollars a year... that's no small thing, especially for a guy with a new baby in the house!!
If you would like to make a donation to CPI, this is a great, affordable way to make a big difference.
Please check out this page for more information!
Thanks!
PS> Jim, congrats on the baby!
If you would like to make a donation to CPI, this is a great, affordable way to make a big difference.
Please check out this page for more information!
Thanks!
PS> Jim, congrats on the baby!
One Dead, One Injured in Vietnam from War-Era Bombs
I hope later Chi will post more on these incidents (Chi, if you read this before we reach other, please do), but for now here is an email to me from Toan "Skinny" in Central Vietnam:
Hi James,
I am sorry to send you the info of the two new accidents in the same Ward 4 of Dong Ha town: (Chi may post the info and JPEGs later on the website)
1. (Nguyen Van Doa-born in 1969) An accident happened to a 37-year-old man in Ward 4, Dong Ha town, Quang Tri province at 10h on January 16^th 2006.
He left home at 7h a.m on the same day for searching scrap metals in Cam Lo district which used to be a battle field during the war time. In the evening of January 16^th , his family members did not see him home.
They started looking for him and until 21h found him dead on the spot where he collected scrap metals.
It was reported by the surrounding people that he was killed on site after an explosion.
2. (Nguyen Van Chau-born in 1972 and Dao Van Dung) An accident happened at 11h on January 15^th 2006 in Cam Lo district of Quang Tri province to two men who live in Ward 4 of Dong Ha town.
They left home at 9 a.m by bicycle to search for scrap metals in Cam Lo district. They used one detector to look for scrap metals. Around 11h a.m, an M14 mine detonated when they are digging and injured both of them.
Mr. Chau received a lot of fragments in the whole body while Dung was not severely injured. They were taken immediately to Cam Lo health center for first aid. Chau was thereafter transferred to Quang Tri General Hospital for intensive treatment.
-Skinny
Hi James,
I am sorry to send you the info of the two new accidents in the same Ward 4 of Dong Ha town: (Chi may post the info and JPEGs later on the website)
1. (Nguyen Van Doa-born in 1969) An accident happened to a 37-year-old man in Ward 4, Dong Ha town, Quang Tri province at 10h on January 16^th 2006.
He left home at 7h a.m on the same day for searching scrap metals in Cam Lo district which used to be a battle field during the war time. In the evening of January 16^th , his family members did not see him home.
They started looking for him and until 21h found him dead on the spot where he collected scrap metals.
It was reported by the surrounding people that he was killed on site after an explosion.
2. (Nguyen Van Chau-born in 1972 and Dao Van Dung) An accident happened at 11h on January 15^th 2006 in Cam Lo district of Quang Tri province to two men who live in Ward 4 of Dong Ha town.
They left home at 9 a.m by bicycle to search for scrap metals in Cam Lo district. They used one detector to look for scrap metals. Around 11h a.m, an M14 mine detonated when they are digging and injured both of them.
Mr. Chau received a lot of fragments in the whole body while Dung was not severely injured. They were taken immediately to Cam Lo health center for first aid. Chau was thereafter transferred to Quang Tri General Hospital for intensive treatment.
-Skinny
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
NGO: Iraqi Family Should be Compensated
Press Release from the Campaign for Innocent Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
Iraqi Family Should be Compensated After Air Strike Mistake
Humanitarian organization urges U.S. government to assist victims and do more to minimize civilian casualties
Washington, DC, January 10, 2006 -- Following the January 5th announcement by U.S. military officials that a residence was mistakenly bombed near Baiji, the Campaign for Innocent Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) today expressed sympathy for the victims and urged the U.S. government to compensate surviving family members.
On January 2nd, an air strike targeted at insurgents instead killed at least six civilians in their home. U.S. officials on the ground in Iraq have the discretionary authority to compensate innocent persons who have suffered losses as a result of U.S. actions, including the family members of those killed. In 2003, the Congress established the "Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund" and has appropriated some $38 million to help civilian victims of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. CIVIC and other nongovernmental organizations are working with the U.S. government to make the best use of these funds, and CIVIC urged a thorough investigation of the Baiji incident so that assistance can be given to surviving family members.
"The United States military deserves credit for the considerable efforts it makes to avoid harming civilians," said Sarah Holewinski, executive director of CIVIC. "But when mistakes happen, we have a responsibility to help the victims and their loved ones."
"The U.S. government does not keep an official count of civilian casualties in Iraq. With the U.S. military’s reliance on air strikes increasing, a record of incidents should be maintained so that efforts to prevent civilian casualties can be evaluated and improved. Keeping as accurate a record as possible and compensating victims is important for the U.S. to maintain the respect and support of the Iraqi people," said Holewinski.
CIVIC is a Washington-based organization founded by the late Marla Ruzicka, who was killed by a suicide bomb in Baghdad while advocating for civilian victims' families in Iraq. CIVIC believes that civilians killed or injured in conflict should be counted and their families compensated by the governments involved, and is working in conflict zones to identify and help the families of civilian casualties.
Iraqi Family Should be Compensated After Air Strike Mistake
Humanitarian organization urges U.S. government to assist victims and do more to minimize civilian casualties
Washington, DC, January 10, 2006 -- Following the January 5th announcement by U.S. military officials that a residence was mistakenly bombed near Baiji, the Campaign for Innocent Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) today expressed sympathy for the victims and urged the U.S. government to compensate surviving family members.
On January 2nd, an air strike targeted at insurgents instead killed at least six civilians in their home. U.S. officials on the ground in Iraq have the discretionary authority to compensate innocent persons who have suffered losses as a result of U.S. actions, including the family members of those killed. In 2003, the Congress established the "Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund" and has appropriated some $38 million to help civilian victims of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. CIVIC and other nongovernmental organizations are working with the U.S. government to make the best use of these funds, and CIVIC urged a thorough investigation of the Baiji incident so that assistance can be given to surviving family members.
"The United States military deserves credit for the considerable efforts it makes to avoid harming civilians," said Sarah Holewinski, executive director of CIVIC. "But when mistakes happen, we have a responsibility to help the victims and their loved ones."
"The U.S. government does not keep an official count of civilian casualties in Iraq. With the U.S. military’s reliance on air strikes increasing, a record of incidents should be maintained so that efforts to prevent civilian casualties can be evaluated and improved. Keeping as accurate a record as possible and compensating victims is important for the U.S. to maintain the respect and support of the Iraqi people," said Holewinski.
CIVIC is a Washington-based organization founded by the late Marla Ruzicka, who was killed by a suicide bomb in Baghdad while advocating for civilian victims' families in Iraq. CIVIC believes that civilians killed or injured in conflict should be counted and their families compensated by the governments involved, and is working in conflict zones to identify and help the families of civilian casualties.
Friday, January 6, 2006
Hero of My Lai, Hugh Thompson, Has Died
The word hero has been applied so liberally in recent years, that it has largely lost its meaning.
There is no other word than heroic, however, to define the actions of Hugh Thompson in the Village of My Lai on March 16, 1968. Mr. Thompson had come across a massacre of Vietnamese civilians in progress at the hands of US forces.
Instead of turning away, or worse, taking part in the killing, Mr. Thompson and the men with him that day (Lawrence Colburn and Glenn Andreotta) forced the end of the massacre by turning their weapons on the US soldiers commiting the atrocity.
Over 500 men, women and children were killed that day and there would have been more if not for this brave act.
Mr. Thompson's good deed did not go unpunished. Ostracized by his peers for turning in his fellow soldiers, he suffered from depression... but from what I have read... never regret. It was not until 1998 that the US government grudgingly, after much lobbying, awarded him and his two collegues the "Soldier's Medal".
Mr. Thompson on that day recognized that the value of human life transcends borders, or language or culture. He risked his life and his career to do the right thing. For his actions in My Lai in 1968, many escaped certain death, and for this he was a true hero.
Hugh Thompson died from cancer today at the age of 62. May he rest in a well-deserved peace.
There is no other word than heroic, however, to define the actions of Hugh Thompson in the Village of My Lai on March 16, 1968. Mr. Thompson had come across a massacre of Vietnamese civilians in progress at the hands of US forces.
Instead of turning away, or worse, taking part in the killing, Mr. Thompson and the men with him that day (Lawrence Colburn and Glenn Andreotta) forced the end of the massacre by turning their weapons on the US soldiers commiting the atrocity.
Over 500 men, women and children were killed that day and there would have been more if not for this brave act.
Mr. Thompson's good deed did not go unpunished. Ostracized by his peers for turning in his fellow soldiers, he suffered from depression... but from what I have read... never regret. It was not until 1998 that the US government grudgingly, after much lobbying, awarded him and his two collegues the "Soldier's Medal".
Mr. Thompson on that day recognized that the value of human life transcends borders, or language or culture. He risked his life and his career to do the right thing. For his actions in My Lai in 1968, many escaped certain death, and for this he was a true hero.
Hugh Thompson died from cancer today at the age of 62. May he rest in a well-deserved peace.
Thursday, January 5, 2006
Clear Path's Outreach Worker - Medal Winner in PARAGAMES
Returning home from the 3rd regional PARAGAMES in Philippine, Le Thi Hoai Phuong, an UXO Survivor/a CPI�s Outreach Worker/a Class F44 Female Athlete had brought home 4 Gold medals and a Silver one, bringing her medal collection up to 24 medals of all kinds. This is the first time Phuong participates at regional level PARAGAMES to compete against athletes from 11 nations in Southeast Asia; nevertheless she had set new records in high jump, long jump and 100m track events. 
At the age of 17, Le Thi Hoai Phuong survived from an UXO accident while tending her rice paddy. A hidden device responded to the hoe blade impact with its mighty power. The only thing Phuong could remember was just a bright flash before she collapsed. She woke up in a hospital bed with the left leg amputated below knee. Phuong had struggled for a long time to over come many hard feelings of being a disabled girl at her prime of youth.
CPI assistance first came to Phuong and her family in 2001 with a prosthetic leg and a household grant to improve her moving ability as well as her family�s living condition. Two years later, in 2003, when the first sport event for People with Disability (PWD) was held in Quang Tri province, Phuong was insisted to join the CPI sponsored athlete team. CPI first intension was to encourage Landmine/UXO survivors to take part in some social activities to gradually help them reintegrate into their community. However, beyond anybody�s expectation, Phuong, for her very first time walked into a track, without any experience, became the first to hit the finish line and won her first gold medal.
Since then, Phuong attended every sport events organized for PWD from provincial to national levels and each time she return home, her medal collection increased in number.
In 2004, when CPI launched its first Outreach Worker project, Phuong and another UXO survivor were recruited to work for CPI. Her job involves daily interacting with Landmine/UXO victims and their families in her home land, helping them implement assistance from CPI.
At the age of 17, Le Thi Hoai Phuong survived from an UXO accident while tending her rice paddy. A hidden device responded to the hoe blade impact with its mighty power. The only thing Phuong could remember was just a bright flash before she collapsed. She woke up in a hospital bed with the left leg amputated below knee. Phuong had struggled for a long time to over come many hard feelings of being a disabled girl at her prime of youth.
CPI assistance first came to Phuong and her family in 2001 with a prosthetic leg and a household grant to improve her moving ability as well as her family�s living condition. Two years later, in 2003, when the first sport event for People with Disability (PWD) was held in Quang Tri province, Phuong was insisted to join the CPI sponsored athlete team. CPI first intension was to encourage Landmine/UXO survivors to take part in some social activities to gradually help them reintegrate into their community. However, beyond anybody�s expectation, Phuong, for her very first time walked into a track, without any experience, became the first to hit the finish line and won her first gold medal.
Since then, Phuong attended every sport events organized for PWD from provincial to national levels and each time she return home, her medal collection increased in number.
In 2004, when CPI launched its first Outreach Worker project, Phuong and another UXO survivor were recruited to work for CPI. Her job involves daily interacting with Landmine/UXO victims and their families in her home land, helping them implement assistance from CPI.
Great News from Vietnam
Chi posted yesterday a video of our 14 year old friend Nghia walking. I first wrote about Nghia on this blog in March of 2005. He was injured by a bomb left over from the US-Vietnam War while I was visiting with the Vietnam staff.He lost his two lower legs and his lower left arm. He is lucky to be alive. I visited him in the hospital and we have followed his progress on this site since.
We first posted about him here, the San Jose Mercury News picked up the story here, and we posted photos of a follow up visit to his home here.
To see the video of him walking again is beyond thrilling.... he is a great little boy who has worked hard to come this far. Clear Path donors and staff have helped him make this happen.
Thank you to all of you from the bottom of my heart.
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Boy Who Lost Legs Gets on His Feet
Ho Van Nghia, a 13-year old boy in Hue city, Viet Nam lost his legs and a hand in an UXO accident in March 2005. After going through long term treatments and rehabilitation, he now can get back on his feet. The following clip was taken by our Medical Liasion in Hue, Mr. Son on December 13, 2005.
Since the accident date, Nghia has been one of CPI's mostly cared victims. Thanks to the timely assistance, Nghia and his family have over come difficult time and gradually get back to normal pace of life.
View the Video of Nghia Walking again here.
Since the accident date, Nghia has been one of CPI's mostly cared victims. Thanks to the timely assistance, Nghia and his family have over come difficult time and gradually get back to normal pace of life.
View the Video of Nghia Walking again here.
Monday, January 2, 2006
Father of Five Killed in Vietnam
This just in from our office in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam:
(Truong Quoc Dung-aged 40) A horrible accident happened to a 40-year-old man in Gio Linh district of Quang Tri province at 16h on Dec 27th 2005. Unknown ordnance suddenly exploded when he was digging a hole for planting trees in a new resettlement vilage to the west of the same district. The victim was severely injured: one of his kidneys and liver were damaged while the lungs were also seriously affected. He was suffered from too much bleeding.He was taken immediately to Gio Linh Health center for first aid and transferred to Quang Tri General Hospital some hours later for intensive care and treatment, where he got surgeries by the doctors. Due to the severe injury, he was transferred to Hue Central Hospital one day after. Unluckily, the doctors in Hue could not save his life. He died one day after being taken to Hue.He left behide his wife and 5 young children, of which the youngest is only one year old and the eldest is 14 years old.
(Truong Quoc Dung-aged 40) A horrible accident happened to a 40-year-old man in Gio Linh district of Quang Tri province at 16h on Dec 27th 2005. Unknown ordnance suddenly exploded when he was digging a hole for planting trees in a new resettlement vilage to the west of the same district. The victim was severely injured: one of his kidneys and liver were damaged while the lungs were also seriously affected. He was suffered from too much bleeding.He was taken immediately to Gio Linh Health center for first aid and transferred to Quang Tri General Hospital some hours later for intensive care and treatment, where he got surgeries by the doctors. Due to the severe injury, he was transferred to Hue Central Hospital one day after. Unluckily, the doctors in Hue could not save his life. He died one day after being taken to Hue.He left behide his wife and 5 young children, of which the youngest is only one year old and the eldest is 14 years old.
Van Lai's Vietnam Ride for CPI Appears in Audrey Magazine
As we previously posted, Clear Path supporter, Van Lai, biked across Vietnam to help support our work.
Audrey Magazine picked up the story and it can be seen here.
Thanks again, Van!
Audrey Magazine picked up the story and it can be seen here.
Thanks again, Van!
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