Norwich University Blogs From Vietnam

Hello Norwich administration, alumni, friends and family.

This is Evan George, a sophomore in the Corps of Cadets at Norwich University. I am writing to you from the beautiful city of Hue, Viet Nam. I can not even think of the words that can describe my experience so far.

It has only been 3 days since I arrived and I am already in love with the culture, people, and environment. The climate however is a different story. The people of Viet Nam are the friendliest and kindest people I have ever met or read about. Their hospitality is breath taking. People will stop you on the street just for a chance to chat about America. Everyone is willing to lend a helpful hand and children smile and wave at us when we pass by.

I could write for hours about my journey so far but I wish to keep you in suspense for our next blog. So goodbye for now and check back here soon.

Yakima Herald: Help the World, Bit by Byte

A Washington state-based organization, World Neighborhood Fund has found a creative way to help Clear Path International. A big thanks from Clear Path to Mikelle Charlebois and Troy Haines!

From the Yakima Herald:

A click saves the world.
It's a start, at least.
Mikelle Charlebois, a student at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, has spent her last year at college helping end poverty, little by little, around the globe.

She's one of three founders of the World Neighborhood Fund, a nonprofit that aids inhabitants of the world's poorest regions.

"We want to help people come up to a minimum basic standard of living," Charlebois explains.

Entirely Internet-based, the fund raises money by serving as a Web site for searches and online shopping.

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/286272687701990

Family Catastrophe: Three Children Killed, Three Wounded

On May 30th, 2006, a terrible UXO related accident happened in central highland of Vietnam. Six children from 2 to 11 years old were killed and injured by a cluster bomb explosion. The accident happened in Kong Chro district, Gia Lai province at 10:30 hours.

Earlier, the kids from two neighboring families found a cluster bomb in a stream near their farm. They saw tiny steel balls on the case and attempted to take them out. The kids took the bomb to the back of their farm hut and smashed it against a rock. The explosion that followed killed three of the children that had gathered to watch and injured three others.

* Mr. & Mrs. Dinh Srong have 8 children total and four of them involved in the accident. Two were killed on spot, the other two were injured:
1. Dinh Thi Re, female, born 1995: Killed on spot
2. Dinh Sronh, male, born 2000: Killed on spot
3. Dinh He, male, born 1998: Multiple injuries
4. Dinh Sroch, male, born 2004: Multiple injuries, lung penetrated

* Mr. & Mrs. Dinh Luc have 5 children and two of them involved in the accident:
1. Dinh Khach, male, born 1997: Killed on spot
2. Dinh Bit, male, born 1995: Injured in left leg

Upon the request from local authority, CPI staff arrived at the accident site about 470 miles away less than 24 hours to respond to the accident and conduct assistance. Both families were supported with the family bereavement grants (to assist the family inburial costs) and medical supportfor the injured. Timely assistance from CPI was highly received by the parents and appreciated by local officials.



The Accident Site




Mrs. Dinh Srong sits with her two injured children, the only survivors of the accident.

Every Year 25000 People Are Maimed or Killed by Landmines...

Six Tourists and Guide Killed by Landmine in Sri Lanka

Top Businessman and award winning writer among the dead.

Our Friends at Polus and the US Department of State Brew Up a Great Idea

I am thrilled today to read that our friends at The Polus Center, in partnership with the US Department of State have made good on their plans to develop the Coffeelands Landmine Survivors' Trust.

From their website:

"The Coffeelands Landmine Survivors� Trust is a vehicle for coffee roasters to give something back. Coffee roasters can make grants to coffee growing cooperatives that are affected by landmines and they can take advantage of the expertise of international development organizations experienced in landmine survivor assistance and mine action (landmine removal, mine risk education, and survivor assistance) to assure that their donations make a maximum impact."

Great job, Polus and USDoS!

Afghanistan: Massive Demining Follows Years of Warfare

"Landmine Monitor's 2005 Afghanistan report --the 2006 report is scheduled to be released on Sep 13 --has stated that in the previous year, over 33 sq km of mined areas and nearly 70 sq. km of battle areas were cleared, destroying over 5,000 antipersonnel mines, 500 antivehicle mines and one million other explosives

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is the main source of casualty data, there may be as many as 100,000 landmine and UXO survivors. Disability rights are guaranteed by the 2004 Afghan Constitution.

But the social security benefit of 300 Afghanis a month (about 6 dollars), paid to about 300,000 recipients, including mine survivors and other people disabled by the war and the families of those killed in the war, is insufficient to maintain a basic standard of living."

Read the entire article here.