Thursday, July 19th, 2012

A look at UXOs and an interview with Legacies of War

Bombed regions are highlighted in red and yellowWhat's a UXO, anyway? Unexploded Ordinances (UXOs) is a term used to describe military armaments  (bombs,  landmines, hand grenades, bullets, etc.) that were armed and launched with the intent to kill, but which, due to design or malfunction, never detonated.  These "duds" range in all shapes and sizes and while some are clearly bombs,… [Read Full Article]

Monday, July 16th, 2012

Reflections on Laos

In March a group of Peace Works Travel World students traveled to Laos, where they visited COPE, an organization that provides prosthetic limbs and orthotic rehabilitation for victims of UXOs (unexploded ordinances). From 1964 to 1973 the US dropped over two million tons of cluster munitions onto Laos. The campaign was part of the CIA's "Secret War," which was intended… [Read Full Article]

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Tuesday Travel Tip: How to Travel Responsibly in Burma

Now that Burma has begun to take it’s first cautious steps towards democracy, is it okay to travel there? In this week’s Tuesday Travel Tip, I’ll be looking particularly at the question of traveling to Burma. Is it safe and ethical for foreigners to go there? And if so, how can we as responsible travelers, use tourism to support the… [Read Full Article]

Thursday, June 21th, 2012

The End of Isolation

Part II: Democratic Reform Arrives in BurmaClinton and Suu Kyi in Yangon, photo copyright Paula BronsteinFor the last quarter century, the name Myanmar has conjured an image à propos to the pages of Heart of Darkness: a mysterious almost surreal place, marred by the iron fist of the military junta and synonymous with the worst human rights violations. The pariah… [Read Full Article]

Thursday, June 14th, 2012

25 Years of Isolation

Part I: The History Behind the Burma Travel BoycottBurmese Freedom Fighter Aung San Suu KyiApril 2012 was a landmark month for Myanmar (formerly known as Burma); as ex-political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi was elected to parliament, President Barack Obama dropped the 16-year US travel boycott against the country. Over the past 50 years, Burma had been one of the most… [Read Full Article]