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  1. Signatures
    71 out of 15,000
    Petitioning
    1. The U.S. House of Representatives (+ 5 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The U.S. House of Representatives
      • Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT)
      • Rep. Kay Granger (TX-12)
      • Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA)
      • Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-03)
      • Rep. Nita Lowey (NY-18)
  2. Created By
    Nakhone Keodara
    Reseda, CA
About this Petition Petition Letter
Why This Is Important

Laos is the most bombed country in history as a result of U.S. bombings from 1964-1973, leaving close to half of the country contaminated with vast quantities of unexploded ordnance, including 78 million cluster bombs that litter forests, rice fields, villages, school grounds, roads, and other populated areas.

Over 34,000 people have been killed or injured since the bombing ceased, most of whom are children. Every year, over 350 new casualties occur. Half of the cluster munitions casualties worldwide have occurred in Laos.

It is my strong belief that the continued harm and injury caused by bombs dropped nearly four decades ago is morally unacceptable.

Through my signature on A Peaceful Legacy Petition, I fully support the effort to increase U.S. funding to help clear contaminated land and provide assistance to victims and affected communities.

Recent Signatures

Funding Increase for Laos -- Removal of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Dear Representative

I am writing to ask that you support an allocation of $6 million in funding to Laos for UXO removal and victim assistance in FY 2010. Legacies of War submitted a request for a budget increase for the State Department Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs on March 18, 2009. This would be an important step toward putting an end to the terrible human and economic toll of UXO in one of the poorest countries in the world.

Laos has the terrible distinction of being the most heavily bombed country in the world. Every year at least 300 people are killed or injured in Laos due to UXO-primarily from the 80 million unexploded cluster bomblets-as a result of the massive U.S. bombing campaign in Laos from 1964 to 1973. Since the end of war in 1973, there have been over 34,000 civilian casualties in Laos, and 60 percent of them have beenchildren.

The U.S. has contributed an average of $2.9 million a year over the past 13 years for the removal of UXO from Laos and related victim assistance. However, to put this in perspective, it is important to remember that the U.S. spent an average of $2 million a day for nine years bombing Laos-or approximately $7 billion. Without substantial increases in funding, the presence of UXO will remain a threat to the people of Laos for at least the next 100 years.

Thank you for your interest and support.

Sincerely,

[Your name]