Another generation | Ban Tha Jok, Laos
MTDateHeader>February 2, 2012
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x
Nearly 40 years later, the danger from unexploded bombs still remains very real for villagers.
Xieng Khouang province is the most heavily-bombed province in Laos, the most heavily-bombed country in the world (per capita). Villagers around the province still face daily danger from unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the fields. Ban Tha Jok, a Hmong village, is one of the most well-known for taking scrap metal found nearby and re-purposing it for fences, supports for animal coops, or small gardens.
Much of the materials that brought them fame is now sold to Vietnamese traders, and villagers are actively discouraged from trying to obtain more due to high potential for injury or death.