Legacies of War

Legacies of War was created to raise awareness about the history of the Vietnam War-era bombing in Laos, provide space for healing the wounds of war and to create greater hope for a future of peace.

Lao boy holding clay model of a cluster bomb Photo Credit: Bombies, Jack Silberman

OVERVIEW

Few people know it, but Laos is the most heavily bombed country in history. During the Vietnam War, from 1964 to 1973, the U.S. dropped more than 2 million tons of ordnance on Laos. That’s a planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24-hours a day, for 9 years. When the U.S. withdrew, the “Secret War” in Laos was lost to history—but the legacy of the war lives on. Up to 30% of the cluster bombs dropped in Laos failed to detonate, leaving extensive contamination from unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the countryside. These “bombies,” as the Laotian now call them, have killed or maimed more

than 34,000 people since the war’s end—and they continue to claim more innocent victims every day.

The wounds of the Secret War are not only felt in Laos. When the U.S. withdrew from Laos in 1973, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled the country, and many of them ultimately resettled here. The current Laotian-American population is severely fragmented and under-organized; younger LaotianAmericans in particular are hungry for opportunities for engagement and advocacy on issues that affect their community.

The mission of Legacies of War is to raise awareness about the history of the Vietnam War-era bombing in Laos and advocate for the removal of unexploded bombs in Laos, to provide space for healing the wounds of war, and to create greater hope for a future of peace. Legacies of War uses a unique combination of art, culture, education, community organizing, advocacy and dialogue to bring people together and create healing and transformation out of the wreckage of war.

To serve its mission, Legacies of War is guided by four central goals: • Raise awareness in the U.S. and broader international community about Laos and the legacies of the Vietnam War-era bombing.

• Advocate for increased U.S. and international support for the removal of UXO in Laos and greater assistance to survivors.

• Engage communities in the U.S. in discussions of peace and security issues by using the lessons learned from the war in Laos to stimulate dialogue.

• Strengthen the capacity of Laotian-Americans to advocate on issues of concern to their communities.

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG Photo Credit: Phil Borges

HISTORIC ILLUSTRATIONS

For nearly three decades, the Secret War in Laos remained a secret. For those who lived through it, the events seemed surreal: the reckless destruction of a people and the careful efforts to conceal it.

For those too young to know, information about this history was scattered and hard to find. Then, a few years ago, a remarkable set of drawings and eyewitness accounts came to light—and inspired the formation of Legacies of War. In 1970 and 1971, Fred Branfman, an American educational advisor with International Volunteer Services, along with his Laotian colleague, Bouangeun Luangpraseut, collected illustrations and narratives from refugees of the U.S. bombings in Laos. Etched in

pencils, pens, crayons and markers, these accounts are raw and stark, reflecting the crude events that shaped the reality of these victims’ lives. One 18year old woman wrote, “In the year 1967, my village built small shelters in the forest and we had holes in the bamboo thicket on top of the hill. It was a place to which we could flee. But there were two brothers who went out to cut wood in the forest. The airplanes shot them and both brothers died.” Images of death coincide with memories of the peaceful village life these survivors had lived. Scenes of farmers tending to their rice fields, monks praying at the temple, women going to the market, and children playing in the schoolyard. The drawings capture the moments when their creators’ lives were changed forever.

Only a small circle of individuals knew of the existence of these illustrations. A fortuitous meeting between Legacies of War Executive Director Channapha Khamvongsa and John Cavanagh of the Institute for Policy Studies led to the return of the illustrations to the Laotian-American community. Today, they form the core of the Legacies of War National Traveling Exhibition, accompanied by historical photos, maps and other relevant documents about the decade-long bombing. Thousands of visitors have seen the illustrations, and while most Laotian-Americans did not experience the horrors depicted, the illustrations inspire the viewers’ own stories of refuge, survival and resilience.

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG

HOW WE ACHEIVE OUR GOALS

Raise awareness about Laos and the legacies of the Vietnam War-era bombing • National Traveling Exhibition that tells the story of the horrors of the Vietnam-era bombing in Laos and resulting dangers of unexploded cluster bombs today, and connects the experiences of war and peace across communities, continents and generations.

• School Curriculum that stimulates conversation about the connections between the unique story of Laos and the broader issue of the continuing use of indiscriminate weapons and its impact on civilian populations today, weaving together social studies, world history, and oral history.

• Refugee Nation, live performance of theatre, dance and poetry based on oral histories collected from Laotian community members from New England to California and Alaska, creating an unforgettable interdisciplinary theatrical experience and giving voice to the Laotian Diaspora.

Photo Credit: Phil Borges

Advocate for increased U.S. and international support for the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos • Advocacy Campaign to increase U.S. and international support for the clearance of UXO in Laos and for victims’ economic well-being, and to support international efforts to ban indiscriminate weapons, particularly cluster munitions.

• Study Trip to Laos, supported by the Ford Foundation, for Legacies staff and volunteers to research UXO clearance, education efforts, and victim assistance.

• Research & Briefing Papers, including chapter in upcoming book, U.S. War Crimes in Indochina: Our Duty to Truth (Common Courage Press 2009).

Engage communities in discussions of peace and security issues • Panel Discussions that bring together bombing survivors, war veterans and peace activists from the Laotian-American and broader communities.

• Film Screenings of the award-winning documentary, Bombies, which tells the story of the bombing in Laos.

• Oral Histories from Laotian-Americans, veterans and other Southeast Asians collected by students participating in the Legacies of War curriculum.

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG

Strengthen

the capacity of LaotianAmericans to advocate on issues of concern • Community Organizing to give voice to the Laotian-American perspective on the aftermath of war, engaging Laotian-Americans through exhibition viewing, oral history, community panels, and advocacy opportunities.

• Collaboration and Partnerships with local groups and organizations to bring Legacies of War projects and programs to communities.

Read on for details about our exciting programs!

Photo Credit: Boon Vong

ADVOCACY

Legacies of War is engaged in a campaign

Congressional Legislation

to increase U.S. and international support for the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos and for victims’ economic well-being, and to support international efforts to ban indiscriminate weapons, particularly cluster munitions. The aims of Legacies of War’s advocacy program are to secure policy makers’ support for cluster munitions removal in Laos; create forums for discussion between the governments of Laos and the U.S. and NGOs to assist in UXO removal; participate in the Cluster Munition Coalition by lending expertise on the bombing in Laos and support the Coalition’s efforts to eliminate the production and use of cluster bombs; and increase awareness in policy circles regarding cluster munitions.

Legacies of War has supported legislation limiting the use, sale and trade of cluster munitions introduced by Senators Diane Feinstein and Patrick Leahy and Representative Jim McGovern. In July 2007, Legacies of War partnered with Amnesty International-USA, Handicap International, Human Rights Watch and the office of Senator Feinstein to hold a briefing on the issue, with a special focus on Laos. Legacies of War also launched a national postcard campaign to support the legislation, and has continued to raise awareness in Washington in partnership with Congressman McGovern, the U.S. Campaign to Ban Land Mines, and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

Convention on Cluster Munitions

Research & Briefing Papers

In February 2007, 46 governments met in Oslo to endorse Norway’s call for a new legally binding instrument in 2008 to prohibit the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions.

Legacies of War showcased its National Traveling Exhibition at the final round of negotiations in Dublin The Convention on Cluster Munitions has now been signed by more than 90 states; the second state to sign after Norway was Laos.

There is a paucity of research on the Secret War and its lingering effects on the local population and the Laotian Diaspora. Legacies of War has developed fact sheets and briefing papers to add to the limited literature on this issue, including “Legacies of War: Cluster Bombs in Laos,” to be published in U.S. War Crimes in Indochina, Our Duty to Truth (Common Courage Press 2009).

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG

EXHIBITIONS

Elizabeth Gnonevoralath, a 10-year old Laotian-American classical dancer, looks at historical narratives and drawings done by bombing survivors

The Legacies of War National Traveling Exhibition weaves together the voices and experiences of one community, over three decades, two continents and one universal theme: the suffering of war and the resilience of the human spirit. The exhibition reveals the journey of Laotians across continents and generations, beginning with history–voices from the past; moving toward healing–experiences of the present; and achieving hope–bringing about a positive future. Reflective of the entire Laotian Diaspora, the exhibition’s diverse voices continue to grow and evolve as it travels from city to city.

The exhibition tells the story of the horrors of the Vietnam-era bombing in Laos and resulting dangers of unexploded cluster bombs today. It includes 37 original historic drawings by survivors of the Secret War, a display of Laotian artifacts, a community healing arts project, a collection of oral histories from

bombing survivors, contemporary photos of surviving victims from renowned photographer Phil Borges and interactive displays that depict the harm inflicted on human lives by cluster bombs. The exhibition is designed to impart powerful lessons about the legacies of war, cultural awareness and sensitivity, human rights and the need for cross-cultural respect and peace. Rooted in the power of history, healing and hope, Legacies of War’s exhibition strives to connect the experiences of war and peace across communities, continents and generations.

In 2007, Legacies of War partnered with the Brush Gallery in Lowell, Massachusetts to launch a unique, powerful, interactive art exhibit, Laos Transpired: Contemporary and Ethnic Works from the Laotian Diaspora. The show featured pieces from the textile collection of Luang Prabang’s Prince Nithakhong Somsanith, modern constructions by Mali Kouanchao, contemporary drawings by Boon Vong, and a powerful multimedia interactive kiosk by Steve Arounsack and Nor Sanavongsay.

Legacies on Wheels, a scaled-down version of the exhibition, was developed to meet the outreach needs of community groups who do not have the capacity to launch the full exhibition. Consisting of outreach literature, replicas of some exhibition pieces and advocacy materials, Legacies on Wheels can fit inside a single suitcase.

The National Traveling Exhibition has been successfully launched in Seattle (May-September 2006); Bellevue (May 2007); Tempe (May 2007); Cambridge (2007); Washington, D.C. (July 2007); (September 2007); Lowell (April-June 2008); Berkeley (April 2008); Dublin (May 2008); Nashville (October 2008); Anchorage (Fall 2008); and New York (2008).

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG Photo Credit: Phil Borges

CURRICULUM

“I found out how resilient the Lao people were. I have a new-found respect for them.”

-Aviation High School sophomore Students from Aviation High School in Seattle, WA

Photo Credit: www.tornbywar.org

Legacies of War has developed a high school curriculum intended to stimulate conversation about the connections between the unique story of Laos and the broader issue of the continuing use of indiscriminate weapons and its impact on civilian populations today. Our curriculum weaves together social studies, war and peace studies, world history, geography, statistics, as well as oral history projects and optional media/arts creation. It is designed as a five-lesson unit to be used as part of a broader Social Studies/History curriculum.

Original illustrations by survivors of the Secret War bombings serve as vital primary source materials; the illustrations speak to the human impact of war and offer a window into the role of art and creativity in conflict resolution and prevention. Nearly every lesson incorporates a “free-writing” component, which offers students the opportunity to put pen to paper and document their thoughts and attempt to tie the story of Laos to their own lives. The curriculum is designed to be flexible enough to allow teachers the latitude to make changes and accommodations

for their students. We hope that students will not only learn about Laos and the Secret War, but also engage with current issues of international peace and security.

Two public schools have implemented the Legacies of War curriculum. At Seattle’s Aviation High School, high school teachers expanded our 5-day curriculum into a 3-month long program. Working with collaborators Wing Luke Asian Museum and Voices in Wartime, the teachers implemented the curriculum for the entire sophomore class of 90 students. At Boston’s Harbor Middle School, seventh grade teachers implemented the 5-day lesson plan as part of the fall curriculum. In both cases, Legacies of War staff helped the teachers complete an oral history project, in which students interviewed Vietnam Warera veterans and survivors.

Legacies of War is currently developing a range of curriculum offerings to be purchased as a stand-alone packet or with support and training from our staff and consultants.

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG

REFUGEE NATION

Written & performed by Leilani Chan & Ova Saopeng Based on the stories of Laotian refugees in the U.S. refugees and their American children. It gives voice to the Laotian Diaspora—yet to be included in the American experience.

Performance: A mother lives in the darkness of a South Los Angeles apartment. A father struggles to forget a lost war. A son battles in the streets of urban America. A daughter searches for answers about her community.

History: In 2006, Legacies of War co-commissioned Refugee Nation, an extraordinary live theatrical performance written and performed by a LaotianAmerican actor, Ova Saopeng, and his wife, Leilani Chan. Since 2005, Saopeng and Chan have been collecting oral histories from Laotian community members from New England to California and Alaska.

The artists have used these stories to develop a live performance of theatre, dance and poetry, creating an unforgettable interdisciplinary theatrical experience.

Refugee Nation reveals a young generation struggling to understand its history and the silence of an elder generation still struggling with the traumas of the Secret War. It explores the impact of war, refugees, global politics and U.S. citizenship. Through the collection of oral histories, the show reveals connections between American and Southeast Asian history, and the unique challenges faced by political

Refugee Nation’s preview performance took place in New York City as part of the First Asian American Theater Festival. Its national launch was at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center in conjunction with the Legacies of War National Traveling Exhibition. It has also been performed in Anchorage, AK, Berkeley, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Boone, NC, and Knoxville, TN. Residency & Workshops: In addition to the performance, Refugee Nation also offers one or two week artists-in-community residencies, often in conjunction with Legacies of War curriculum, whereby the artists and members of the community have an exchange and dialogue. Chan and Saopeng are not only performance artists, but also arts educators, who can facilitate workshop activities with students in schools and members of organizations and the community. In this workshop process, participants will learn basic acting, movement, story telling and interview techniques used by the artists to collect stories and turn them into live presentations.

Additionally, this unique experience gives attendees the opportnity to excavate their personal histories by using theatre exercises to explore issues facing their community. The workshop is adaptable to all age levels and can be done in 30-120 minute sessions.

In the Works for 2009/2010 San Diego, CA | Minneapolis, MN | Seattle, WA Los Angeles, CA | Khon Kaen, Thailand

JOIN THE REFUGEE NATION! Follow the journey at refugeenation.com WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

Panel Discussions:

Legacies of War sponsors speakers’ panels to bring together bombing survivors, war veterans and peace activists from the Laotian-American and broader communities, especially those who experienced the war and conflict. A primary goal of the forums is to relate the lessons from the bombing in Laos to other countries and communities similarly affected by war, including populations faced with the ongoing use of cluster munitions.

Community Organizing:

Legacies of War has created various avenues through which the Laotian-American perspective on the aftermath of war can be heard. Laotian-Americans have been engaged on the issues in a variety of ways, through exhibition viewing, as oral history participants, speakers on community panels, and involvement with various advocacy opportunities.

Film Screenings:

Legacies of War sponsors screenings—in public places as well as temples and private homes—of the award-winning documentary, Bombies, which tells the story of the bombing in Laos and raises legal and moral questions about the obligations of the U.S. government to help with the removal of unexploded bombs. Screenings in Boston and San Francisco have been followed by presentations and lively audience discussions. We plan to screen newly emerging films about the Secret War, including Bomb Harvest, The Betrayal, and The Most Secret Place on Earth.

Oral Histories: Oral histories from LaotianAmericans, veterans and other Southeast Asians are collected by students participating in the Legacies of War curriculum about the Secret War. Legacies of War collaborators collected stories as part of the National Traveling Exhibition. Oral histories were also collected as part of the development of the Refugee Nation live performance, and during our 2008 study trip to Laos.

Local Laotian-American Dancers, Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, Cambridge, MA Photo Credit: Boon Vong

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG

STUDY TRIP TO LAOS

Our Shared Journey In August 2008, supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation, a group of 13 Legacies of War volunteers, supporters and staff traveled through Laos for two weeks to study unexploded ordnance (UXO) removal, education efforts, and victim assistance.

The team learned first-hand about the challenges the government and people of Laos face in coping with the extensive contamination of UXO over 40% to 50% of the country. Our varied experiences were sobering and at times emotional, but we also found hope in the work of dedicated organizations and individuals who provide help, despite inadequate funding and the enormity of the tasks. The Legacies of War team left Laos with a renewed purpose and commitment to our mission.

In the capital, Vientiane, we met with organizations involved in UXO clearance, victim assistance, and education, including the Lao National Regulatory Agency, Mines Advisory Group, Cooperative Orthotics Prosthetics Enterprise, World Education/

Consortium, Handicap International, Lao Disabled Women’s Development Center, Lao People’s Disabled Association, and Participatory Development Training Center. Our intent was to listen and learn, to understand the operational problems each agency confronts as well as discuss possible solutions and funding needs.

In rural Xieng Khouang province, we saw how bombs are still a part of everyday life. We walked through a field being cleared of UXO and watched the detonation of a cluster bomb. We visited a foundry where huge piles of bomb fragments and live munitions, collected by locals, were sold for scrap metal. We met two young men who had lost limbs to cluster bombs. We also visited Lathsene village to witness the construction of a new preschool we helped fund through our grassroots Schools Not Bombs fundraising campaign—enabling LaotianAmericans to directly support those affected by UXO.

The trip produced important new materials for our exhibition and oral history programs, and the working relationships we developed will be invaluable as we prepare an advocacy campaign to seek increase U.S. funding for UXO removal in Laos. For more information, visit: http://journal.

legaciesofwar.org.

Plain of Jars, Xieng Khouang, Laos

Photo Credit: Boon Vong

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG

CURRENT PROGRAMMING

Seattle • Artist Collaboration: Refugee Nation live theater performance.

• Curriculum: Implementing curriculum in Seattle high schools in partnership with Wing Luke Asian Museum.

• Legacies on Wheels: Mini-exhibition showcased at fairs, community functions, fundraiser house parties and offices, banks, libraries, churches.

• Film Screenings: Film screenings in university or community organization.

• Community Panel Discussions: Community panelists include Legacies of War representative, bombing survivors, veterans, community members, peace activists.

• Advocacy: Postcard campaign to advocate for Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act. Postcards hand-delivered to Senators Murray and Cantwell.

• Community Events: Partners include Voices in Wartime, Bellevue Community College, Seattle Central Community College, University of Washington, Asian Counseling and Referral Service, St. Marks Cathedral, ArtXchange, LaoAmerican Organization, Lao Heritage Foundation, Aviation High School, Museum of Flight, Wing Luke Asian Museum, Southeast Asian Men’s Group.

• Community Movie Night: Community members host movie night in their home or community gathering place. Legacies of War provides films about Laos.

Local community members, E. Linda Poras (Gallery Director), Mali Kouanchao (Artist), Niphasone Souphom (President, Lao Heritage Foundation) and Legacies of War staff at The Brush Gallery Opening Reception in Lowell, MA.

New England • Exhibitions: National Traveling Exhibition at the Cambridge Multicultural Art Center (CMAC); opening reception and cultural performance at CMAC; Laos Transpired exhibition at Brush Gallery in Lowell, MA. • Film Screenings: Bombies screening at University of Massachusetts–Boston and Boston College.

• Artist Collaboration: Refugee Nation live theater performance at CMAC. • Community Panel Discussions: “Laos to Lebanon” program at Boston College.

• Curriculum: Implementing curriculum at Boston’s Harbor Middle School.

• Community Events: Community dialogue in Lowell, MA.

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG

FUTURE PROGRAMMING

Legacies of War is exploring the possibility of bringing our exhibit and programs to the following cities in 2009: • Seattle: All year • San Diego: April • San Francisco: April • Chicago: Summer • St. Paul/Minneapolis: Fall

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG

FUNDERS & SUPPORTERS

Institutional Donors The Ford Foundation The Samuel Rubin Foundation Church World Services Mennonite Central Committee

Corporate Donors Odyssey Enterprises, Inc. The Giving Ring

Major Individual Donors Phil and Cora Crean Neroli Crean Susan Quattrochiocchi Yoon Hee and Tae Kang Kim Joseph Edmonds Michael and Jimena Hirschorn Pon Khamvongsa Elaine Russell Titus and Linda Peachey Jack Rattanavong

In-Kind Donations Steve Arounsack ArtXchange Gallery Phil Borges The Khau Family Mosaica Norasack Design Nor Sanavongsay Stuart Westmoreland

Supporting Organizations & Partners Amnesty International USA (Washington, D.C.) ArtXchange Gallery (Seattle, WA) Asian Counseling and Referral Service (Seattle, WA) Aviation High School (Seattle, WA) Boston College Lynch School of Education (Boston, MA) Boston College Asian Caucus (Boston, MA) The Brush Gallery (Lowell, MA) The Center for Hmong Studies (St. Paul, MN) The Center for Lao Studies (San Francisco, CA) Cambridge Multicultural Art Center (Cambridge, MA) Church World Services (New York, NY) Cluster Munition Coalition (United Kingdom) Congresswoman Betty McCollum (St. Paul, MN) Congressman Jim McDermott (Seattle, WA) Djai Design (Minneapolis, MA) Handicap International (Washington, D.C.) Harbor Middle School (Boston, MA) Jhai Foundation (San Francisco, CA) Lao American Women Association (LAWA) (Arlington, VA) Lao Family Mutual Association (Lowell, MA) Lao Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C. & Seattle, WA) Lao Roots Magazine (San Diego, CA) Lowell National Historic Park (Lowell, MA) Mennonite Central Committee (Reading, PA) Voices in Wartime (Seattle, WA) Public Interest Projects (New York, NY) Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (Washington, D.C.) TeAda Productions (Los Angeles, CA) ThaiLinks (New York, NY) University of Massachusetts–Boston Asian American Studies Program (Boston, MA) U.S. Campaign to Ban Land Mines (Washington, D.C.) War Legacies (Chester, VT) Wing Luke Asian Museum (Seattle, WA)

THANK YOU WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG

Board of Directors Jack Rattanavong (Bethesda, MD), Chairperson Brett Dakin (New York, NY), Secretary Tim Naughton (Seattle, WA), Treasurer Channapha Khamvongsa (Springfield, VA), Executive Director (Ex Officio) Titus Peachey (Akron, PA) Bounthanh Phommasathit (Pickerington, OH) Elaine Russell (Sacramento, CA) Staff & Consultants Channapha Khamvongsa, Executive Director Islanda Khau, National Traveling Exhibition Coordinator Sakuna Thongchanh, Seattle Consultant National Advisory Committee Steve Arounsack, California State University, Stanislaus Fred Branfman, Activist and Author, Voices from the Plain of Jars Leilani Chan, TeAda Productions & Refugee Nation Cora Edmonds, ArtXchange Gallery Susan Hammond, War Legacies Walt Haney, Boston College Mali Kouanchao, Artist Ova Saopeng, TeAda Productions & Refugee Nation Nara Sihavong, Mekong Trading Co. & Lao-American NTR Coalition Jack Silberman, Filmmaker and Director, Bombies Phitsamay Sychitikokhong Uy, Educator Vinya Sysamouth, Center for Lao Studies Lee Thorn, Jhai Foundation & Veterans for Peace Boon Vong, Artist Graphic Design: Islanda Khau

WWW.LEGACIESOFWAR.ORG