I was recently in #Laos for an adult education conference, and while there I learned that the US led a covert mission (Operation Barrel Roll) dropping bombs on Laos continuously between 1964 and 1973.
The US spent $55 billion dropping 2 million tonnes of bombs on this country ... “an average of a planeload of bombs every eight minutes, 24 hours a day, for nine years”. Shocking by any standards.
Unexploded bombs are still being found today.
To anyone who's been following human rights issues in #Tibet or the #Uyghur regions, or Chinese links to illegal #rareearth mining in #Laos & #Myanmar (including de-facto support for the ruthless #junta), the fact that #China derailed the inclusion of mining and critical minerals in the #COP30 #JustTransition Work Program is no surprise.
In the latest issue of @codastory newsletter, I explore this, and more.
https://www.codastory.com/climate-crisis/chinas-green-energy-miracle-and-a-conspiracy-of-silence/
Princess Aiko, daughter of Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, returned home from her official visit to Laos on Saturday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/22/japan/princess-aiko-laos-trip-return/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #princessaiko #laos #imperialfamily #laosjapanrelations
To anyone who's been following human rights issues in #Tibet or the #Uyghur regions, or Chinese links to illegal #rareearth mining in #Laos & #Myanmar (including de-facto support for the ruthless #junta), the fact that #China derailed the inclusion of mining and critical minerals in the #COP30 #JustTransition Work Program is no surprise.
In the latest issue of @codastory newsletter, I explore this, and more.
https://www.codastory.com/climate-crisis/chinas-green-energy-miracle-and-a-conspiracy-of-silence/
Princess Aiko, on an official visit to Laos, visited an education center on unexploded ordnances in the Lao capital of Vientiane on Wednesday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/20/japan/princess-aiko-laos-bomb-center/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #princessaiko #laos #imperialfamily #laosjapanrelations
Princess Aiko, on an official visit to Laos, paid a courtesy call on Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith at the presidential office in Vientiane on Tuesday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/19/japan/princess-aiko-laos-president/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #princessaiko #laosjapanrelations #laos #imperialfamily
In her first official trip abroad, Princess Aiko left for a visit to Laos to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/17/japan/princess-aiko-laos-visit/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #laosjapanrelations #laos #princessaiko #imperialfamily
Princess Aiko is scheduled to make an official six-day visit to Laos starting on Nov. 17, according to a plan approved by the government at a Cabinet meeting. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/17/japan/princess-aiko-laos/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #imperialfamily #laos #princessaiko
China is set to expand its influence over Southeast Asia's development as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and other Western donors cut aid. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/22/asia-pacific/politics/western-aid-cuts-china-southeast-asia/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #southeastasia #china #us #donaldtrump #republicans #aid #easttimor #cambodia #laos #myanmar #indonesia
The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, an area in Laos meant for gambling and resort life, has become a center for money laundering and trafficking. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/15/asia-pacific/crime-legal/las-vegas-laos-city-crime/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #crimelegal #cybercrime #goldentriangle #laos #southeastasia #cybersecurity #hacking #organizedcrime #smuggling #moneylaundering #fraud #china
