4 ms·

I imagine a big part of the reason that we don't help them demine is that it's probably not a technically feasible task. I really don't know anything about de-m

by 55555 10y ago

I imagine a big part of the reason that we don't help them demine is that it's probably not a technically feasible task. I really don't know anything about de-mining or munitions and I don't have a good solution to offer. In theory it sounds great to pay Laotians to de-mine fields in an organized and systematic manner, thus making quantifiable progress, progressively de-mining, and boosting employment. I don't know if it would work or if it's a realistic goal.

percept 10y ago
US assistance for UXO in Laos has been slowly increasing (though some point out it's only a tiny fraction of the amount spent bombing the country in the first place).
cmdrfred 10y ago
Can't we use something like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFY2vTW538 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFY2vTW538 Edit: I found an amazing video of a man disarming a mine that I thought I'd share as well. I assume this is how they do it over there currently. "If you press that, blow up" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWfNZoXr6rQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWfNZoXr6rQ
- 55555 10y ago
  Awesome video! I can't help but notice how casually they act.
  - cmdrfred 10y ago
    That dude is my hero now. Coolest guy in the world. The inner working are also fascinating to see up close. Edit: Compare him to this guy[0] doing the same mine. Edit Edit: Down that same rabbit hole I found this[1], I had no idea this stuff was so easy to find. [0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa9CtYH5I5o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa9CtYH5I5o [1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgmMy8Hq8oI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgmMy8Hq8oI
- e12e 10y ago
  As for "use something like this", where "this" is any kind of technology that tries to detonate mines by force/and or grab up in bulk. You need to be very, very certain that you get all mines. Would you let your child play in the section woods with "hardly any mines" in it? The issue with forcefully exploding mines is that a certain number might be defective, and/or unstable. Maybe the trigger doesn't work well enough - but maybe it can still go off - perhaps the main charge becomes unstable on its own etc. There's a reason anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions are illegal (well, in/by civilized countries, anyway) - it's really, really hard to de-mine/clear up this stuff. Interesting video.
  - cmdrfred 10y ago
    I had never considered that, thanks for the context.
  - tarpherder 10y ago
    You mean illegal as in prohibited by the Convention on Cluster Munitions[1]? Signed by all civilized countries of the world, of course. Except for, among others, the U.S., China and Russia. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Cluster_Munitions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Cluster_Munition...
Spooky23 10y ago
It is definitely something in the art of the possible. It's just expensive.

by 55555 10y ago

percept 10y ago

US assistance for UXO in Laos has been slowly increasing (though some point out it's only a tiny fraction of the amount spent bombing the country in the first place).

cmdrfred 10y ago

Can't we use something like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFY2vTW538 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFY2vTW538 Edit: I found an amazing video of a man disarming a mine that I thought I'd share as well. I assume this is how they do it over there currently. "If you press that, blow up" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWfNZoXr6rQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWfNZoXr6rQ

55555 10y ago
Awesome video! I can't help but notice how casually they act.
- cmdrfred 10y ago
  That dude is my hero now. Coolest guy in the world. The inner working are also fascinating to see up close. Edit: Compare him to this guy[0] doing the same mine. Edit Edit: Down that same rabbit hole I found this[1], I had no idea this stuff was so easy to find. [0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa9CtYH5I5o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa9CtYH5I5o [1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgmMy8Hq8oI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgmMy8Hq8oI
e12e 10y ago
As for "use something like this", where "this" is any kind of technology that tries to detonate mines by force/and or grab up in bulk. You need to be very, very certain that you get all mines. Would you let your child play in the section woods with "hardly any mines" in it? The issue with forcefully exploding mines is that a certain number might be defective, and/or unstable. Maybe the trigger doesn't work well enough - but maybe it can still go off - perhaps the main charge becomes unstable on its own etc. There's a reason anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions are illegal (well, in/by civilized countries, anyway) - it's really, really hard to de-mine/clear up this stuff. Interesting video.
- cmdrfred 10y ago
  I had never considered that, thanks for the context.
- tarpherder 10y ago
  You mean illegal as in prohibited by the Convention on Cluster Munitions[1]? Signed by all civilized countries of the world, of course. Except for, among others, the U.S., China and Russia. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Cluster_Munitions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Cluster_Munition...

Spooky23 10y ago

It is definitely something in the art of the possible. It's just expensive.