Article 22 partners with artisans in Laos who are creating jewelry from recycled bombs.
Aluminum shrapnel is cast in molds to create bracelets and pendants.
For decades, metal workers in Laos were recycling shrapnel to make spoons.
Article 22 collaborates with these artisans to design and produce jewelry.
Article 22 partners with organizations that are working to clear the countryside from unexploded bombs.
Member of the Fair Trade Federation, which verifies and monitors fair trade practices
About the Bombs
During the Vietnam War, the US dropped over 200 million tons of bombs on Laos.
It is estimated that 30% of the ordinance dropped did not explode.
The unexploded ordinance (UXO) still litters the Laotian countryside, and explodes when encountered by civilians.
Since the bombing ended in 1973, over 200,000 people have been killed or injured by UXO.
Currently, less than 50 people are killed or injured by UXO per year, down from 310 in 2008. About 60% of these accidents are fatal, and 40% of the victims are children.