In short one could call it "4000 - 5000 km on foot through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam", roughly along the route below.
Planned route (subject to change - daily)
In the beginning of this long hike we mainly sought an adventure. During the planning phase we were confronted with the aftermath of the Vietnam war. 40 years later the people of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos still suffer greatly from it. The latter is most affected because it was a free drop zone for American bombers. It was too dangerous for them to return to base and land fully loaded. If the target could not be found they thus dropped the dangerous cargo over Laos. Even though it was not officially involved in the war more bombs were dropped over Laos than in the whole world war from both sides. Per capita it is the most heavily bombed country in the world. Over 270 million bombies (cluster munitions) were dropped over it. An estimated 80 million did not explode and many of them still linger on or under the earth today. Not any less dangerous than fourty years ago. Roughly 25 % of all villages are contaminated by unexploded ordnance (UXO).
We could no longer ignore concerns about our own security even though we only planned to walk through those countries. When we're done we can return to our secure base Switzerland. We could only imagine how people feel who permanently live in this environment. Without a safe haven. The fear that their childrens curiosity could kill them on the way to school or whilst playing because they pick up a bombie. The feeling when every strike of the pickaxe could be your last. And the knowledge that the family will starve unless you take that risk. We believe that no one should have to live with this danger. Even less so when it was brough about by a foreign nation. Offering our support to create conditions for a safe future is the least we can do. The first step is clearing the explosives. Only then development can take place in these countries, they can build roads and schools and adequately invest in the education of their future generation. And only then the people can live in peace. We decided to turn this adventure into a "hike against UXO and for a safe future".
If every tenth Briton would donate two pounds we would be able
It is our goal to raise as much money as possible for the British charity MAG (Mines Advisory Group). Amongst others they won the peace Nobel price in 1997 and they have decades of experience in UXO clearing and subsequent development work. If every tenth Briton would donate two pounds we could raise 12 million pounds. Enough to pay for 300 deminers working for ten years. Non stop. A small amount for every individual with a huge effect for others who were less fortunate with their birth location.
Below a video from MAG that sums up the problem very well...
Below a video from MAG that sums up the problem very well...
