Hero Rats

So it’s finally the start of a new school year. After a month and a half off from teaching and seeing as much as Tanzania as I am legally allowed, I am back to work. Today I sat in the teachers’ lounge under a pile of Chemistry books, yep chemistry, not biology. For the upcoming school year I will be teaching chemistry to the Form I’s and Form II’s. I am actually really excited about this but that is not the reason I decided to put up a new post.

It’s Friday evening here and I decided to unwind by frying an egg and then watching an episode of the PBS TV show Frontline. (Let me digress once more to thank the many volunteers who assisted in my recent acquisition of prime tv, movie and music files during In-Service Training last Nov-Dec. Thank you! Because of you guys I will be able to listen to/watch anything from Bach to Guetta and Jersey Shore to Amazing Plant. Asante sana! ) Ok, now back to the story. It’s a good thing I decided to watch Frontline because I  came across an amazing NGO right here in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania! Herorat.org is an organization that trains rats, yes rats, to detect unexploded landmines. How awesome!

The story behind UXO’s (Unexploded Ordinance)

Unexploded Ordinance are explosive weapons (bombs, bullets, shells, grenades, land mines, naval mines, etc.) that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, potentially many decades after they were used or discarded. Unexploded ordnance from at least as far back as the American Civil War still poses a hazard worldwide, both in current and former combat areas and on military firing ranges. A major problem with unexploded ordnance is that over the years the detonator and main charge deteriorate, frequently making them more sensitive to disturbance, and therefore more dangerous to handle. There are countless examples of civilians tampering with unexploded ordnances that are many years old – often with fatal results. Believing it to be harmless they handle the device and it explodes, killing or severely injuring them. For this reason it is universally recommended that unexploded ordnance should not be touched or handled by unqualified persons.

While traveling in Asia a few years ago, I came across a great organization called COPE  is raising awareness about the dangers of unexploded landmines. COPE and the NRC together are the only provider of prosthetic, orthotic and rehabilitation services in Laos.

 

COPE was started in 1997 as an initiative of POWER International. COPE is now a local not-for-profit organisation that works in partnership with the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) and provincial rehabilitation centres to provide access to orthotic/prosthetic devices and rehabilitation services, including Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.

I was surprised to learn that Africa has the highest number of UXO’s in the world. It was therefore great to learn about another NGO working on this issue right here in TZ. Check out the 10 minute PBS Frontline video here. 

What a coincidence! I found this photo from swearing-in last year. I guess it’s not that ironic since I was terrorized by a rat named Templeton during homestay. If he can be trained to detect unexploded landmines, I guess we can be friends. 

Happy New Year everyone!

‘til next post