Chinese farmer Yang Youde, 56, of Wuhan built this DIY cannon to keep demolition crews off property that he says he has a legal right to use. Apparently, a commercial developer had requisitioned the land and offered him much less than he wanted for use of the property. So Youde took the A-Team route. The cannon uses fireworks as its ammunition. I think Youde should be invited to the next Maker Faire. From China Daily:
Local police had come to persuade him to hand in the rockets, citing laws regulating highly inflammable and explosive materials. But Yang refused and insisted that they are only fireworks.
In early February, some 30 demolition workers tried to evict Yang. They hid behind the excavators when Yang set off fireworks aimed at them.
"When the fireworks ran out, they came over and beat me," said Yang.
The police came to his rescue after nearby residents made calls and the police dispersed the workers, according to Yang.
In late May, Yang withstood the second offensive of the demolition corps on a shoddy watchtower until the police arrived. More than 100 people were deterred after he fired several shots of the rockets.
