Human Rights: Because Killing You Is Just Not Enough

Vietnamese child whose health problems are attributed to Agent Orange

We have to poison your children, pets, animals, relatives, and environment, too.

A joint American-Vietnamese group is reporting that some 1.2 million has been spent to contain toxic dioxin-contaminated runoff from Agent Orange spraying during the Vietnam War.

The US-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin reported that tests on blood and breast milk samples from residents and workers near Danang Air base found high levels of the most toxic dioxin type TCDD. The article stated, in part:

Under the 1961-71 "Operation Ranch Hand" US forces sprayed about 21 million gallons of Agent Orange and other herbicides on southern and central Vietnam to deprive enemies of forest cover and food crops.

Washington has rejected responsibility for the millions of people Vietnam says have suffered direct or second-generation disabilities due to Agent Orange, with US officials pointing to a lack of mutually agreed data.

The group said in a statement that "there have been an alarming number of birth defects, cancers and health problems among both American troops and their families and generations of Vietnamese veterans and civilians."

Good god, this is a shameful thing. Is anyone tracking how many Americans and Vietnamese, military and civilians, and their families, have suffered genetic damage as a result of their exposure?

Auntie Beeb tells us that Washington's refusal to take responsibility for the results of its inhumane policies has led three Vietnamese individuals to file suit in U.S. Federal court, alleging war crimes on the part of multinational corporate giants who supplied the U.S. military with the deadly chemicals.

The plaintiffs alleged war crimes against Monsanto Corporation, Dow Chemicals and eight other companies that manufactured Agent Orange and other defoliants used in Vietnam.

The case has been brought by VAVA, which was set up to promote an international campaign to gain justice and compensation for Agent Orange victims.

Preliminary hearings began in January at the US Federal Court in New York, presided over by senior judge Jack Weinstein.

Let's hope the villains in charge of these corporations are jailed for their crimes against humanity and the Earth.

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