Agent Orange victims v.s chemical companies. by lightmediation

Thirty-two years after the end of the war, the wounds of the Vietnam War have not all healed. The sadly famous dioxin-loaded "agent orange" which was sprayed by the million gallons over the south of the country continues to cause damage in humans down to the third generation. As they cannot sue the United States for war crime, the Vietnamese victims are suing the US chemical companies for damages. Manufacturers of the product include such companies as Monsanto and Dow Chemical. The lawsuit was rejected by a Brooklyn judge. June 2007, the appeal trial opens. Four months later, the court rejects their appeal. In March 2008 , the Vietnamese victims file their - last appeal with the Supreme Court of the United States

Agent Orange victims v.s chemical companies. Photos ÂŠDung Vo Trung/Orizon/Lightmediation Full text and interviews available on request. Contact - Thierry Tinacci Lightmediation Photo Agency thierry@lightmediation.com +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21

1592-39: Reeducation workshop for agent orange victims at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center near Hanoi.

1592-01: A popular neighborhood of Bien Hoa, a small bordering Ho Chi Minh City. Homes where built on and along canals polluted by dioxin storage on the nearby former US military air base.

1592-02: The handicapped son of Mr. Phan Van Quy, a former Communist soldier who is one of the plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies. Haiphong (North).

1592-03: In one of the village which has been among the most sprayed with agent orange by the US air force. Dong Thap Muoi, a former Communist stronghold on the Mekong delta (south).

1592-04: Dr. Nguyen Long Van, his handicapped son and his wife at home in Bien Hoa, a small town near Ho Chi Minh City. They are plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies.

1592-34: Reeducation workshop for agent orange victims at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center near Hanoi.

1592-05: This man, an agent orange victim, drives his cows home, they are his only possessions. He was able to buy his herd thanks to a microloan from the Vietnamese Red Cross. Dong Thap area, a stronghold

1592-06: One of the many canals of the Dong Thap area, a major stronghold of the anti-American forces. It remains highly polluted by dioxin. During the Vietnam war, the US air force has dropped massive

1592-07:Nguyen Minh Duong, 12, third generation victim. .He lives in one of the villages isolated by the canals and mangroves of Dong Thap area, the area most subjected to agent orange spraying in South

1592-08: Two children go to fishing in a canal of Dong Thap's Region, in the South of Ho Chi Minh City. Former bastion of anti-American resistance during the Vietnam war, this area was affected by the

1592-07: Nguyen Minh Duong, 12, third generation victim. .He lives in one of the villages isolated by the canals and mangroves of Dong Thap area, the area most subjected to agent orange spraying in South Vietnam.

1592-09: Dead mangrove roots. Mangrove forest of the Dong Thap area, one of the most strongly exposed to agent orange in South Vietnam.

1592-10: A veterinarian of the Public sanitary services of Ben Tre province (Mekong delta) goes in round of inspection in the fish and poultry stockbreeders. During the Vietnam War, the United States Air

1592-11: A boy counting among the third generation victims of agent orange in the Thai Binh province (north).

1592-12: Hoa, 17 year-old girl, third generation agent orange victim, in the province of Dong Thap, Mekong delta (south).

1592-01: A popular neighborhood of Bien Hoa, a small bordering Ho Chi Minh City. Homes where built on and along canals polluted by dioxin storage on the nearby former US military air base.

1592-13: In a classroom of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-14: In a classroom of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-15: The young handicapped residents of the 'Huu Nghi'(Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-17: Mrs. Dang Hong Nhut, 70, former anti-American fighter of Cu Chi, a locality 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. She was exposed to agent orange and has seen her seven pregnancies result in

1592-48: Textile contractor workshop where the most valid work at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center for agent orange victims in Hanoi. The workers learn a trade and receive a salary. Proceeds help finance the center.

1592-18: A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-19: Occupational therapy workshop for agent orange victims at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-20: Mr. Phan Van Quy, a former Communist fighter, is one of the plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies. City of Haiphong (north).

1592-21: Mr. Phan Van Quy and his handicapped son. Mr. Quy, a former Communist fighter, is one of the plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies. City of Haiphong (north).

1592-26: Occupational therapy workshop for agent orange victims at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-22: Occupational therapy workshop for agent orange victims at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-23: Occupational therapy workshop for agent orange victims at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-24: A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-25: Occupational therapy workshop for agent orange victims at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-52: At the home of Mr. Phan Van Quy and his handicapped children. Mr. Quy, a former Communist fighter, is one of the plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies. City of Haiphong (north).

1592-26: Occupational therapy workshop for agent orange victims at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-27: 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The center is largely funded by war veterans (US, French, Japanese...)

1592-28: A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-29: Dr. Phan Thi Phi Phi, M.D., physiology researcher and medicine professor, at her home in Hanoi. Affected by miscarriages and disease, she is among the first group of victims to file for action against the

1592-30: Reeducation workshop for agent orange victims at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center near Hanoi.

1592-31: The deformed feet of an agent orange victim.

1592-30: Reeducation workshop for agent orange victims at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center near Hanoi.

1592-32: A primary school class at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center of agent orange victims.

1592-33: Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nham, 65, highschool professor. Her home stands on the location of an agent orange storage facility on the former US military air base in Bien Hoa. The poison contained in the barrels

1592-34: Reeducation workshop for agent orange victims at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center near Hanoi.

1592-35: Workshop of crafted objects sold for agent orange victims of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendhsip Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The production is sold in a few stores of Hanoi. The craftsmen

1592-36: Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thoi, 59, is affected by several diseases resulting from exposure to agent orange. As many of her neighbors near the former US military air base of Bien Hoa (used for dioxin), she

1592-37: 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The center is largely funded by war veterans (US, French, Japanese...)

1592-38: Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thoi, 59, is affected by several diseases resulting from exposure to agent orange. As many of her neighbors near the former US military air base of Bien Hoa (used for dioxin), she

1592-18: A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-39: Reeducation workshop for agent orange victims at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center near Hanoi.

1592-40: A young third generation's agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-41: 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The center is largely funded by war veterans (US, French, Japanese...)

1592-42: 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The center is largely funded by war veterans (US, French, Japanese...)

1592-58: The biosphere of Can Gio, 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam. Can Gio is slowly returning to its original state after it was massively sprayed with agent orange as it was a hideout for Communist fighters during the war. A research team of the Natural Science department of the University of Ho Chi Minh City works on the impact of dioxin on plants and soil.

1592-43: A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-47: A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-24: A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

1592-53: Saigon River (South).

1592-54: At the home of Dr. Nguyen Long Van: his handicapped son in Bien Hoa, a small town near de Ho Chi Minh City. They are among the plaintiffs in the action against US chemical companies.

1592-55: A western visitor at the American War History Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. Exhibit on the consequences of agent orange use.

1592-56: The biosphere of Can Gio, 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam. Can Gio is slowly returning to its original state after it was massively sprayed

1592-27: 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The center is largely funded by war veterans (US, French, Japanese...)

1592-57: The biosphere of Can Gio, 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam. Can Gio is slowly returning to its original state after it was massively sprayed

1592-63: A fish and shrimp farmer in the buffer zones of the Can Gio biosphere. Located 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, it is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam.

1592-61: An artifical lake in Bien Hoa which borders Ho Chi Minh City. This partially filled lake was polluted by dioxin stored on the nearby former US military air base.

1592-62: The biosphere of Can Gio, 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam. Can Gio is slowly returning to its original state after it was massively sprayed

1592-21: Mr. Phan Van Quy and his handicapped son. Mr. Quy, a former Communist fighter, is one of the plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies. City of Haiphong (north).

Agent Orange victims v.s chemical companies. Thirty-two years after the end of the war, the wounds of the Vietnam War have not all healed. The sadly famous dioxin-loaded "agent orange" which was sprayed by the million gallons over the south of the country continues to cause damage in humans down to the third generation. As they cannot sue the United States for war crime, the Vietnamese victims are suing the US chemical companies for damages. Manufacturers of the product include such companies as Monsanto and Dow Chemical. The lawsuit was rejected by a Brooklyn judge. June 2007, the appeal trial opens. Four months later, the court rejects their appeal. In March 2008 , the Vietnamese victims file their - last - appeal with the Supreme Court of the United States In 1961, John F. Kennedy approves the spraying of herbicide over South Vietnam to destroy the vegetation used for cover by the Viet Cong fighters. Herbicides or chemical weapon? Vietnam estimates that it continues paying the consequences of chemical warfare, the first operation of this kind to reach such a scale. After two years of tests, over 49 million liters of agent orange were sprayed over Vietnam between 1963 and 1971. The product in its undiluted form containing a high level of dioxin has not only contaminated over 10% of the area of South Vietnam but also

animals and humans. In 1983, experts have assessed the environmental disaster: totally destroyed forests and mangroves; 3.3 million hectares of natural areas affected by toxic substances. What about the health of the population and notably the threat posed to reproduction as many malformed children were born after the war? "Five types of malformations can be commonly observed in Vietnam which are not found or rare in other countries, explains Ho Chi Minh City hospital director Nguyen Thi Ngoc; notably malformation of the neural tube, limbs, sensory organs." "One has to admit that, twenty years from 1983, little progress has been achieved," admits John Constable, an American surgeon who has been to Vietnam as early as 1967. University of Texas public health researcher and environment specialist Arnold Schecter M.D., has measured dioxin levels in thousands of samples collected in Vietnam. He has established the presence of high dioxin levels in foods and persons, and that, as recently as three years ago: "We know that exposure to dioxin causes cancers, immunodeficiency, endocrine problems, reproductive pathologies, hepatic problems, cutaneous lesions..." The Vietnamese have led epidemiological studies. One of them has shown that out of two groups of the same area, the malformation risk is ten times as high (2.28% against 0.22%) in 394 women born and breastfed when defoliants were being sprayed over Vietnam than in 2,281 women born and breastfed between 1938 and 1963. For the US government, there is no direct proof of a link between disease in persons and dioxin. With the exception of at least two inconsistencies: two years ago, a US medical report established a link between agent orange

and chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL). Also, in 1984, seven American companies have paid 180 million dollars to 10,000 US veterans. A settlement designed to avoid the lodging of formal complaints and ensuing court proceedings. The US Justice Department had asked the Manhattan Appeals Court judges to dimiss the complaint asserting that "the implications of this case would be of dreadful proportions and would open the door of the US justice system to complaints from former enemies of the United States." Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government is adopting a low profile not openly supporting plaintiffs so as not to compromise relations with the USA. Full text and interviews available on request.

Captions.

amounts of agent orange meant to destroy mangroves which were ideal hideouts for Vietnamese Communists.

1 - A popular neighborhood of Bien Hoa, a small bordering Ho Chi Minh City. Homes where built on and along canals polluted by dioxin storage on the nearby former US military air base.

7 - Nguyen Minh Duong, 12, third generation victim. .He lives in one of the villages isolated by the canals and mangroves of Dong Thap area, the area most subjected to agent orange spraying in South Vietnam.

2- The handicapped son of Mr. Phan Van Quy, a former Communist soldier who is one of the plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies. Haiphong (North). 3- In one of the village which has been among the most sprayed with agent orange by the US air force. Dong Thap Muoi, a former Communist stronghold on the Mekong delta (south). 4 - Dr. Nguyen Long Van, his handicapped son and his wife at home in Bien Hoa, a small town near Ho Chi Minh City. They are plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies. 5- This man, an agent orange victim, drives his cows home, they are his only possessions. He was able to buy his herd thanks to a microloan from the Vietnamese Red Cross. Dong Thap area, a stronghold of the anti-American forces. The are remains highly polluted by dioxin. During the war, the US air force has dropped massive amounts of agent orange meant to destroy mangroves which were ideal hideouts for Vietnamese Communists. 6- One of the many canals of the Dong Thap area, a major stronghold of the anti-American forces. It remains highly polluted by dioxin. During the Vietnam war, the US air force has dropped massive

8 - Two children go to fishing in a canal of Dong Thap's Region, in the South of Ho Chi Minh City. Former bastion of anti-American resistance during the Vietnam war, this area was affected by the spreading of the orange agent (dioxin). 9 - Dead mangrove roots. Mangrove forest of the Dong Thap area, one of the most strongly exposed to agent orange in South Vietnam. 10 - A veterinarian of the Public sanitary services of Ben Tre province (Mekong delta) goes in round of inspection in the fish and poultry stockbreeders. During the Vietnam War, the United States Air Force poured off a lot of quantity of the orange agent intended to destroy the mangroves which were ideal hiding places for the Vietnamese Communists forces. 11 - A boy counting among the third generation victims of agent orange in the Thai Binh province (north). 12 - Hoa, 17 year-old girl, third generation agent orange victim, in the province of Dong Thap, Mekong delta (south). 13 - In a classroom of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. 14 - In a classroom of the 'Huu Nghi'

(Friendship Village) center orange victims near Hanoi.

for

agent

Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

15 - The young handicapped residents of the 'Huu Nghi'(Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

24 - A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi.

16 - School children visit the American War History Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. 17 - Mrs. Dang Hong Nhut, 70, former anti-American fighter of Cu Chi, a locality 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. She was exposed to agent orange and has seen her seven pregnancies result in miscarriages, malformed children or still births. She has cancer and one of her foetuses is kept as material proof. Its contains significant traces of dioxin, DNA has been affected. 18 - A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. 19 - Occupational therapy workshop for agent orange victims at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. 20 - Mr. Phan Van Quy, a former Communist fighter, is one of the plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies. City of Haiphong (north). 21 - Mr. Phan Van Quy and his handicapped son. Mr. Quy, a former Communist fighter, is one of the plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies. City of Haiphong (north). 22 - 23 - Occupational therapy workshop for agent orange victims at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship

25- Occupational therapy workshop for agent orange victims at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. 26 - Occupational therapy workshop for agent orange victims at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. 27 - 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The center is largely funded by war veterans (US, French, Japanese...) 28 - A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. 29 - Dr. Phan Thi Phi Phi, M.D., physiology researcher and medicine professor, at her home in Hanoi. Affected by miscarriages and disease, she is among the first group of victims to file for action against the United States. Her husband (whose picture can be seen on the altar) has just passed as a result of dioxin poisoning. 30 - Reeducation workshop for agent orange victims at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center near Hanoi. 31 -The deformed feet of an agent orange victim.

32 - A primary school class at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center of agent orange victims. 33 - Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nham, 65, highschool professor. Her home stands on the location of an agent orange storage facility on the former US military air base in Bien Hoa. The poison contained in the barrels has leaked and contaminated the soil and has polluted the aquifer. Like her, a lot of residents of the area have been contaminated by dioxin. 34 - Reeducation workshop for agent orange victims at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center near Hanoi. 35 - Workshop of crafted objects sold for agent orange victims of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendhsip Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The production is sold in a few stores of Hanoi. The craftsmen and the center share the proceeds of the sales. 36 - Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thoi, 59, is affected by several diseases resulting from exposure to agent orange. As many of her neighbors near the former US military air base of Bien Hoa (used for dioxin), she has lived in a shanty town established on an artificial lake fed by the sewers of the base. The lake was partially drained to contain pollution five years ago. 37 - 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The center is largely funded by war veterans (US, French, Japanese...) 38 - Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thoi, 59, is affected

by several diseases resulting from exposure to agent orange. As many of her neighbors near the former US military air base of Bien Hoa (used for dioxin), she has lived in a shanty town established on an artificial lake fed by the sewers of the base. The lake was partially drained to contain pollution five years ago. 39 - Reeducation workshop for agent orange victims at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center near Hanoi. 40 - A young third generation's agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. 41 - 42 - 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The center is largely funded by war veterans (US, French, Japanese...) 43 - A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. 44 - A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. 45 - 46 -47- A young agent orange victim at the out patient hospital of the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. 48- Textile contractor workshop where the most valid work at the 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship) center for agent orange victims in Hanoi. The workers learn a trade and receive a salary. Proceeds help finance the center. 49 - 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center

for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The center is largely funded by war veterans (US, French, Japanese...) 50 - The deformed feet of an agent orange victim. 51 - 'Huu Nghi' (Friendship Village) center for agent orange victims near Hanoi. The center is largely funded by war veterans (US, French, Japanese...) 52 - At the home of Mr. Phan Van Quy and his handicapped children. Mr. Quy, a former Communist fighter, is one of the plaintiffs in the action brought against US chemical companies. City of Haiphong (north). 53 - Saigon River (South). 54 - At the home of Dr. Nguyen Long Van: his handicapped son in Bien Hoa, a small town near de Ho Chi Minh City. They are among the plaintiffs in the action against US chemical companies. 55 - A western visitor at the American War History Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. Exhibit on the consequences of agent orange use. 56 - The biosphere of Can Gio, 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam. Can Gio is slowly returning to its original state after it was massively sprayed with agent orange as it was a hideout for Communist fighters during the war. 57- The biosphere of Can Gio, 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam. Can Gio is slowly returning to its original state after it was massively

sprayed with agent orange as it was a hideout for Communist fighters during the war. A research team of the Natural Science department of the University of Ho Chi Minh City works on the impact of dioxin on plants and soil. 58 - 59- The biosphere of Can Gio, 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam. Can Gio is slowly returning to its original state after it was massively sprayed with agent orange as it was a hideout for Communist fighters during the war. A research team of the Natural Science department of the University of Ho Chi Minh City works on the impact of dioxin on plants and soil. 60 - Roots of mangrove. The biosphere of Can Gio, 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam. Can Gio is slowly returning to its original state after it was massively sprayed with agent orange as it was a hideout for Communist fighters during the war. A research team of the Natural Science department of the University of Ho Chi Minh City works on the impact of dioxin on plants and soil. 61- An artifical lake in Bien Hoa which borders Ho Chi Minh City. This partially filled lake was polluted by dioxin stored on the nearby former US military air base. 62 - The biosphere of Can Gio, 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam. Can Gio is slowly returning to its original state after it was massively sprayed with agent orange as it was a hideout for Communist fighters during the war. A research team of the Natural Science department of the University of Ho Chi Minh City works on the impact of

dioxin on plants and soil. 63 - A fish and shrimp farmer in the buffer zones of the Can Gio biosphere. Located 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, it is home to one of the largest mangrove areas of Vietnam.