Agent Orange leaves its mark on Vietnamese people

During the Vietnam War, also called the American War if you are Vietnamese, one of the weapons of mass destruction was the dumping of herbicide across large areas of Vietnam.

This herbicide, deriving its name from the orange markings on the drums the chemical was shipped in, was sprayed in an effort to defoliate the landscape so that the American Forces and its allies could more easily spot the enemy.

In an effort to deny culpability, the US Government has denied that there is any internationally-accepted scientific evidence linking Agent Orange to birth defect and other illnesses.

Mai coping with one arm only!

So it is only coincidence  then that there are so many children born with disabilities in areas where this poison was either stored by the US military or sprayed on by military airplanes. Or so it seems.

Regrettably children born with birth defects and other illnesses such as cancer are still numerous even though the war ended in 1975. The reason for this is that it is almost impossible to get rid of this poison. No anti-agent has been developed as yet and it seems the only recourse is to collect toxic soil and try and bury it somewhere safely away from human contact. And that’s at huge costs as one can imagine.

Mai using her foot to work her handicraft magic.

Hold the Future serves many young people affected by Agent Orange. Birth defects are the predominant visual reminder of this poison. Some of Agent Orange’s other defects in people are intellectual disability and diseases such as cancer.

Vietnam commemorates the second anniversary of the Agent Orange Awareness Campaign Day on August 10, 2010.

Lots of talk is happening as to what will or should be done to help people suffering from the consequences of this war time poison. Regrettably so far it’s mostly talk. For the Mai’s of this world, only a Centre such as Hold the Future provides a solution for a self-sufficient life providing her with vocational training and handicraft production opportunity.