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Fund for Reconciliation and Development
FRD’s Agent Orange Educational Project
The Fund for Reconciliation and Development, with encouragement and initial support from Oxfam America, is coordinating an educational project to raise awareness about the lingering consequences of the chemicals used during the Vietnam War, and to encourage support for alleviating their human health and environmental effects.
Currently, the multi-part project can make the following available for interested groups: --five videos that range in tone from a call to action to a meditation on the resilience of the human spirit, and include a focus on rehabilitation work initiated by American veterans --a list of potential speakers and their topics --poster detailing the current legacy of dioxin in hot spots near bases, thanks to the groundbreaking Hatfield Group --the extended stories of people thought to be affected by Agent Orange and small photo albums of those telling their stories --artwork with an Agent Orange theme
Our new website will allow people to download these materials, find links to humanitarian responses, read news related to Agent Orange (including scientific studies, legal action, newspaper articles) and find links to related topics. We are also working on a curriculum packet and on developing a traveling art exhibit that will incorporate historical and scientific information and provide models for community engagement.
Our intent is to offer a strong, clear, multi-faceted statement that invites reflection and compassion, not defensiveness or voyeurism, and provides ways for viewers to channel their responses into constructive action, rather than be left with a feeling of insurmountable hopelessness or guilt. Our goal is to create what Susan Sontag calls a meditative space, an opening to address a part of history that challenges our collective conscience.
If you know people whose work should be included in this project, please let us know how to contact them. If you would like to help bring the project to a venue near you, let us know and we can help. If you have suggestions for artwork, videos, books or other materials to include, or for possible funders, we welcome them. Please contact us Diane Fox at dfox@ffrd.org or Susan Hammond at shammond@ffrd.org.
The Vietnamese Agent Orange Victims’ Lawsuit
Open Letter to the American People from the Vietnam Association for
Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin
Agent Orange Conferences and Events
US-Vietnam Scientific Conference on Human Health and Environmental
Effects of Agent Orange/Dioxins (Hanoi, March 2002):
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/usvcrp/project1.htm
Statement from the Stockholm Agent Orange
Conference from July 2002
Scientific Studies
US Government Policy regarding Agent Orange
Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Dioxin Research: http://usembassy.state.gov/vietnam/wwwh020310ii.html
US Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam unclassified Memo on Agent Orange
Summaries of Agent Orange by Andrew
Wells-Dang
Agent Orange Films
The Friendship Village Directed by Michelle Mason, an award-winning 50-minute documentary about an international group of veterans who built a village in Viet Nam for children with Agent Orange-related disabilities.
Battle’s Poison Cloud: Directed by Cecile Trijssenaar of Tambuti Films, Exams the birth defects issue in Viet Nam related to Agent Orange exposure and recent scientific research including research undertaken by Hatfield Consultants Ltd.
Distributed by FRD:
A Story from the Corner of the Park: Directed by Vietnamese director Tran Van Thuy. A beautifully directed film that tells the story of a Vietnamese family in Hanoi, Vietnam whose children are believed to be affected by Agent Orange.
Vietnam: Where the War has Passed: Directed by Vu Le My of the National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio, Hanoi . An award winning film about the affects of Agent Orange on Vietnamese Veterans and their children.
Books
Agent Orange Collateral Damage in Viet Nam - Collection of photos and essays by Philip Jones Griffiths on the health and environmental impacts of Agent Orange in Vietnam and Cambodia. Purchase a copy from FRD for $40.00 and proceeds will go to VAVA.
Agent Orange on Trial - Peter Schuck
Waiting for an Army to Die: The Tragedy of Agent Orange - by Fred A. Wilcox Purchase a copy from FRD for $15.00 and proceeds will go to VAVA.
Agent Orange in the Vietnam War: History and Consequences - Prof. Dr. Le Cao Dai (published in Vietnam)
The Dioxin War: Truth and Lies about the Perfect Poison - Robert Allen
Trespass Against Us: Dow Chemical & the Toxic Century - Jack Doyle Agent Orange Victim's Fund
Other Organizations Initiatives for US Victims: In addition to the Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Legion there are several other groups in the US who have been working to raise awareness and support for US victims of Agent Orange. These include: The Order of the Silver Rose, the Quilt of Tears, and the Memorial Plaque Project. Please contact Susan Hammond at shammond@ffrd.org to let us know about others. The Danang/Quang Nam Fund, Inc an American NGO that provides direct aid to to the poorest of poor in Da Nang City and Quang Nam province in central Vietnam including those who are believed to be affected by Agent Orange. They have been collecting letters of Vietnamese who have been affected by Agent Orange and putting them in an archive on their website. The Vietnam Friendship Village Project cultivates reconciliation and heals the wounds of the Vietnam War by uniting veterans and caring citizens through international cooperation in the building and support of the Village of Friendship, a living symbol of peace. There are chapters in the US, Canada, Germany and Australia that raise funds for the work of the Vietnam Friendship Village outside of Hanoi for handicapped children and their families.
Links to further information about Agent Orange
Review of EPA's Assessment of the
Health Implications of Exposure to Dioxins
Vietnam Veterans of
America:
http://www.vva.org/benefits/vvgagent.htm
Donations,
orders for videos and questions can be sent to: |
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Updated August 2004