|
|
|
|
|
|
Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE July 12, 2005
|
|
| site design imagesparkle.com |
| May 28, 2005 |
Da Nang, Vietnam – Press Conference - Planting Seeds of Peace |
|
| |
 |
| Mr. Allen Nelson and Professor Nguyen at the Press Conference in Danang. |
In central Da Nang, a press conference titled “Planting Seeds of Peace” was organized by the Da Nang Youth Union and Peace Boat as an urgent appeal to demand that the US Government apologize to and compensate victims of Agent Orange. Although 30 years have passed since the war, weapons left behind such as Agent Orange continue to inflict physical and mental pain upon the local people even after three generations. Therefore, Peace Boat and its supporters aim to: bring awareness about the effect of Agent Orange to the world; adamantly request that the US Government sincerely apologize and compensate the victims; oppose the US decision to turn down the lawsuit raised by the survivors in Vietnam; and support the victims of hidden weapons left behind during and after wars. |
|
|
 |
| Mr. Tatsuya Yoshioka, Director of Peace Boat, reiterates his support for dioxin victims around the world. |
Mr. Tatsuya Yoshioka, Director of Peace Boat, spoke of these efforts. Twenty years ago, he visited a hospital in Hanoi and saw babies born with deformities as a result of dioxins from the Vietnam War; today babies continue to be born with the same deformities brought on by the same dioxins. This is not just a Viet Nam problem; it is a world problem. Dioxins used around the world, including Japan, Canada and US, contaminate the food and water supply of the world population daily. Mr. Yoshioka affirmed Peace Boat’s efforts to continue its support toward dioxin victims by promoting awareness of the issue on its journey around the world. This includes addressing the issue at the GPPAC Conference in July of this year in New York City. |
| |
 |
| Three generations after the Vietnam War, children continue to be affected by Agent Orange. |
Support was also given by Mr. Allen Nelson, a former US Marine, who came aboard Peace Boat to return to Viet Nam for the first time since the war. Head-bowed, he sincerely apologized for his part in the war. “I have come for one reason,” said Mr. Nelson, “I come here to support you. The US must be held responsible for the war against the Vietnamese people and we cannot reconcile unless the US apologizes for what they did to this country.” By this, he means proper compensation for the people still affected by the hidden weapons of war. |
| |
 |
| Vietnamese and Japanese youth came together to advocate peace and justice to victims of Agent Orange during a Peace March. |
The impact of Agent Orange was fully described by Professor Nguyen Trong Nhan, on behalf of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxins (VAVA). Between 1961 to 1971, more than 100 million litres of dioxins (40 million of it was Agent Orange) was spread over Vietnam, enough to kill 8 million people. Approximately 3,181 villages were exposed to Agent Orange and other dioxins, and more than 16 million people live in dioxin-infected regions today. This represents a horrible violation against human rights, children’s rights and women’s right to reproduce has been performed as dioxin victims and their families continue to suffer from physical, psychological and social consequences. |
| |
 |
| At the opening ceremony of the Peace March, the coordinator of VAVA receives paper cranes, a symbol of peace, from participants of Peace Boat. |
A medical doctor from Iraq and a guest onboard the Peace Boat, Dr. Waqar offered her assistance to Professor Nguyen in finding solutions toward those affected by weapons of war. There is a 40-year gap between the wars in Iraq and Vietnam, but Dr. Waqar recognizes the similarities between them and she fears that within these 40 years more technologically-advanced weapons have been developed with affects that will bear upon the Iraqi people throughout generations. The families affected by dioxins, whether a result of war or otherwise, are not only afflicted with physical and mental pain, but also spiritual pain. As serious illnesses are transmitted from one generation to another, families are burdened by enormous financial capabilities to pay for medical treatment, and cultural values concerning the family are damaged as filial piety is torn apart.
Legal proceedings were launched on January 30, 2004 by dioxin victims against the US chemical companies which made large profits by supplying US armed forces with the dioxins used in Viet Nam. This legal action is dedicated to the rights of the victims and the solemn right of life of the upcoming generations. However, US courts recently turned down the lawsuit and in opposition of this decision as well as in support of dioxin victims, members of Peace Boat, VAVA, The Danang Youth Union, the mayor of Da Nang and more than 1,000 Vietnamese and Japanese youth collaborated in a peace march through the city. As a further show of support, Peace Boat made a financial contribution towards the support of those suffering from exposure to dioxins including Agent Orange. |
| |
|
|
|
