Lady Borton, a US writer: Chemical companies deeply understand the harmful effects of dioxin so they should take responsibility for the consequences of their actions.
I came to Vietnam in 1969 and I like Vietnamese people call me by my Vietnamese name Ut Ly. I used to stay in Duc Pho district, central Quang Ngai province, where the hero doctor Dang Thuy Tram lived and I am very proud of this. I saw the destructive consequences of the war with my own eyes. As a writer, I am always concerned about the sacrifices and losses as well as the war aftermath for innocent people and their relatives. In early 1975 I began studying Agent Orange and its effects. Over the past 31 years, in addition to culture and history of Vietnam, I have been interested in studying the effects of Agent Orange. I have met with many foreign and Vietnamese scientists and organisations to call their support for AO victims. I have written articles on Vietnamese AO victims to inform the US public. I want to help US people gain a better understanding of the aftermath that Vietnamese people must endure so that they can share sympathy with Vietnamese victims. The greatest concern is the consequences for later generations.
When using this toxic chemical, many people were not aware of its harmful effects, so many US and other foreign veterans have also been affected. I think chemical companies deeply understood the harmful effects of dioxin, so they should take responsibility for the consequences of their actions.
Ric Giblett, Australian veteran: Australian people also support Vietnamese Agent Orange victims’ fight for justice.
I served in the American war in Vietnam for one year. Like many other soldiers, we did not understand anything and followed the Government’s orders. When I saw animals die in jungle after being sprayed with toxic chemicals, I still did not understand the reason why.
I think that both the US Government and chemical companies have full knowledge of the harmful effects of Agent Orange, so they should come to Vietnam to look at the catastrophe. They must compensate Vietnamese victims and cover costs for clinics and hospitals. All of us know that dioxin is harmful to people, and the Australian public supports Vietnamese Agent Orange victims in their struggle for justice.
Frank Cordoran, US veteran:The court decision is terrible and wrong as it is clear that the US forces used Agent Orange in Vietnam and were aware of its harmful effects.
I served in Vietnam in 1968 in the Marines, like many other US soldiers, we believed what the Government told us. Now I am a teacher, and my school in Philadelphia has a lot of Vietnamese children.
I returned to Vietnam in 1993, and after the visit, I returned home and I found that I had cancer. It turned out that the US government admits that the AO toxins cause cancer and offer US veterans compensation.
I totally support Vietnamese Agent Orange victims’ lawsuit against US chemical companies. When I heard that the New York Court had rejected the lawsuit, I was very angry and wanted to do everything I could to support Vietnamese AO victims. The court decision is terrible and wrong as it is clear that the US forces used Agent Orange in Vietnam, and were aware of its harmful effects.
Last year when the delegation of Vietnamese Agent Orange victims went to Philadelphia, I set up a conference for them to talk about AO and I became a close friend of Vietnam.
When I teach in my school, I often tell my pupils about my own involvement and Vietnamese AO victims. My pupils realise that the US Government is wrong. After that my pupils tell their parents my stories and they also realised that the US Government is wrong. By doing that I think I help American people gain a better understanding of Vietnamese AO victims and their lawsuit so they can raise their voice in support.
After the conference, I will try my best to help Vietnamese AO victims pursue their lawsuit against US chemical companies, and I believe that the lawsuit will continue until it gains success.
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