The workshop will be organised by the Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FRD) – an American non-governmental organisation, which aims to heal the war wounds and foster mutual understanding between Vietnam and the US. 

To prepare for the workshop, FRD recently launched two petitions on the web. The first petition was posted on the webpage at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/vietnam_pntr/ to lobby the US Congress to approve the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for Vietnam.

The petition says, “The US and Vietnam have established very positive and productive relations in a little more than a decade…..  Congress now has the opportunity and responsibility to move the relationship a step further through approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. The non-discriminatory trade status of PNTR is necessary for Vietnam to assume its rightful place as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).”

The second petition was posted at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/AO_talk-ingresponsibility/ to gather signatures from those who support Agent Orange victims. The petition will be sent to US President George W. Bush during his visit to Hanoi to attend the 14^th Asia-pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit this November. It puts forth two suggestions for Mr Bush to deal with the consequences of the past war, including the contamination of war hot spots, and medical and humanitarian assistance for those suffering from cancer and congenital deformities caused by dioxin, and those who lived in areas affected by defoliants during the war.