DIOXIN FALLOUT LEADS TO ORGANIC FARM

[Guest guest]

" DIOXIN FALLOUT LEADS TO ORGANIC FARM: " (11/17/04): " Although American

John Berlow knows he cannot undo the damage caused to the Vietnamese people

by Agent Orange in the past, he believes he can at least reduce the amount

of chemicals the victims are exposed to today. Since July this year,

Berlow, 55, has been visiting Van Canh commune in Ha Tay province to grow

organic vegetables in an attempt to improve the health of Agent Orange

victims at the Friendship Village and increase awareness of organic

agriculture more widely. The village, set up in 1998 by George Mizo, an

American war veteran, and the Central Committee of the Veterans Association

of Vietnam, provides free health care and education for about 120 children

and 30 war veterans who are victims of Agent Orange.

 

" Organic farming helps reduce the amount of pollution in the environment, "

Berlow said. " It's safe for farmers, safe for consumers, safe for other

species. In a sense, it is the opposite of Agent Orange. I hope to help

raise awareness about Agent Orange by placing an organic garden right in

the middle of a centre which cares for victims of Agent Orange. "

Chemically treated foods have caused poisoning cases in Vietnam, which

worried village cooks such as Nguyen Thi Nam. " We used to buy the best

vegetables in the village for our meals, but we could still not be sure

they were safe because they were not organic, " said Nam. " Now we do not

worry. "

 

[berlow] also supports the on-going lawsuit against the U.S. chemical firms

by Vietnamese Agent Orange victims. " The U.S. hasn't had the decency to

de-contaminate the land or compensate the victims, who are still suffering

the effects of the war, " Berlow said. He hopes in some small way, his

garden will help.

 

 

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