Monsanto's Evil Agent Orange

Monsanto's Agent Orange caused over half a million Vietnamese children to be born with deformities.

Since the Vietnam War ended and the effects of Agent Orange have become more apparent, many are beginning to look back at the effect it had on the people of Vietnam. Tran is one of many. Her story represents millions living in the shadows of a lasting legacy.

These children will never live a normal life; their deformities are physical signs of human decay. Although their parents were not even born until after the Vietnam War, 18 million gallons of the toxic herbicide, sprayed through the jungles of South Vietnam, is still penetrating the DNA of those born today.

"There are millions and millions of victims still alive and are suffering from illnesses and from cancers," said Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, the Director General of Ngoc Tam Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Dr. Nguyen is Tran's doctor and accompanied Tran to testify on Capitol Hill.

The US government has acknowledged a connection between Agent Orange and the health defects and ailments that continue to plague the lives of Vietnam War veterans for generations. But the US has refused to make the same link for the millions of Vietnamese War victims whose lives have been devastated as a result of Agent Orange.

This is why delegations are here in Washington following a report issued by lawmakers, scientists and doctors calling on the US government to own up to its Agent Orange legacy in Vietnam today.

Government records show nearly 95 percent of all US Agent Orange related aid is committed to contain and remove dioxin contamination. In fact, the US has been providing medical aid for everything but Agent Orange treatment and medical exploration.

Those fighting for justice in the case of Vietnamese Agent Orange victims want the physical and psychological damages to be acknowledged.

"If they accept, they have to pay to compensate for millions of people, not only in Vietnam but also in the United States and also to the other countries, like Korea, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand," said Dr. Phuong.

Jonathan Moore, an attorney from New York, says US chemical companies at the time of the Vietnam War knew the purpose of the Agent Orange they produced. He says they should be held responsible for its impact.

"The Agent Orange -- used in Vietnam -- that was manufactured by Dow, Monsanto and other chemical companies in the US at the time, contained dioxin rates that were unnecessary and had no effect on the purpose that the herbicides were used for. It wasn't a defoliant, it was simply a chemical that was created because Dow and Monsanto used a process which even at the time was contrary to industry standards," Jonathan Moore says. "Any way you look at it -- from the moral, or ethical, or legal standpoint, we believe these corporations should be held responsible for the harm they caused because they knew what was going to happen."

South African Student Invents Waterless Bathing

When finding a steady source of portable water is challenge enough in the developing world who has the time—or water—to take a shower? One South African student may have the answer with a unique, water-less shower gel—that he invented on his dumb phone.

DryBath, as the gel is called, was developed by 22 year old college student Ludwick Marishane in response to the rankness of a friend. Rubbed onto the skin, like Purell, the gel kills bacteria, moisturizes the skin and, unlike Purell, leaves a fresh scent, according to Marishane's company website, Headboy Industries. One packet—priced at $0.50 for rural communities, $1.50 for corporate types—is enough to wash the entire body and kill 99.9-percent of germs, which should cut down on the disease rate in rural areas onset by by poor hygiene. Marishane also sees the technology being adopted by militaries, hotels, and even airlines.

What's really amazing is that Marishane brought the product to market using only his feature phone. From the initial research to building his business plan to developing the patented blend of biocide, bioflavonoids and moisturizers, he did it all without a computer.

New Mexico County First in Nation to Ban all Drilling and Fracking

Mora County, N.M., has a message for the oil and gas industry: “You’re not welcome here.”

The county commissioners also adopted a bill of rights that asserts Mora County’s right to block drilling, even if the state or federal governments try to allow it. Again from the AP:

In addition to putting the county off limits to oil and gas development, the ordinance establishes a bill of rights aimed at affirming the county’s right to local autonomy and self-governance.
The ordinance states that any permits or licenses issued by either the federal or state government that would allow activities that would compromise the county’s rights would be considered invalid.
“This is the fight that people have been too chicken to pick over the last 10 years, which is essentially deciding who makes decisions about the future of the places where we live,” said Thomas Linzey, executive director of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund. “Either it’s the people who live there or it’s the corporations that have an interest in exploiting them. It’s very basic.”

Congratulations, Mora County. May you continue to conserve and enjoy your precious groundwater supplies and clean environment.

Gasland Director Exposes Fracking