ParfumGigi@aol.com

(06-06-2007)

The Dow Chemical Company, one of the manufacturers of deadly chemicals used by US forces in the Viet Nam War, is sponsoring the Blue Planet Run Foundation’s run through 16 countries to promote the use of safe drinking water.

The run, lasting from June 1 to September 4, will start and finish in New York.

Dame Kelly Holmes, a former Olympic gold medal winner, said it was great that companies such as Dow were aligning with non-profit organisations to help provide safe drinking water for those in need.

While applauding the run, I, on behalf of three million physically deformed Vietnamese and the Britain-Viet Nam Friendship Society, must condemn Dow Chemical’s involvement.

It is complete hypocrisy that a company such as Dow should campaign for safe drinking water considering that it has been responsible for contaminating rivers, lakes and other waterways in many countries, including the Gulf of Mexico, India and the US itself. Many of these have yet to be cleaned up and made safe.

In addition, it was Dow Chemical along with Monsanto and 34 other American companies that manufactured the chemicals, including Agent Orange, used by US forces during the American war on Viet Nam.

It is calculated that 82 million litres of deadly chemicals were sprayed over 10 years, destroying thousands of hectares of forest, destroying crops and roadside vegetation, and poisoning lakes and rivers in South Viet Nam.

Because of this, more than three million Vietnamese stretching into the third, post-war generation, now suffer from serious illnesses and severe disabilities. Thousands of others have died from chemical-related ailments.

Agent Orange has also affected thousands of US, Australian, New Zealand, South Korean veterans who served in Viet Nam.

On June 18 in the Court of Appeals in New York, US Veterans and representatives of the Vietnamese victims will hear the outcome of a law suit against Dow and the other chemical companies for providing the chemicals.

The allegation is that the chemical companies that made the deadly poisons should be responsible for monitoring its usage.

Trying to create an image that is a responsible company interested in preserving people’s health and the environment is a bit much to bear.

We call on Dow and the other companies to accept their responsibilities and clean up the areas of Viet Nam contaminated by their ghastly products.