Relief for Vietnam Conflict Victims
Donation protected
In 1973 the United States put a halt to major military operations in Vietnam. Just shy of 60 thousand Americans died, while between 1 and 3 million Vietnamese were killed during the decade of fighting.
Two years later, with the fall of Saigon, North and South Vietnam were reunited. This was a historic day after years of tragedy for North Vietnam and the National Liberation Front (the Viet Cong), while it was a day of complete turmoil for those who supported the South Vietnamese as many had to escape their home country, while others died trying. And for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who had fought in defense of the south, a feeling that the war had been fought in vein began to torment them
No matter what side you were on in 1975 the politics of the Cold War are over, but the people of Vietnam are still living with the hazards of war. Vietnam and the United States have a flourishing trade relationship in the wake of the Trans Pacific Partnership and cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang are well on their way to become world class cities, But the wounds of this war are not gone.
While the United States is taking steps toward cleaning up what we left behind, it is clear that more needs to be done. Parents continue to give birth to children with severe birth defects. Multiple sites identified by the U.S. as potentially contaminated with dioxin remain unexamined and untreated. Bombs continue to be found near homes on a daily basis, while more than 100,000 people have been injured or killed from unexploded ordnance (UXO) since the war ended. As the United States strengthens its trade relationship with Vietnam, we believe that it is time to acknowledge the damage left behind. On top of that, American Veterans are struggling to receive the support they need as the Department of Veterans Affairs is still scrambling to answer the calls of Vietnam Vets who are living with the symptoms of dioxin exposure. Some vets didn't even serve in Vietnam--they simply worked with contaminated equipment left over from the war.
While our organization Ghosts of War: Post-Conflict Recovery in Vietnam seeks to push Congress to increase U.S. funding to our veterans, the victims of dioxin in Vietnam, further research on the long lasting effects of dioxin, and helping the affected areas of unexploded ordnance throughout Vietnam, we still need your help. We are setting a goal to raise $15,000 dollars for 1) the treatment of the children of Vietnam born with severe birth defects due to dioxin exposure 2) Americas veterans living with the harmful health effects of dioxin 3) to the work of NGOs like Project RENEW and MAG International working to rid Vietnam of unexploded ordnance, while caring for UXO victims and educating children of the dangers of unexploded bombs. Please consider donating anything you can spare in support of those that work to undo our past wrongdoings.
For more information on our program visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GhostsofWarVN
Our partner organizations include Project RENEW, the Norwegian People's Aid, MAG International, the Vietnam Association for the Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, the Tu Du Hospital, and the Vietnam Veterans Association of America. Whatever you can spare can help a lot more than you think.
Thank you for your continued support,
The entire Ghosts of War: Post-Conflict Recovery in Vietnam team at American University
Christopher Diamond
Program Co-Director
Justyna Kepa
Program Co-Director
Max Friedman, PhD.
Faculty Adviser, Professor of History and U.S. Foreign Relations (College of Arts & Sciences, School of International Service)
Katharina Vester, PhD.
Faculty Adviser, Professor of History (College of Arts & Sciences)
Our Student Team
Adena Maier, School of International Service
Andrea Snyder, School of International Service
Britta Galanis, School of Communication
Christian Cyr, School of Public Affairs
Elizabeth Lang, M.A. Candidate, School of International Service
Emily Simonsen, School of International Service
Henry Duong, School of Communication & Kogod School of Business
Kate Hughes, School of International Service
Shannon Staley, School of International Service
Stephanie Staley, College of Arts & Sciences
Stephen Cammarota, School of Communication
Two years later, with the fall of Saigon, North and South Vietnam were reunited. This was a historic day after years of tragedy for North Vietnam and the National Liberation Front (the Viet Cong), while it was a day of complete turmoil for those who supported the South Vietnamese as many had to escape their home country, while others died trying. And for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who had fought in defense of the south, a feeling that the war had been fought in vein began to torment them
No matter what side you were on in 1975 the politics of the Cold War are over, but the people of Vietnam are still living with the hazards of war. Vietnam and the United States have a flourishing trade relationship in the wake of the Trans Pacific Partnership and cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang are well on their way to become world class cities, But the wounds of this war are not gone.
While the United States is taking steps toward cleaning up what we left behind, it is clear that more needs to be done. Parents continue to give birth to children with severe birth defects. Multiple sites identified by the U.S. as potentially contaminated with dioxin remain unexamined and untreated. Bombs continue to be found near homes on a daily basis, while more than 100,000 people have been injured or killed from unexploded ordnance (UXO) since the war ended. As the United States strengthens its trade relationship with Vietnam, we believe that it is time to acknowledge the damage left behind. On top of that, American Veterans are struggling to receive the support they need as the Department of Veterans Affairs is still scrambling to answer the calls of Vietnam Vets who are living with the symptoms of dioxin exposure. Some vets didn't even serve in Vietnam--they simply worked with contaminated equipment left over from the war.
While our organization Ghosts of War: Post-Conflict Recovery in Vietnam seeks to push Congress to increase U.S. funding to our veterans, the victims of dioxin in Vietnam, further research on the long lasting effects of dioxin, and helping the affected areas of unexploded ordnance throughout Vietnam, we still need your help. We are setting a goal to raise $15,000 dollars for 1) the treatment of the children of Vietnam born with severe birth defects due to dioxin exposure 2) Americas veterans living with the harmful health effects of dioxin 3) to the work of NGOs like Project RENEW and MAG International working to rid Vietnam of unexploded ordnance, while caring for UXO victims and educating children of the dangers of unexploded bombs. Please consider donating anything you can spare in support of those that work to undo our past wrongdoings.
For more information on our program visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GhostsofWarVN
Our partner organizations include Project RENEW, the Norwegian People's Aid, MAG International, the Vietnam Association for the Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, the Tu Du Hospital, and the Vietnam Veterans Association of America. Whatever you can spare can help a lot more than you think.
Thank you for your continued support,
The entire Ghosts of War: Post-Conflict Recovery in Vietnam team at American University
Christopher Diamond
Program Co-Director
Justyna Kepa
Program Co-Director
Max Friedman, PhD.
Faculty Adviser, Professor of History and U.S. Foreign Relations (College of Arts & Sciences, School of International Service)
Katharina Vester, PhD.
Faculty Adviser, Professor of History (College of Arts & Sciences)
Our Student Team
Adena Maier, School of International Service
Andrea Snyder, School of International Service
Britta Galanis, School of Communication
Christian Cyr, School of Public Affairs
Elizabeth Lang, M.A. Candidate, School of International Service
Emily Simonsen, School of International Service
Henry Duong, School of Communication & Kogod School of Business
Kate Hughes, School of International Service
Shannon Staley, School of International Service
Stephanie Staley, College of Arts & Sciences
Stephen Cammarota, School of Communication
Organizer
Chris Diamond
Organizer
