Tambuti Films Independant Dcumentary Film Makers

Battle’s Poison Cloud

The deadly chemicals, which the US forces used during the Vietnam War, continue to destroy the environment and seriously damage the people. Chemical warfare is condemned world-wide. And yet there has only been one war where chemicals have been used extensively. And that was during the Vietnam War of 1956 –1973. The US forces, in an attempt to find the Viet Cong hiding in the jungles, experimented with thousands of chemicals to kill the foliage of the forests to reveal the enemy.

Figures vary, but according to US Defence Department documents, 17,6 million gallons (66,6 million litres) of chemicals were used during the war. Different chemicals were used for different purposes; herbicides and defoliants were the most frequently used, so too were asphyxiates, teargas, nerve gas and insecticides.

The extensive use of chemicals thirty four years ago is still causing devastating damage to humans and to nature today. Agent Orange, one of the main defoliates used by the US, is the cause. It was tainted with the deadly poison dioxin – 100000 times more toxic than anything found in nature.

Vietnam has, since the war, recorded extraordinarily high numbers of birth abnormalities. Serious birth defects and malformations are now been seen in the second generation of children born after the war. In the grandchildren of those who fought protecting their country. Vietnamese scientists are adamant that these defects are a direct result of dioxin poisoning. And they are fearful that the dioxin may have affected the DNA. However, the United States refuses to acknowledge that there is a link between dioxin poisoning and malformations. Ironically, the US recognises the effects of Agent Orange in their own vets and their children.

These are reservoirs where the dioxin from Agent Orange has accumulated. There are 12 such areas in South Vietnam located all around previous US air bases. They were found by accident by Canadian independent researchers, who have measured dioxin levels in the humans 17 times the World Health Organisations maximum level. Near the old Bien Hoa airbase levels are so high in the city lake, that they should warrant an immediate evacuation and international clean up operation.

Like our use of depleted uranium in Iraq, this weapon was in violation of the Geneva conventions – it continued to cause damage after the conflict was ended. The cleanup will cost billions of dollars, money that Vietnam cannot afford. Until the United States acknowledges responsibility to the aftermath of the war, Vietnam and her people will continue to fight the war, long after the the “conflict” is over.

And we have the audacity to talk about weapons of mass destruction? We are one of the only countries that has actually used them. The nuclear strikes in Japan and the chemical warfare in Vietnam are a continuing legacy.