It’s an hour later and I’m still bawling over a piece that I saw on BBC News regarding the Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. A situation this grave is enough to make an inactive person like me want to do something to help. While I may consider a letter-writing campaign at some point, I’m moved right now to assist the Veterans for Peace organization get the word out about the lawsuit Agent Orange victims (American, Vietnamese, and Korean) are bringing against the manufacturers of the chemical which is still causing gross deformations in children. The appeals hearing for the lawsuit takes place on Monday, June 18. In the meantime, the VFP is trying to get 1 million signatures for its petition to President Bush as well as raise contributions for the AO Victims Tour.
Of course, the Veterans for Peace do more than just advocate for compensation for AO victims. They currently are involved in educating the public about the human cost of war, and have campaigns concerning Iraq, Vieques and the School of the Americas, to name just a few. Humanitarians may also be interested in a new report about the vast number of children among Iraqi refugees or the ongoing efforts in Darfur by the UN Refugee Agency.
Okay…now I’ve done my part (at least a little bit). Now go do yours.
