Film Screening in France Supports Vietnam’s Agent Orange Victims

Opening of the film screening – discussion on Agent Orange on the evening of February 10 in Choisy-le-Roi city. Photo: VNA

According to VOV, the film titled “Chat doc da cam - Qua bom no cham” (Agent Orange - A delayed-action bomb) was produced in 2013 under the direction of Ho Thuy Tien and Laurent Lindebrings.

Screened at Paul Eluard Theatre, it attracted a large number of local residents, VOV reported.

In his remarks prior to the screening, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang thanked the support of local residents and the France - Vietnam Friendship Association in Choisy-le-Roi for the Vietnamese people, especially AO/dioxin victims.

He stated the assistance and solidarity from international friends would help ease the pain suffered by the victims and enhance their determination in the fight for justice.

Following the screening, the audience joined in a talk with Tran To Nga, an 80-year-old Vietnamese-French woman and also an AO/dioxin victim, about the destructive toxin’s impacts on human health and the environment.

Ms. Tran To Nga shared her orange story with the audience during the talk show. Photo: VNA

According to Choisy-le-Roi Mayor Tonino Panetta, the film screening aimed to honor Nga’s fight for justice and also demonstrated his city’s support for her and other AO/dioxin victims in Vietnam.

The official said he hoped through this event, locals would understand that war is not the only solution to problems, and that regardless of victory or loss, the result of every war is only disaster and to Vietnam, that disaster is AO/dioxin.

The France - Vietnam Friendship Association in Choisy-le-Roi called for both material and spiritual support for AO/dioxin victims in Vietnam and for solidarity with Nga in the lawsuit against the chemical companies that produced or supplied herbicides for the US army during wartime.

In 2014, Nga, who was a war correspondent in south Vietnam during wartime, sued the multinational companies, including Monsanto - Bayer, that produced or supplied herbicides for the US during the war in Vietnam.

On May 10, 2021, the Crown Court of Evry city in the suburbs of Paris rejected her lawsuit, citing it did not have jurisdiction to hear the case, a ruling that disappointed the Vietnamese and international public.

However, Nga and her lawyers decided to file an appeal, and the struggle for justice for AO/dioxin victims is still underway.

The 80-year-old woman said: “If continuing with the lawsuit is the last battle of my life, then building these skilled centers will be the last dream I want to realize.”

Tran To Nga signs book on her orange story. Photo: VNA

From 1961 to 1971, the US army sprayed 80 million litres of herbicides which contained about 400kg of dioxin - one of the most toxic substances, on Vietnam.

Over the last 60 years, the effects of this deadly chemical have still lingered in land, water, and many people’s bodies.

More than 4.8 million Vietnamese people are suffering from its consequences. The damage to health, environment and society is immeasurable.

Every year, Vietnam reserves more than VND10 trillion (over US$440 million) from its budget for providing aid and health care for AO/dioxin victims and for assisting disadvantaged areas severely affected by the herbicides.

In the process of overcoming the consequences of war and chemical warfare the Vietnamese people have received great support and help from the world’s people and international friends.

Particularly in France, for many years now, associations such as UGVF, UJVF, France – Vietnam Friendship Association, and Collectif Vietnam Dioxine have organized many practical activities to help Agent Orange victims in Vietnam find support.

Merle Ratner: We Are Always With You - Victims of Agent Orange Merle Evelyn Ratner is an American activist born in New York city. She has been active in the anti-Vietnam War since she was 13 years ...

Creating Better Conditions to Support Victims of Agent Orange To commemorate 60 years of the Agent Orange/dioxin disaster in Vietnam, the Vietnam Times interviewed Vice President of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent ...

Agent Orange victim: I hope that I have enough health to take care of my children The pain caused by Agent Orange on victims and their descendants is difficult to describe in words. Instead of accepting a cruel fate, grandmothers, mothers, ...