Saturday , 19 October 2024
Lai presenting flowers to his mother. He is a victim of the gene-warping chemical dioxin, contained in the toxic herbicide Agent Orange, used by the U.S. during the Viet Nam War. Lai was born with no legs (he is able to walk with prosthetics) and only one functioning arm and hand. He will be a member of a November 2019 delegation of war victims to a peace conference in Washington, DC.

Agent Orange Monsanto Vigil

karololesiak July 22, 2019 Uncategorized 16 Views

photo of Lai presenting flowers to his mother.  He is a victim of the gene-warping chemical dioxin, contained in the toxic herbicide Agent Orange, used by the U.S. during the Viet Nam War.  Lai was born with no legs (he is able to walk with prosthetics) and only one functioning arm and hand.  He will be a member of a November 2019 delegation of war victims to a peace conference in Washington, DC.

August 10 is Agent Orange day, Veterans For Peace San Francisco Chapter 69 invites you to a vigil against unethical corporate ‘practices of Monsanto who is also responsible for the manufacturing of Agent Orange. Monsanto, who recently lost a lawsuit for 2 billion dollars, indicating pesticide involvement in the occurrence of cancer, denies responsibility for the governments use of pesticide on the Vietnamese. Monsanto has also been implicated in colony collapse of bees around the world and predatory practices with intellectual property on genetically modified seeds. Recently, Monsanto was bought by pharmaceutical giant Bayer making it even less likely to be held to account.

VFP, the only veterans organization recognized by the United Nations, also has a chapter in Hoa Binh, VFP CH 160, that is dedicated to assisting the victims of Agent Orange in Viet Nam. Each year VFP CH 69 organizes an educational, cathartic, fundraising trip to Vietnam raising money to help victims.

I certainly hope you feel as I do that we owe this courageous young man. And I hope you’ll come to Union Square, Sat. Aug. 10th Noon to 2 pm for the “Monsanto Vigil” on International Agent Orange Day. – Nadya Williams – VFP

For a riveting read, please refer to the two-part article written by Seul Jones, who lives and works full time in Viet Nam with the victims of Monsanto and the US government.

photo caption edit: New York Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign – clarified that Lai is likely a Land Mine Victim, not an Agent Orange Victim

About karololesiak

Karol Olesiak is a poet, writer, and activist. He is a graduate of Eugene Lang Liberal Arts College at The New School and an MFA from The University of San Francisco. As a Navy sailor, he commissioned the USS Ronald Reagan, navigated the straits of Magellan, and served in the Persian Gulf. In 2011 Karol headlined The Bowery Poetry Club in New York. That same year he became a staunch supporter of The Occupy Wall Street Movement and became entrenched in the Occupy network of affinity groups. Karol was one of the founders of www.soldiersforthecause.org. He became an antiwar activist in 2010 and has written many political essays. He has been translated into Spanish. Karol's poetry has been incorporated into cinematography and sound art.

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