Veterans For Peace National Convention 2008
Veterans for Peace, and Vietnam Veterans Against the War have been at the forefront of the struggle for justice and compensation for Vietnamese, U.S., and international Agent Orange victims!
Now is the time for a national organizing effort to assure that the Congress and chemical companies that profited from selling Agent Orange are held accountable for the terrible health and environmental consequences of Agent Orange on the people and land of Vietnam! In conjunction with demands for increasing health and disability coverage for U.S.-veteran Agent Orange victims and their children and grandchildren, we are taking our campaign to the American people and to our representatives in Congress.
The 2008 VFP Convention is hosting a special half-day seminar on organizing for justice for Vietnamese and U.S. Agent Orange victims Wednesday August 27, 2008 from 1 to 5 pm. This is ONE DAY BEFORE the Thursday start of the main VFP conference (The VFP Board also meets on Wednesday). The Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign will present an intensive educational program covering:
The current scientific understanding of the health and environmental effects of dioxin poisoning, The condition of the affected population in Vietnam, The national and international laws that apply to the Agent Orange issue, The status of the court fights against the chemical companies, and The potential for congressional action and public pressure on the chemical companies.
Participants will leave the workshop with a solid understanding of the issue as it stands today and the tools to participate in a coordinated legislative campaign that will be necessary to secure justice for the Vietnamese and US victims. This is something we can do successfully, and the time is right. Public support for achieving meaningful and fuller aid for both Vietnamese and U.S. victims has been growing over the past few years, partially due to the efforts of VFP and VVAW to publicize the issue. As the US backs out of Iraq–somehow, but not nearly soon enough–there will be an opening for the US government to redeem its self image by doing something real for Vietnam.
Now it’s up to the U.S. people! Our ability to win this struggle is part of healing the wounds of war with Vietnam and also assuring that current and future victims of U.S. chemical warfare receive the justice and compensation they deserve!