| The medical and environmental effects of Agent Orange still haunt Vietnam forty years after the Vietnam War ended. The U.S. government was negligent in using chemicals as a war strategy, chemicals that were not fully evaluated as to their danger and impact on humans and the environment. The U.S. government has taken a long time to show concern for the human suffering and environmental degradation in Vietnam and it still refuses to accept responsibility for its use of Agent Orange.;The aim of this thesis is to examine the effects of Agent Orange on Vietnam and the Vietnamese attempts to seek redress. The effects of Agent Orange have been on the Vietnamese people and on the environment, in the form of illnesses and soil and water contamination. The scope of this thesis is from the end of World War II to the present. The focus is on the period from 1961, when Agent Orange was introduced in Vietnam, to 1971, when the U.S. government banned its use.;The thesis is organized in five chapters. Chapter I, "Introduction," sets the stage by providing background information on America's involvement in Vietnam, on Agent Orange and its use during the Vietnam War, and on medical diseases associated with exposure to the chemical. Chapter II, "The Medical and Environmental Effects of Agent Orange on the Vietnamese People," discusses cancers, birth defects and other illnesses resulting from Agent Orange exposure as well as the adverse environmental impact on Vietnam. Chapter III, "The Reaction of the Vietnamese and U.S. Governments and NGOs to the Effects of Agent Orange," examines how both governments have responded individually to Agent Orange issues, their joint efforts, and the role of NGOs in dealing with the problem. Chapter IV, "Legal Actions Taken in Relation to the Use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War," reviews the attempts by American and Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange to seek redress in the U.S. court system. Chapter V, "Conclusion," makes recommendations to resolve the medical and environmental problems caused by Agent Orange and discusses financial assistance and litigation as well as prospects for the future. |
