US court ruling on Monsanto gives hope to Vietnam’s AO lawsuit
The recent ruling of a court in California, the US, on the link between weedkiller produced by Monsanto and cancer, has sparked hope for the lawsuit against the same company launched by Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.
Hanoi (VNA) – The recent ruling of a court inCalifornia, the US, on the link between weedkiller produced by Monsanto andcancer, has sparked hope for the lawsuit against the same company launched byVietnamese victims of Agent Orange.
After a month-long trial, the US jury determined Monsanto’sRoundup weedkiller caused cancer for Dewayne Johnson, a 46-year-old formergroundskeeper, and that the corporation failed to warn him of the healthhazards from exposure.
The US chemical group has for long been associated with theAgent Orange issue in Vietnam. It was one of the main suppliers of more than 80million litres of herbicides that US troops sprayed over southern Vietnam from1961-1971. Of the volume, 44 million litres were AO, containing nearly 370kilograms of dioxin.
Around 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed to the toxicchemical. As a consequence of exposure, many of the victims have died ofnumerous diseases, while millions of their descendants are living withdeformities and diseases due to the chemical’s effects.
In 2004, Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims filed a lawsuitagainst 37 US firms, including Monsanto, for producing the chemical toxinssprayed by the US army. In 2009, an international court opened in France todeal with the AO matter and Vietnamese victims. However, both the US Governmentand sued companies refused to appear.
On April 18, 2017, The Monsanto Tribunal in The Hague, theNetherlands found Monsanto is guilty of ecocide, which has left long-termconsequences on the ecosystem of various nations, including Vietnam, after sixmonths of investigation and two days of testimony. The US agrochemical giant,which specialises in manufacturing glyphosate – a broad-spectrum systemicherbicide (Roundup), rejected the ruling.
In an interview following the Roundup trial, the co-coordinatorof the US-based Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign MerleRatner said it was a historic verdict, which will have significant impacts onsimilar trials against Monsanto.
The fight would be long as Monsanto said it would appeal theverdict, she said but stressed that the ruling has greatly encouraged people whohave been standing up to seek justice for the victims of its products.
Ratner said she will continue campaigning tourge the US Government and Congress to adopt measures in support of AOconsequences alleviation in Vietnam, while pursuing legal procedures to make USchemical companies involved to accept their compensation duty.-VNA
Vietnamese – French Tran To Nga said she was not alone in the lawsuit against 26 US chemical firms to demand justice for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims.
The consequences of Agent Orange(AO) /dioxin, sprayed by US troops during the war in Vietnam, were highlighted in an article on the website ArgenPress of Argentina on September 4.
The Monsanto Tribunal has found Monsanto – an US multinational chemical firm – is guilty of ecocide, which has left long-term consequences on the ecosystem of various nations, including Vietnam.
Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang has stated that the US companies and Monsanto in particular need to hold responsibility for assisting efforts to recover from Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin.
Two parliamentarians from the Party of European Socialists namely Eric Andrieu and Marc Tarabella have announced that they will request the establishment of a commission of inquiry on the US chemical group Monsanto.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the agency’s centre for digital contents and communications (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the country’s goal of having the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning lifted.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
PM Chinh lauded the press’s historic role in the nation’s fight for independence and its ongoing process of national development, affirming that the Government always highly appreciates the close partnership and steadfast support of press agencies and journalists nationwide.
In recent decades, Vietnam’s mainstream media has become a reliable and persuasive channel for showcasing the nation’s development policies and achievements, especially in economic matters, according to a senior assistant editor at the Times of India.
A hub for sharing best practices, the event aims to forge solutions for financial sustainability, public media contracts, audience engagement, content innovation, and newsroom restructuring. It is also a moment for Vietnam’s media to accelerate its progress and figure out what the “revolutionary press” means in a new era.
From “Thanh nien”, Vietnam’s first revolutionary newspaper founded by Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) on June 21, 1925, the revolutionary press has remained devoted to its sacred missions -accompanying the nation, serving the Fatherland, and working for the people.
The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai–Da Nang route on June 2 has sparked a “tourism revolution” for Vietnam’s central coastal city. Da Nang is emerging as a top destination for high-end travelers, particularly from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said VNA has been a consistent and reliable partner in OANA, contributing actively to the regional media landscape through content sharing, coordination, and policy discussions. Their coverage of ASEAN and Indochina issues adds valuable perspectives. Bernama appreciates the collaboration with VNA.
In this era of global integration and digitalisation, the press must adopt modern multimedia models to not only meet increasing information and communication demands but also align with the broader socio-economic development of the country.
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
Running until June 21, the festival brings together more than 80 central and local media organisations, featuring nearly 130 exhibition booths that cover the full spectrum of national life, encompassing economy, politics, culture, society, defence, security, and foreign affairs.
As of June 17, Ca Mau province had achieved its target of supporting the construction and renovation of 4,400 homes, with a total budget of over 235 billion VND (about 9 million USD).
A man cares for victims of AO/dioxin (Photo: VNA) 
