An area of dioxin-contaminated land in Da Nang Airport. (Source: AFP)
New York (VNA) – “Chau, Beyond The Lines”, a documentary film featuring the consequence of Orange/Dioxin in Vietnam was screened in New York on December 11, helping American nationals get insights into the pain of Vietnamese AO victims.
The 34-minute film directed by Courtney Marsh, tells about about Le Minh Chau, a 24-year-old Vietnamese man with disabilities caused by Agent Orange, who pursues his dream of becoming a painter.
Produced from 2007-2014, the documentary has been nominated for the Best Documentary Short Film at the Oscar 2016 along with nine other entries. It was also honoured at the 2015 Austin Film Festival and the US Film Festival in 2015. According to Marsh, she planned to make a film on the AO topic from 2007 when she came to Vietnam for her practice tour of documentary making.
She said she met Chau in Hoa Binh Village in Ho Chi Minh City, which shelters children with disabilities as after- effects of the chemical sprayed by US troops during the war , and immediately after that she decided to do the film.
Marsh said h๊er film is a global story, expressꦚing her hope that the film will help promote support for Vietnamese AO victims.
After the screening, audiences signed in an open letter prepared by the Ford Foundation's Special Initiative on AO / Dioxin of the US, which will be addressed to the US Congress to call for the cleanup of Agent Orange in Vietnam.
About 80 million litres of toxic chemicals, mainly Agent Orange containing dioxin, were sprayed over the south of Vietnam during the war in Vietnam.
Nearly 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to dioxin and about three million suffer from resulting health problems until today.-VNꦓA
A Singaporean entrepreneur has donated a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner to the Da Nang Hospital in Da Nang city to assist with the examination and treatment of local AO/ doxin victims.
To seek justice for Vietnamese AO victims, Tran To Nga, a 73 year old woman of French nationality, has sued 26 American chemicals companies which had supplied chemicals for US troops in Vietnam war.
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) held a memorial service on December 3 for the Secretary of the British – Vietnam Friendship Society (BVFS), Len Aldis who passed away.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
The new halal cooperation arrangement will streamline halal certification and product assurance processes, making it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the Indonesian market.
An area of dioxin-contaminated land in Da Nang Airport. (Source: AFP)
