Letter to Monsanto
Seeking justice for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange

Mr Hugh Grant Chairman, President & CEO Monsanto Company St 
Louis, USA

Dear Mr Grant,

You were born just three years before the American forces, in 
1961, began the spraying of chemicals in areas of South Vietnam, 
and 14 years of age when the spraying ended in 1972.

In those 11 years, while you were a growing lad and going to 
school, the chemicals that Monsanto, Dow and other companies 
manufactured, were being used to destroy the forests, contaminate 
the land, lakes, streams and rivers of South Vietnam.

But, Mr Grant, a bigger crime than the above were the agonising 
deaths the chemicals caused to the many thousands of innocent 
Vietnamese, including youngsters like yourself who would have 
liked to have reached the age of 14.

You would not have known as a lad of 14 years, that the company 
you were to join in 1981, nine years after the spraying ended, 
had caused the deaths of so many Vietnamese and left so many more 
suffering from various illnesses and disabilities. But Mr Grant, 
you surely would and should have known in 1981. Certainly, in 
1984 you knew for in that year, American Vietnam Veterans took 
your company and others to court in New York for the terrible 
damage Agent Orange had done to them and their families.

The Judge in his ruling said that Monsanto would pay a greater 
percentage of the settlement of $180 million, than the other 
chemical companies. And today Mr Grant, you hold the top three 
positions in Monsanto.

In January of this year, another lawsuit against your company and 
others began, brought by Vietnamese, seriously ill through Agent 
Orange. Behind them, are the three million Vietnamese also 
seriously affected by the chemicals your company manufactured.

In my visits to Vietnam I have seen and met with many victims of 
Agent Orange. I have also seen the effects on their family.

This year 2004, 32 years after the spraying stopped, I met 
children from 10 months, to adults of 25 years, ill and with 
disabilities that are painful to witness, let alone suffer from. 
And caused, Mr Grant, by the chemicals manufactured by your 
company.

At 14 years of age you may not have been aware of the Vietnam 
War, let alone the damage caused by chemical weapons. But today 
in Vietnam the legacy left by your chemicals and others can still 
be seen in the people and the land.

Let me make a suggestion to you. In Ho Chi Minh City, there is 
the Tu Du Hospital. I have been there a few times and seen some 
of the young children with disabilities from Agent Orange.

Also in Ho Chi Minh City, on the 14th floor of Sun Wah Tower, is 
an office of Monsanto. I suggest that you ask the 
director/manager of your office to request a visit to Tu Du 
Hospital, ask to see the special room and to see the wards where 
the children affected by your chemicals can be seen.

I would be interested to receive the comments of your office 
director/manager. I am also very interested to hear what defence 
your company and the others will make in court.

At the date of this letter, in an online petition 610,000 people 
in many countries have signed a petition calling for Justice for 
Victims of Agent Orange, and for compensation to be paid.

The text of the petition and their signatures can be seen 
at: http://petitiononline.com/AOVN/

Let me end by making an appeal to you. Monsanto as the leading 
company in the lawsuit can take a lead that hopefully the other 
companies involved in the lawsuit would follow.

* Accept the responsibilities caused by the chemicals your 
company manufactured, and the US Government used in their war on 
Vietnam.

* Make a commitment to pay compensation to the present and future 
victims of Agent Orange etc, and their families.

* Agree to establish research facilities in Vietnam to study and 
to seek a solution to the long-term effects of Agent Orange and 
the other chemicals used.

* Agree to fund the establishment of clinics in agreed areas of 
Vietnam.

* Agree to help towards the clean-up of the contaminated areas 
(hotspots) in South Vietnam.

Yours sincerely,
Len Aldis
Secretary of Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society