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Agent Orange Shorts

By VVAW

ARMY USE IN '80

Demonstrating its unconcern about the health of both civilian and military personnel, the U.S. Army spread 2,4,5-T (partially banned by the Environmental Protection Agency and the carrier of deadly dioxin as used in Agent Orange throughout Vietnam) at Fort Greely and Allen Air Force Base in Alaska in April and May of 1980. As usual, tromping on its own dick, the Army was spraying the defoliant just a month or so after their Defense Department spokesman testified no such defoliant had been used since 1971.

Caught in a bit of bind the Army compounded its problems by stating that they would isolate the sprayed area by restricting public access. But further investigation showed 2,4,5-T had been sprayed over the source of the water supply of much of the adjacent area.

The military justified its spraying by noting that the ban on spraying by the Environmental Protection Agency "does not expressly grant...authority over actions of federal agencies..."

WIS PROGRAM

Wisconsin's Agent Orange Information Program recently was funded for another year. The program was supposed to end in June, 1981, but calls from Vietnam and other vets from around the State squeezed the necessary $66,000 out of the State Legislature. Up to this point, Ron Lauren, the Vietnam vet in charge of the program, has headed up a worthwhile program.

A total of 68,000 pieces of mail were sent out with over a 42% return. Over 21,000 vets responded with over 67% declaring they had definite exposure to defoliants and another 31% think they had exposure. The new year's program will include more mailing and a program to include a doctor's education program to travel around the Sate.

"NOT HARMFUL"?

The American Council on Science and Health has announced that Agent Orange is "not hazardous to people." "When used properly," said a spokesperson for the Council, "it is a very useful chemical." Useful, as vets know, for killing off plants, messing up kids.

The Council, which says it gets no money from the chemical companies, has consistently made findings that the chemical companies have found delightful. This latest discovery was released while Dow Chemical, the major manufacturer of Agent Orange, is in negotiations with the Environmental Protection Agency concerning a total ban on use of their product.