The U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin, which was "formally established in 2007 as an initiative of prominent private citizens, scientists and policy-makers," has unveiled a comprehensive plan to resolve the lingering effects of the toxic defoliant, used by American forces during the Vietnam War.
According to NPR's Jackie Northam, the blue-ribbon panel, which was chaired by Walter Isaacson, the president and CEO of The Aspen Institute, and Amb. Ngo Quang Xuan, called for the cleanup of chemicals, with the help of governments, businesses and foundations.
Their plan calls for cleaning contaminated soils, repairing damaged ecosystems, and providing better services for people affected by the chemicals.
"Hot spots" still exist at former U.S. military installations, where Agent Orange and Dioxin were stored, handled and spilled. During the war, U.S. forces sprayed millions of gallons of toxic chemicals over a quarter of South Vietnam.
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