Ha Noi (VNA) - "I want to do something specific for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims," said an American, member of an international team caring for those who are suffering in Viet Nam, in an interview with our staff reporters.

Arriving in Viet Nam four years ago, John Berlow has drawn much public attention because of his project to grow organic vegetables at Friendship Village in Ha Noi, which takes care of Vietnamese AO-afflicted children.

By that simple but noble action, he wishes to contribute to healing the wounds left over from the war and show his support for Vietnamese AO victims who are taking legal action against those American chemical companies that produced the toxin.

Berlow recalled: "I was active in the antiwar movement in the US in the 1960s. In 1969, I was dismissed from Harvard University at the end of my second year for antiwar activities. I was arrested many times. I always opposed the US presence in Viet Nam and its actions against other countries and peoples. In 2000, I came here.

At first I worked as an English teacher. At one point, I visited Friendship Village and the visit made a great impression on me. About a year ago, I decided to raise money to promote organic agriculture. Then I thought, "why don't I create an organic vegetable garden at the village? Who deserves chemical-free food more than AO victims? Organic agriculture is, in a sense, the exact opposite of AO. So, I have been coordinating with the village to build the garden and I am planning the renovation of an orchard and two fish ponds there. In the future, I hope to do similar projects elsewhere in Viet Nam.

"Speaking personally, I love to spend time in unspoiled nature and I am sorry to see so much pollution in the world. "I am trying to bring something positive into the village and even into my own life - in this case, vegetables gardens and orchards that work in harmony with nature and which benefit both gardeners and those who eat the produce. "There is not a link between organic farm produce and AO/dioxin but a sharp contrast. Organic vegetables are free from herbicides and pesticides. AO is a herbicide. The US used an inferior grade of it and sprayed it repeatedly at high concentrations. Their express aim was to destroy the environment, specifically forests and rice crops which sheltered and fed those fighting against US domination - an aim which is clearly a war crime. The effects went far beyond these already malevolent aims - destroying the health and happiness of tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands or even millions of Vietnamese people. In a small way, I hope the project I have started will contribute to the health and happiness of AO victims."

On his feelings about the sufferings of AO-afflicted children, Berlow said, "I can't help but regret their suffering and feel outrage at the fact that they have been harmed by a war that ended 30 years ago. When I talk or play with children there, I have the feeling of interacting with full human beings. I do not think their victimhood should be viewed as their defining characteristic. I myself do not view them that way. I do not think they view themselves that way. In fact, the children at Friendship Village are open-hearted and eager to make contact with me, with other visitors and with the outside world. They should be assisted, have means and opportunity to make their lives as rich and as happy as possible.

"The fact that the producers of AO settled out of court with American veterans exposed to AO but have done nothing to help victims of AO here is very sad and very unfair, although it does not surprise me. I have read internal documents from the companies which show they were aware of the damage to human beings, not only of the damage to forests and crops (the destruction of which was itself a war crime). "I would like the international community to remember that the US carried an ecocidal and genocidal war in Viet Nam. And I deeply wish that future generations will renounce chemical and any other warfare. 'In my opinion, these companies should compensate the victims and fund decontamination of the land even if it exhausts all their resources. I hope that it is possible for the victims to receive a fair trial and to be generously compensated.