The Vietnam association for victims of Agent Orange (VAVA)

I've been "wandering" on the Internet for a little while, finding no incentive to write anything academically...And my eyes accidentally were stuck on the line "Hoi nan nhan chat doc mau da cam" or The Vietnam association for victims of Agent Orange (VAVA). It recalled me back to the peaceful moments we had been spending with the children affected by dioxin at Friendship Village last week. I suddenly realize that I am breaking the promise to bring the photo of one little boy living there to his family (I am still keeping his family' address in my purse and I'd rather complete my promise soon, right? :)...The flow of thought leads me to the idea why not researching more about the VAVA so that I can accumulate more knowledge regarding the organization standing behind to support for the war's victims, know more about the process of struggling for justice and human' rights - one of the hottest issues in Vietnam and the whole world as well in the recent years. The research surelly will offer me a chance to have a deep look into one of the biggest NGO in Vietnam now and I am interested in working at VAVA, and maybe I'll work there in the future, who knows :)) All those things, together take me to the way of logging in Google and finding information as much as I can.

Concerning the establishment of VAVA, it should be better to grasp the basic understanding regarding the evil toxic namely Dioxin and the serious consequences following it. During the war in Vietnam, U.S military forces sprayed approximately 80 million liters of herbicides (most of which was Agent Orange) on Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and approximately 3 million Vietnamese people have become victims of Agent Orange. While chemical weapons used in past wars normally resulted in immediate death, this dioxin typically causes its victims to die gradually.With every passing year, there are a greater number of Agent Orange victims and their diseases become more serious.

In order to address the issues faced by its Agent Orange victims, Viet Nam needed an organization that was entrusted with more specialized tasks and functioned as their representative, working on the Agent Orange issues. This organization would also act as a center for educating & helping them in improving their daily lives, building mass support and conducting legal actions on their behalf. That's why VAVA was born on December 17th 2003.

Starting from a ten-member committee established at the founding meeting, VAVA presently owns 60,000 members, composed of 6 departments specializing in external relations, press and information, organization, advocacy, finance, science and administration. Also, VAVA is a self-supporting organization whose funds come mainly from private contributions. After five-years of activities, VAVA has received almost VND 62 billion from caring donors. Definitelyly, this amount is completely insufficient to meet the tremendous needs of our victims. Therefore, VAVA is unable to conduct the large scale and long-term projects that the victims require. VAVA has however played a key role in building housing and residential centers, providing medical treatment, loans for production, education and meeting other urgent needs of Agent Orange victims.

With the central role played by VAVA, the care afforded to Vietnamese Agent Orange victims has become more systematic. There has been stronger and more effective cooperation between health-care, scientific research and governmental policy making and implementation; more coordination between domestic and international support activities. Increasingly more rehabilitation centers have been set up in Viet Nam. Through VAVA and with mutual support in the fight for peace and justice, Vietnamese victims have maintained closer and closer relations with Agent Orange victims from South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, the United States & Canada.

Noticeably, one of VAVA's most important achievements thus far is the class-action lawsuit against the U.S chemical companies. The suit may not completely force the corporate perpetrators to pay compensation. Nevertheless, it can be said that what VAVA has achieved in the legal arena is significantly important. In the process of litigation, we have had a greater chance than expected to stop the U.S government from turning a deaf ear to the Agent Orange issue in Vietnam, as they did for the past decades. Despite US courts’ arbitrary dismissal of our case, this lawsuit has contributed greatly to the success of victims from many countries including the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada in gaining some compensation for their injuries. Whatever the outcome, our action will always remain as one of most significant legal struggles in the US and the world. It stands as an important foundation upon which humanity progresses toward justice, equality and peace for the future generations.

My imagination about The Manor...Unlucky me :(

This week, our UC class has a field research at The Manor, one of the most luxurious corner of Hanoi. I was extremely keen on this trip because looking at the the splendid and unique buildings is among my interests which leads my mind to the feeling of pride that Vietnam - my beloved family has gained much in the process of development, integration to keep abreast with time, I am so proud of that...Unfortunately, some stupid problems held me back and the lateness disappointed me :(( I actually had come 3 mins late that I couldn't join in this fascinating activity. Anyway, I know that I shouldn't sit here writing those non-senses, actions would be much better, right? :) Thus, I've been trying to research information regarding The Manor as much as I can. Searching on the Internet, reading my friends' entries, chatting and asking the people who had come there... I finally has got something that I find interesting about this outstanding place

The first wondering raised in my mind after researching is why the management group of The Manor, whose primary aim is to help residents access to a comfortable and peaceful living space, now turns out to bring them an atmosphere flooded with such intensive and strict regulations and restrictions like this. Unluckily did not I have a chance to witness the scenes when the guards there chased my friends, asking them out of their areas as many told me with a fully pressing mood b-). I myself find that it's not worth doing so, even if The Manor is privatized area or not. That's a place to live, not an isolated island where the outsiders are restricted to visit.

Secondly, in spite of occasionally being mentioned as a "self-contained" city within our capital, some complaint that The Manor is even lacking things requisite for normal life, saying foods. One of my friend told that she was so hungry that she had tried to seek something, just to satisfy her rumbling stomach but nothing was found, except for KFC, the thing that she never thought of eating before. Even the cafeteria labeling itself with a range of fast-food outside serves for nothing except coffee or fruit juices - so funny I think :)) Thoughtfully, more services should be offered here to residents to deserve with what they have paid for.

To the best of my knowledge, from the insiders' perspective, The Manor actually is not an ideal living space as ones used to expect. Last March, there was an dispute between the people living at The Manor and Bitexco - its investor, regarding the issue of the fees for looking after the residents' vehicles. The fees even reached 1.6 million VND/month for cars which was surprisingly high for Vietnamese people. One person living there commented her family had spent up to 4 billion VND to buy the house and her family with 2 cars and one motorbike now had to pay nearly 6 million/month, following the current fee level :|


The line of cars queuing in front of The Manor when they are not allowed to enter the buildings because the residents didn't accept an unusually high parking fees. (March, 2009)

Above are just some main points I suppose should be improved in the near future so that to make The Manor reflect its real values. Hopefully can we see some new changes for the next time visiting there, really really hope so :X

My upcoming plans

...So hard to start writing, esp. about the schedules I intend to do in the next 4 months because normally, I always set both short & long term plans as the targets for myself to strive, yet all have existed only in my mind, when I coil myself in bed, close my eyes and...set my plans b4 enjoying my dreams every night, not in such writing diaries like this :-<. Anyway, changing in such way is either interesting or useful, I suppose, cauz' you all now can know about my plans and likely that some comments or suggestions from you about things I should do to complete my goals can support me lots.

Last week, I began returning my studies in the university. The schedule forecasts busy days in the new school year. I have lots of things to do and I myself set up a plan for the first 4 months of the school year. The most important thing to me now is to well prepare and get good results for my studies in the classes. Coming to classes regularly with all excercise done are things I am supposed to do. I also have a part time job in the stock company, thus I need to balance the time of both studying and working.
Moreover, I would like to still have more free time to go outside and talk with my friends in spite of busy studying. I need to go outside or just simply take a rest at every weekend, for example. I sometimes have intention of hard work, therefore, it is essential for me to arrange time suitably.
In addtion to working and relaxing, I would like to change some things in my personality. Some people suggest that I should be more active in both outside and inside activities. I also find it important and vital for me not only for now but in the future as well. So, I wish to join more doings in active enviroment. Particularly, I intend to apply for the post of volunteer in some non- government organizations. In more detail, I will be joined as an assistant in “ Indoor Games” held in Hanoi and other provinces in the upcoming November.
It sounds a lots of things for me to do in the next 4 months. I wish to be well enough to do all things the best.

Michael Jackson' obituary

Before moving on, let's turn your speaker on and wallow in the velvety melody of "Heal the world"...




It has been nearly 2 months since the day our world no more has Michael Jackson (August 29th,1958 - June 25th, 2009). But whenever listening to the immortal melody of "Heal the world" or "We are the world", my heart seems to be transfixed, the feeling of loves and peacefulness just comes and occupies my mind. That's one of the reasons why I have chosen M.J for my writing. Moreover, he has been so famous that I am pretty sure that all of you have at least once listening to his wonderful and pure voice. Thus it would be nice if many people have the same feeling towards him as me, so that we can discuss and share more with each other.

Though I am not a "crazy" fan of M.J, he is always in my heart as the symbol of a humane and talented singer. The more I know about "the King of Pop", the more I admire and respect him. Formerly, as many people, I had thought that his skin turned into white because of his cosmetic surgeries, but in fact, he was like that because he got a disease called "Vitiligo" that made his skin fade into white. This is just a small story related to Jackson' personal life but it makes me think a lot. It turns out that many people as well as I have misunderstood about him. Jackson was also a normal person like us, just different in the way that he was a big star, "a person of public", so any small thing of his life can be woven into bad rumors. Nevertheless, ignoring all the stuff people have spread cruelly around him, M.J was always himself, living in just the way he was. "Be yourself", that's the big lesson I have learnt from him. In the world being fulled of lies, in my eyes however, M.J was the worst liar. Looking into his eyes, seeing he smiled, I can feel the trustfulness in his heart. Woa, it seems that I am idolizing M.J but it's true, let's try it, you would feel the same like me, I swear :)

Concerning M.J, it cannot be denied that he was one of the most talented singers in the world. I love him not only because of his talent but also of his strict and serious working attitude. In spite of being fatigued and stressful all the time, Jackson had devoted all of his life to the development of music. That makes me really move and I have talked to myself "Talented person like M.J still works very hard, so how a normal person like me can be lazy". In other words, M.J is one of the motivation and model for me to try harder in work and life, to set goals for myself and give it all to reach those targets. In this way, not only is Jackson a famous singer who brings me the beautiful melodies whenever I get stuck in life but he is also my "imaginary" friend who is always by my side and gives me encouragement to strive in life.

The final thing I can feel in our great star is his charity. During his time, M.J contributed a lot to help and support the poor, the unluckly children and many victims of HIV/AIDS. It is Jackson that was one of the first person who attracted the attention of the public to the awareness of HIV, the controversial issue at that time.

General speaking, an excellent artist, a hard-working person, a magnanimous heart, all contribute to make Michael a really big and admirable star, a good model for me and others to follow.

Hang Kid' autobiography

Welcome everyone to my new house!

Firstly, I'd like to say something about my personal life. My full name is Dao Thu Hang, meaning Moon in the Autumn. I was born in 1988, in a family having 3 people, so of course I am the only child of my parents ^^ That's why my character is somehow childlike and self-contained. Nevertheless, I have lots of relatives and cousins because my grandparents have up to 12 kids, 7 boys and 5 girls (woaa, can u imagine? I sometimes wonder how I would survive if I had 3 kids only :)) When I was a little girl, I had many cousins to play with, thus the feeling of lonliness of being the only child of my parents was not my concern. I was so mischievous as if I were a boy that my mom asked me to do something called "Ban kiem diem" in Vietnamese (how to say it in English :-?) and at least 2 "Ban kiem diem" had been made each week, so can u see how naughty I was now haha :))

However, as time goes by, everyone has grown up, gone to work and got married, and of course I am too. Occasionally, each time getting troubles, I just know to cry loudly, in my large and alone room, I feel life is so unfair with me because I have no shoulder to lean on when I am really in need. Sometimes I wish I had a brother or sister to play with and share with me everything in life because clearly, friends could not be always by my side whenever I feel stuck and sick of life. (So any one wants to become my brother or sister? :D. I am very eager with that :))

^^ No dream any more :D Come back to my current life. I am luckly enough to have a happy family with my wonderful parents who always respect my point and care about me, some close friends who encourage me a lot when I get troubles, a good part-time job as a financial analyst at a Security Company and now I have all of you to work and share with. Indeed, lots of my classmates say that they feel really regretful for not enrolling in this course. Honestly, I haven't had many chances to communicate and work directly with native speakers like some of you. Thus I strongly believe that I can accumulate lots of knowledge, ways of thinking and working after completing the course. That's my luck to be with you in this semester and hope that we will co-operate well with each other so that we all can reach our targets when finishing the course. Good luck to all of us ! ^^