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Addressing the Lingering Effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam
During the Vietnam War, the Da Nang airport served as a significant storage site for Agent Orange, a herbicide that has since contaminated the area with dioxin. Efforts to remediate the damage included an extensive project that involved heating the contaminated soil, which was completed in 2018.
A major concern remains the Biên Hoà airbase, another hotspot for dioxin contamination. Local residents are exposed to high levels of the toxin through their diet, particularly from fish, chicken, and ducks. Storing barrels of Agent Orange at this base resulted in severe leakage, leading to widespread contamination of both soil and water, which continues to bioaccumulate in local wildlife. Although remediation efforts commenced in 2019, recent funding cuts from the Trump administration have jeopardized these initiatives, creating uncertainty about American support and expertise in managing the complex cleanup process.
Challenges in Preventing Future Ecocide
While the health ramifications of Agent Orange usage have received attention, the long-term ecological damage remains under-discussed. Today’s scientists have access to advanced technologies such as satellite imaging—which has been employed in places like Ukraine to monitor environmental crises. Yet, these tools cannot replace the necessity for on-the-ground assessments, which can prove hazardous in conflict zones.
The legal framework addressing such environmental destruction during conflicts is complex and often inadequate. The Geneva Conventions were revised in 1977 to prohibit significant and lasting harm to the environment, and an additional protocol was established in 1980 to restrict incendiary weapons. Nonetheless, incidents like the oil fires ignited by Iraq during the Gulf War and environmental degradation observed in Gaza, Ukraine, and Syria underscore the challenges of enforcing compliance with international laws designed to protect the environment during armed conflict.
An international movement is advocating for the inclusion of ecocide as a prosecutable crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, placing it alongside genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and acts of aggression. Some nations have started to enact their own ecocide legislation; Vietnam notably recognized the destruction of the environment as a crime against humanity in its penal code. However, this has not led to any prosecutions, despite significant pollution events occurring in the country. Similarly, both Russia and Ukraine have established ecocide laws, yet they have failed to prevent environmental damage during ongoing conflicts.
Important Lessons Moving Forward
The legacy of the Vietnam War illustrates the necessity of addressing ecological consequences during and after armed conflict to avert long-term repercussions. A critical factor in this endeavor will be maintaining the political resolve required to recognize and rectify these impacts, ensuring that history does not repeat itself.
Pamela McElwee, Professor of Human Ecology, Rutgers University. This article has been adapted from The Conversation. You can read the original article.
Source
arstechnica.com