The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA)

[mhbrownstein]

How the US continues to abuse the Vietnamese:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/agentorange032102.cfm

Monsanto's Agent Orange:
The Persistent Ghost from the Vietnam War

Meryl Nass, MD

Organic Consumers Association

Agent Orange: 2002

US and Vietnamese government scientists and international experts met
last week in Hanoi to discuss the effects of the "last significant
ghost" of the Vietnam War: Agent Orange.

Vietnam wants US help performing research and obtaining compensation.
It blames Agent Orange for tens of thousands of birth defects. The US
and Vietnam did sign an agreement during the meeting to carry out
joint research studies. But US ambassador Raymond Burghardt noted that
developing research studies "that are definitive and address the
underlying causes of disease in Vietnam" will be a "difficult task."

Reporting on the conference, Reuters pointed out, "Observers say
conclusive research could have far-reaching and expensive consequences
in terms of compensation claims for the US and Agent Orange makers,
Dow Chemical and Monsanto."

However, the US seems to think it has an ace in the hole. The US
embassy made clear, at the time of the conference, that "US-Vietnam
relations were normalized in 1995 after Vietnam dropped claims of war
reparations/compensation. At the time of normalization, neither
compensation nor reparations were granted or contemplated for the
future."

And, anyway, the US government has a fallback position. "Washington
argues there is no hard evidence showing the defoliant caused specific
illness," Reuters reported last week. And US government scientists
chimed in that any linkages to birth defects "would take many more
years to prove."

[debwood.94]

In a recent study, Chinese researchers found small pieces of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the blood and organs of humans who eat rice.  They showed that this genetic material will bind to proteins in human liver cells and influence the uptake of cholesterol from the blood.  The discovery, writes The Atlantic, “threatens to blast a major hole in Monsanto’s claim that ‘substantial equivalence’ means no safety testing is needed.  But researchers found that DNA can code for microRNA, which can, in fact, be hazardous.”

Last year, biotech engineers began modifying rice with a human blood protein called human serum albumin (HAS).

http://foodfreedomgroup.com/2012/05/22/fda-okays-gmo-carrot-for-gaucher/

[mhbrownstein]

Are we in danger from eating GMO rice?

http://www.nature.com/cr/journal/v22/n1/full/cr2011158a.html

In the present study, we were surprised to detect exogenous plant miRNAs in the serum and plasma of human and animals. Over half of plant miRNAs detected in serum and plasma are present in MVs. Further in vitro and in vivo analysis demonstrated for the first time that food-derived exogenous plant MIR168a can pass through the mouse gastrointestinal (GI) track and enter the circulation and various organs especially the liver where it cross-kingdomly regulates mouse LDLRAP1 protein expression and physiological condition.

Our results clearly demonstrate that exogenous plant mature miRNAs in food can pass through the GI tract and be transferred into the bloodstream and tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating that nucleotides with complete functional structure are resistant to digestion in the GI tract and can be delivered to other tissues.

[mhbrownstein]

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/01/the-very-real-danger-of-genetically-modified-foods/251051/

The Very Real Danger of Genetically Modified Foods
by  Ari LeVaux

Chinese researchers have found small pieces of rice ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the blood and organs of humans who eat rice. The Nanjing University-based team showed that this genetic material will bind to receptors in human liver cells and influence the uptake of cholesterol from the blood.

The type of RNA in question is called microRNA (abbreviated to miRNA) due to its small size. MiRNAs have been studied extensively since their discovery ten years ago, and have been implicated as players in several human diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes. They usually function by turning down or shutting down certain genes. The Chinese research provides the first in vivo example of ingested plant miRNA surviving digestion and influencing human cell function in this way.

Should the research survive scientific scrutiny -- a serious hurdle -- it could prove a game changer in many fields. It would mean that we're eating not just vitamins, protein, and fuel, but gene regulators as well.

That knowledge could deepen our understanding of many fields, including cross-species communication, co-evolution, and predator-prey relationships. It could illuminate new mechanisms for some metabolic disorders and perhaps explain how some herbal and modern medicines function.

[sarahjean]

Here's some more from the article about rice and the transfer of DNA:

Previous studies have reported that the transfer of genetic material from one species to another may modulate the cellular functions of the recipient species50,51. Such examples include human miRNAs targeting viral genes50 and the translocation of host plant mRNAs into dodder (a parasitic plant)51. However, to our knowledge, it was still unknown whether plant miRNAs could enter mammals and modulate mammalian cell functions. By illustrating that plant miRNAs, such as MIR168a, can be delivered into animal serum and tissues through food intake and digestion and that exogenous MIR168a can target mammalian liver-specific LDLRAP1 in vitro and in vivo, the present study significantly extends our understanding of the role of miRNAs. With their robust stability and highly conserved sequences, secretory miRNAs can act not only in a cross-species, but also a cross-kingdom fashion. In this sense, miRNAs may represent a novel class of universal modulators that play an important role in mediating animal-plant interactions at the molecular level. Like vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients derived from food sources, plant miRNAs may serve as a novel functional component of food and make a critical contribution to maintaining and shaping animal body structure and function. Extending from this concept, the intake of certain plant miRNAs generation after generation through a particular food source may leave an imprint on the genetic map of the human race. In conclusion, the discovery of plant miRNAs and their roles in the biology of mammalian cells and animal organs represents the first evidence of cross-kingdom transfer of functionally active miRNAs and opens a new avenue to explore miRNA-mediated animal-plant interactions.

http://www.nature.com/cr/journal/v22/n1/full/cr2011158a.html

[m.lapin]

"In a recent study, Chinese researchers found small pieces of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the blood and organs of humans who eat rice.  They showed that this genetic material will bind to proteins in human liver cells and influence the uptake of cholesterol from the blood.  The discovery, writes The Atlantic, “threatens to blast a major hole in Monsanto’s claim that ‘substantial equivalence’ means no safety testing is needed.  But researchers found that DNA can code for microRNA, which can, in fact, be hazardous.”

"Last year, biotech engineers began (http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/squeeze-this-rice-and-it-drips-blood/) modifying rice with a human blood protein called human serum albumin (HAS)."

http://foodfreedomgroup.com/2012/05/22/fda-okays-gmo-carrot-for-gaucher/

"Trong một nghiên cứu gần đây, các nhà nghiên cứu Trung Quốc đã tìm thấy những mảnh nhỏ  axit ribonucleic (RNA) trong máu và các cơ quan của người, những người ăn các sản phẩm từ lúa, gạo. Họ đã chỉ ra  rằng vật liệu di truyền này sẽ liên kết với protein trong các tế bào gan người và ảnh hưởng đến sự hấp thu cholesterol từ máu. Phát hiện này, Tờ Atlantic ví như một mối đe dọa tạo ra lỗ hổng lớn trong các tuyên bố của Monsanto về " substaintial equivalence"- "tương đương cơ bản" có nghĩa là  thử nghiệm an toàn là không cần thiết. Tuy nhiên, các nhà nghiên cứu tìm thấy rằng DNA có thể mã hóa microRNA, cái mà có thể trên thực tế, là nguy hiểm. "
 
"Năm ngoái, các kỹ sư công nghệ sinh học đã bắt đầu biến đổi gạo với một protein máu người được gọi là huyết thanh albumin (HAS)."

Translated by Nhu Trang Pham

[kayjay]

Herbicide Used in Argentina Could Cause Birth Defects
The herbicide used on genetically modified soy – Argentina’s main crop – causes brain, intestinal and heart defects in fetuses, according to the results of a scientific investigation.

Thuốc diệt cỏ được sử dụng ở Argentina có thể gây dị tật bẩm sinh
Các loại thuốc diệt cỏ được sử dụng trên đậu nành biến đổi gen - cây trồng chính của Argentina - nguyên nhân gây ra khuyết tật não, ruột và tim ở thai nhi, theo kết quả của một cuộc điều tra khoa học.

(Thuốc Roundup do Mónanto sản xuất là loại thuốc diệt cỏ chính - MH Brownstein)
 
BUENOS AIRES - thuốc diệt cỏ được sử dụng trên đậu nành biến đổi gen - cây trồng chính của Argentina - có thể gây ra khuyết tật não, ruột và tim trong thai nhi, theo kết quả một cuộc điều tra khoa học công bố hôm thứ Hai.
Mặc dù nghiên cứu "sử dụng phôi động vật lưỡng cư," nhưng các kết quả "hoàn toàn có thể so sánh được với những gì sẽ xảy ra trong sự phát triển của một phôi thai con người," giáo sư phôi học Andres Carrasco, một trong những tác giả của nghiên cứu này đã nói.
 
"Điều đáng chú ý là có những nghiên cứu về phôi nào trên thế giới ở các cấp độ  và không có nơi nào tiêm Glyphosate vào trong phôi" phát biểu của các nhà nghiên cứu thuộc Hội đồng nghiên cứu khoa học quốc gia giám đốc phòng thí nghiệm phân tử Phôi.
 
Các liều thuốc diệt cỏ được sử dụng trong nghiên cứu này "thấp hơn nhiều so với mức được sử dụng trong khử trùng xử lý đất," và như vậy tình hình "nghiêm trọng hơn nhiều" theo như nghiên cứu cho thấy vì" thuốc diệt cỏ glyphosate không phân hủy ", Carrasco cảnh báo.

Translated by Nhu Trang Pham

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=331718&CategoryId=14093

BUENOS AIRES – The herbicide used on genetically modified soy – Argentina’s main crop – could cause brain, intestinal and heart defects in fetuses, according to the results of a scientific investigation released Monday.

Although the study “used amphibian embryos,” the results “are completely comparable to what would happen in the development of a human embryo,” embryology professor Andres Carrasco, one of the study’s authors, told Efe.

“The noteworthy thing is that there are no studies of embryos on the world level and none where glyphosate is injected into embryos,” said the researcher with the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research and director of the Molecular Embryology Laboratory.

The doses of herbicide used in the study “were much lower than the levels used in the fumigations,” and so the situation “is much more serious” that the study suggests because “glyphosate does not degrade,” Carrasco warned.

[bobo]

Why would Vietnam even consider a contract with Monsanto?

The box below tells exactly why they should not give anytriung to them at all--until--and even then I believe they shouldn't--they goive all of the victims compensation.

http://warlegacies.org/Lawsuit.htm

http://warlegacies.org/Vietnamese.htm

[bobo]

Important link--and there are parts of this that are translated into Viewtnamese:

http://projectagentorange.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=11.msg1320#msg1320

[bobo]

The Action Plan to clean up Agent Orange in Viet Nam:

English--http://www.aspeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/content/docs/advocacy%20and%20exchange%20program%20on%20agent%20orange/2011-7-19USVietnamDialogueGroupFirstYearReport2010-2011.pdf

Vietnamese--http://www.aspeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/content/docs/advocacy%20and%20exchange%20program%20on%20agent%20orange/2011-7-29USVietnamDialogueGroupFirstYearReport2010-2011%28VN%29.pdf

Second year report--http://www.aspeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/content/docs/agent-orange/2012-5-30DialogueGroup2ndYearReportwithFocusonUSAIDComprehensivePlan.pdf

http://projectagentorange.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=11.msg1320#msg1320

[mhbrownstein]

From the Agent Orange Legacy Project: Children of Viet Nam Veterans--

Roundup contains a new chemical ingredient which is an herbicide, glyphosate.  Studies of glyphosate have found it to cause birth defects.  Since farmers have introduced Round up ready crops they have over-sprayed their fields which have produced super weeds.  These super weeds are immune to the Roundup and its main ingredient glyphosate.  To resolve this problem 2,4 -D is being re-introduced to fight these super weeds.  2,4 – D is an herbicide and part of the Agent Orange formula.

Roundup contains an ingredient known as 'Agent Blue'. 'Agent Blue' was used in Vietnam and was known to be one of the 'Rainbow Herbicides'. Federal regulations that used to monitor acceptable thresholds of human exposure to 'Agent Blue' no longer exist.

[sarahjean]

From the Agent Orange Legacy Project: Children of Viet Nam Veterans--

A video worth watching--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM_w0ZBtxps by Masako Sakata

[sarahjean]

Moved to take up film making after the death of her husband, an American veteran whose cancer was likely caused by exposure to the herbicide during the Vietnam War, Masako Sakata gracefully weaves her husband's story—and her wrenching loss—with the ongoing impact of Agent Orange on Vietnamese families with disabled children. The Japanese director might have been inspired to embark on a personal journey of discovery and healing, but her revealing, openhearted 2007 documentary speaks to all of us.

This clip takes place in an underprivileged village in Quanh Tri province, a mountainous area that received as much spraying as any area of Vietnam during the war, two mothers struggle to care for their disabled children.

Please watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzQnraY85fw

[sarahjean]

Important video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Sr2HasdSU

[BobbyS]

Roundup contains an ingredient known as 'Agent Blue'. 'Agent Blue' was used in Vietnam and was known to be one of the 'Rainbow Herbicides'. United States Federal regulations that used to monitor acceptable thresholds of human exposure to 'Agent Blue' no longer exist.