July 2013 news and events updates relating to Vietnamese at home and in the diaspora.
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Viet Kieu in the news
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An infant tragically dies in a family car. [Photo: Frank Couch]
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A reflection on how the Vietnam War could have been shortened. [Photo: AP]
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Military scientists had known that the Agent Orange herbicides shipped to Vietnam were contaminated with dioxin and would harm human health. [Photo: AP]
• California State University Fullerton will launch a program offering classes for a bachelor’s degree in Vietnamese language and culture, as well as training teachers to teach the Vietnamese language.
• An extortion attempt revealed details of a bizarre plot involving Vietnamese Americans.
News about Vietnam
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Vietnam’s only billionaire opens a mega mall in Hanoi. [Photo: Justin Mott]
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Excessive exploitation of rivers and lakes in Vietnam has lowered the down water levels and polluted water resources of local communities.
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U.S. President Obama and with the president of Vietnam, Truong Tan Sang, pledged to deepen trade and military ties. [BBC][Photo: Charles Dharapak/AP]
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As the U.S. beds with the poliburos and tries to maximize profits in Vietnam, Vietnamese pro-democracy activists “no longer look to the United States as their major supporter.”
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Vietnam’s lawmakers are discussing expanding LBGT rights.
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The BBC’s reports on a strategy at repairing the damage caused by Agent Orange.
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Four decades later, Agent Orange continues to poison the land in Vietnam and the Vietnamese people. [Photo: Tish Wells/MCT]
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Many parents of Agent Orange victims worry about their care. [Photo: Tish Wells/MCT]
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Dissident Nguyen Van Hai is in a “very weak state” as he continues his hunger strike in prison.
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In Vietnam, 15-17% of its the population have hepatitis B or C.
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McDonald’s will open its first branch in Vietnam. This can only portend that more unhealthy food will be introduced into the Vietnamese diet. [Photo: Jeff Roberson/AP]
Other News
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An American internment camp for people of Japanese ancestry was discovered deep in the mountains of northern Idaho.
• I’m including this article because I know some of you have been itching to know this bit of information.
Special thanks to Viet Thanh Nguyen for providing many of the news items.
Peace!
RP
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