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Monsanto & Agent Orange (Monsanto (1940: A firm who is involved in…
Monsanto & Agent Orange
Agent Orange
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Used in Operation Ranch Hand to remove forest cover, destroying crops and clear vegetation from perimeters of US bases
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Veterans reported to have skin rashes, cancer, psychological symptoms, birth defects, and other health problems
Exposures occurred when the chemicals were breathed in, ingested in contaminated food or drink, or absorbed through skin including eyes
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Monsanto
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1965-1969: former Monsanto was the main supplier of AO out of the 9 manufacturers during the
Vietnam War
1978: Monsanto sponsored several studies of long range health effects of the workers exposed to
dioxin
1979: Freight train derailment resulting in spillage of 19000 galons of a Monsanto chlorophenol
intermediate
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Internal memos showed that company was aware of the problem it has on the workers but tried to cover it up
Firm knew the safety precaution to reduce level of dioxins but didn't adhere to it to save cost and save time
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Stakeholders (Before)
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US govt
(Very high) Authorized AO and managed requirements and usage of AO. 1. US knew of the toxicity level of AO
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US army
(high) Operation Ranch Hand. 1)Excess spraying, 6 to 25 times. 2) Large amounts of AO were dumped before retreating to US
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Stakeholders (After)
Monsanto
(High). 1. Law suits 2) Introduced GM food to vietnam, use of toxic killers
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GREETS
Globalisation
Because of globalisation, it has led to US involvement in the vietnam war which brought about the AO
Monsanto's product dominates market around the world, particularly US GM food market
Firm now produces G.M. seeds for soybeans, corn, canola and cottom.
Regulations
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Early 1990s, federal govt directed the institute of medicine which is known as health and medicine division of the nation academics, to issue reports every 2 years on the health effects of AO
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Ethnics
US military using AO to clear forest as a war strategy? knowing that herbicides has detrimental effects, it was not their concern because it was used on their enemy
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Environment
Ecological and intergenerational effects. AO was sprayed 72 million litres in vietnam . 5 million acres of forest destroyed and 500,000 acres of crops was damaged. Over 1 million vietnamese exposed to spraying
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Societal expectations
Provide benefits to victims of AO in terms of financial, medical and social benefits
Activist wanted to stop Monsanto to stop producing G.M. products as it contains harmful chemicals in their product
Impacts
Business
US veterns' AO lawsuit against Monsanto - Settlement of payout of $180 million to 291,000 people, but Monsanto refused to accept liability (1984)
2004, class action lawsuit by Vietnamese Association of Victims of AO against Monsanto
Settlement causing Monsanto to pay $93 million to residents of Nitro, West Virginia for poisoning citizens with AO
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Monsanto tried to weed out competitors to their GM seeds by issuing threats to the farming community and acquiring conventional-seed companies protecting their patents
Government
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VA presumes that Veterans were expose to AO or other herbicides if they were served:
1) In Vietnam anytime between January 9, 1962 and May
7, 1975, including brief visits ashore or service aboard
a ship that operated on the inland waterways of
Vietnam
2) In or near the Korean demilitarized zone anytime
between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971
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Vietnamese government criticised for being too nice to
Monsanto by granting licence to sell GM corn varieties
Society
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Birth defects. Exposure to Agent Orange during the war or consumption of
dioxin-contaminated food and water
GM seeds
More cost effective option for farmers
• Repercussions on the environment where farmers excessively
spray herbicides