The orange effect

Having lived in both Cape Town and New York, I am used to the sight of filthy street children and haggard homeless people. As a result, the large number of beggars here hasn’t had as great an effect on me as it has on some of my fellow travellers.

But I started to notice the difference between children trying to make money for schoolbooks and countless deformed men, women and children who are missing their legs, eyes, arms, skin. And then it sunk in that the cause of many of these physical defects lies in the American use of Agent Orange throughout the American War.

While conclusive research shows that the chemical is still today creating environmental chaos, poisoning the food chain and causing serious damage on human health, the U.S has arrogantly claimed that the chemical has had no long lasting effects and has refused to offer any kind of aid.

According to the BBC, children born in areas that were sprayed are:

· More than three times as likely to have cleft palates
· More than three times as likely to be mentally retarded
· More than three times as likely to have extra fingers or toes
· Nearly eight times as likely to suffer hernias

Whether the U.S continues to deny the effects of its chemical weapon, the realities of it are here walking the streets and tugging on our sleeves. They serve as heartwrenching reminders of the Vietnam/American war and the tragic effect it's had on this country.