THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 Chuck Palazzo Veterans For Peace Chapter 160 Hoa Binh, Viet Nam /20/20131

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 Brief Introduction to Veterans For Peace Brief Introduction to VFP Chapter 160 – Formed in Viet Nam in 2010 – Founded by 3 US Veterans: – Suel Jones – Chuck Searcy – Chuck Palazzo Brief Introduction to Chuck Palazzo Current Activities Working together with the AOWG and its members 6/20/20132

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 About Veterans For Peace Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars. 6/20/20133

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 Veterans For Peace Statement of Purpose We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work, with others To increase public awareness of the costs of war To restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons To seek justice for veterans and victims of war To abolish war as an instrument of national policy. To achieve these goals, members of Veterans For Peace pledge to use non-violent means and to maintain an organization that is both democratic and open with the understanding that all members are trusted to act in the best interests of the group for the larger purpose of world peace. 6/20/20134

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 History of Veterans For Peace VFP was founded in 1985 by 10 U.S. veterans in response to the global nuclear arms race and U.S. military interventions in Central America. It grew to more than 8,000 members in the buildup to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 with veteran and associate members in every U.S. state and several countries, with more than 120 chapters across the nation. In the last 26 years, VFP has led or participated in over 50 peace delegations to Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. We have collaborated with dozens of organizations and sponsored 1000’s of activities promoting peace in this country. We initiated the very successful weekly Arlington West Memorial at the Santa Monica Pier. Similar public displays to honor those killed in war have been replicated across the country. VFP has sponsored over a dozen major projects to heal the wounds of war, among them the Iraq Water Project (11 years) and Children of War Rescue Project which met the medical needs of more than 100 children during the Bosnian conflict. VFP holds a permanent Non-Governmental Organization seat at the United Nations. It is also the first military veterans’ organization invited to be a member of the International Peace Bureau based in Geneva, Switzerland. Today, over 5,000 members remain actively engaged in campaigns to help bring about a clearer understanding of the cost of war, in particular our occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, to bring clean water to Iraq, to support veterans of the Iraq war, to close the School of the Americas and to counter military recruitment efforts in schools. 6/20/20135

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 Veterans For Peace, Chapter 160, Hoa Binh, Viet Nam Founded in 2010 The first International Chapter of VFP Membership consists of 30 (currently) veterans, family members, activists and friends from around the globe. 30% of our membership live and work either full or part- time in Viet Nam. 6/20/20136

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 Chuck Palazzo A US Veteran who lives and works in Da Nang, Viet Nam Participated in combat operations with the US Marines in 1970 – 1971 in Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Tri, and Hue Provinces Member of Veterans For Peace (VFP) and Vietnam Veterans Against The War (VVAW) Founding member of VFP Chapter 160 and the Agent Orange Action Group Honorary member of DAVA (Da Nang Association For Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin) 6/20/20137

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 Current Activities Annual Spring Tour of Viet Nam for returning veterans, their family members and friends – Peace and Reconciliation – Healing the wounds of war – Closer alliances with the Viet Nam Veterans, VAVA, DAVA, Project Renew, Tu Du Hospital, Hearts For Hue and other INGO and GO’s. – Raise cash for various donations which is decided by tour group members. 6/20/20138

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 Current Activities Raising awareness and cash donations for the victims of the remnants of the American War – specifically, the Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange and UXO (unexploded ordinance). Membership drive and recruitment. Planning for the 2014 Spring Tour. 6/20/20139

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 Working together with the AOWG and its members Our mission, to foster peace and reconciliation AND assistance and raise awareness of the Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange and UXO. Whom and how to partner with members of the AOWG? – Joint projects – Tour participation – Arrange introductions to other organizations with the greatest needs – Help facilitate identification and assistance of the Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange and UXO 6/20/201310

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 Links to our various websites and Facebook pages: /20/201311

THE AGENT ORANGE WORKING GROUP MEETING Thursday, 20th June 2013 Q&A Chuck Palazzo Veterans For Peace Chapter 160 Hoa Binh, Viet Nam /20/201312