A photo exhibition of Vietnamese disabled teenagers who are victims of Agent Orange opened in a gallery of the Maison du Vietnam (House of Vietnam) in Paris on Dec 6. The exhibition, the first of its kind, titled “Our Life and Dreams” gathered photos taken by AO children aging from 16 to 20. It is organized by the Flowers of Hope Association under supports by Kodak Film Company. The event was initiated by Australian photographer Katherine Muray, who taught these unfortunate authors in the northern province of Ninh Binh and the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa. The authors are all disabled with mental deficiency or hare lips and cleft palates caused by Agent Orange/dioxin. They are unable to speak and learn but their works reflect the disabler’s sentiments of the surrounding world. Muray said she would open more courses for disadvantaged children in other localities of Vietnam. A larger exhibition of such works is planed to be held soon at the Vietnam Culture Center in Paris. In the Vietnam War, American army scattered around 18.2 million of gallon of dioxin-contained Agent Orange in 10% of total areas in southern Vietnam. The victims are estimated at 4.8 million, however, scientific researches show that the actual number is much higher. (Vietnamplus Dec 7)
