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Nadya Williams: My parents were Socialists and joined the American Communist Party in the mid-1930s in Berkeley, California, so they always made me very aware of what was really going on in the world. In 1963, when I was a 19-year-old student at the University of California at Berkeley, Madame Nhu of the Diem regime came to speak on campus. We students surrounded her car as it was leaving, hitting it with our hands, to tell her she was NOT welcome. This must have been in August or September of 1963, just before Diem & his brother, Nhu's husband, were assassinated in November. Our president Kennedy was assassinated a few weeks later.Vietnam- US Magazine: Your feelings about Vietnam?
Nadya Williams: I was in Vietnam once before, in 2003, sent by Global Exchange, a human rights organization. In comparision with that time Vietnam has achieved many positive changes. Your economic advances are truly amazing, given the American War and the 20-year embargo. Your lower poverty rate compared to many other "Third World" countries is admirable. However I think there is a balance, and the better things of development and modernization should be taken from other societies, but with care to not let the many negative elements of the West enter and replace your culture.
Vietnam- US Magazine: What do you think about recent Vietnam- US relationships?
Nadya Williams: I think it is easy to see that Vietnam-US relations will increase economically, but I would like to see Viet Nam keep its sovereignty and protect itself from Western-dominated "Globalization". If Viet Nam can continue its past strong ties with the former Non-Alligned Movement countries, and be part of a strong counter to the new "dictatorship of global capitalism" it will be better for your people and your environment.
Vietnam- US Magazine: Some words about your work with Global Exchange?
Nadya Williams: I just spent 3 months in Viet Nam. I visited some centres for Handicapped and Disabled Children and Young Adults (mostly Agent Orange victims) in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang city and took part in a press conference of the Agent Orange Dialogue Group (Ford Foundation and other US and Vietnamese groups). I also met with the leaders of The Vietnam-USA Society, with the leaders of VAVA (the Vietnamese Association of Victims of Agent Orange\Dioxin), and with some scientists and artists. Global Exchange will continue to support the balance between improving and expanding respectful relations between our country and Viet Nam, but at the same time press forward with support for the VAVA lawsuit. This is just and this is the responsibility of America to compensate the victims of America's chemical war crime. I feel great disappointment that so little has been contributed by the American people, government or corporations to compensate Viet Nam for the terrible destruction of the war - especially the agent orange victims.
Vietnam- US Magazine: Would you return to Vietnam ?
Nadya Williams: I will certainly return to Viet Nam, but my work is in the United States - to educate and activate Americans around the agent orange situation and the lawsuit. This work will be done on several fronts: hosting and touring future VAVA delegations, working with Congress to hold hearings on Agent Orange/Dioxin, link with American veterans (and S. Korean, Australian and New Zealand vets) on the AO issue, and media out-reach to tell Americans that this toxin is still poisoning babies today, 37 years after the spraying stopped.
