In a historic visit this month, President Obama will be traveling to Vietnam. And the timing couldn't be better.
Since April, millions of fish, clams and the odd whale have washed up dead on Vietnam's shores in an "unprecedented" event. "Toxic elements" are behind these deaths, but Vietnam's leaders won't disclose more than that. Locals, particularly fishermen, are demanding answers, and many blame the catastrophe on Formosa, a $10-billion steel plant from Taiwan that allegedly pumped untreated steel wastewater into the sea. With that price tag, it's easy to see why Vietnamese leaders are reluctant to get to the bottom of this massive die-off.
Some locals have taken the bold step to protest, even though Vietnam is a communist state, and the government is violently shutting them up.
But do you know who Vietnamese leaders can't bully this way? President Barack Obama. While it's just the right thing to do for President Obama to stand up for Vietnamese locals and the planet, the United States also has a history of importing pangasius (also known as basa, tea and swai) from Vietnam. So it's in everyone's best interest to ensure that the fish are safe.
Sign and share this petition urging President Obama to stand up for Vietnamese locals and the environment on his upcoming trip to Vietnam by getting to the bottom of this unprecedented die-off.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Carole
