Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for 10 years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
In the 3,160 villages in the southern part of Vietnam within the Agent Orange spraying zone, 800,000 people continue to suffer serious health problems and are in need of constant medical attention.
The US government's Veterans Administration officially recognises 13 medical conditions linked to Agent Orange and provides free medical treatment to US soldiers who can prove their exposure to the herbicide. But Washington has adamantly denied all responsibility and evaded any kind of accountability for the estimated four million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians who suffered far greater exposure to the dioxin than the US war veterans.
This is fantastic photography. The bed rails leave a shadow, but the childs head does not.
Could this be another coup for photoshop ?
Bob Piper said:
February 12, 2008 1:50 PM | permalink
I would suggest you visit Vietnam and see the un-photoshopped people for yourself.
Gary Hurdman said:
February 12, 2008 9:20 PM | permalink
Bob,I don't doubt for one minute that the use of chemicals has had a disastrous effect on the health of the people on Vietnam, including horrendous birth defects.
But that picture looks like a real photoshop job.
Shame, that sort of thing might be used by some to deny there's a problem at all.
Can't speak for the validity of the photo, Gaz, but it was only something used to illustrate the original story. I went to Vietnam last year and visited a workshop for victims and the children of victims of Agent Orange outside Hanoi, and it was pretty heartbreaking.
Looking at the shadows, they appear to come from angles at which none from the child would be visible on the wall within the sides of the picture.
I can't see the tell-tale aliasing problems that you often get with photoshopping.
It's still possible that the photo isn't 100% genuine, but it looks kosher to me.
Now, as to why people might be willing to jump straight into declaring a picture fake when the issue itself is far more important...
Gary Hurdman said:
February 13, 2008 10:03 PM | permalink
Danivon
Now, as to why people might be willing to jump straight into declaring a picture fake when the issue itself is far more important...
For that very reason. If a faked picture is used, those that might deny there is a problem have a hook to scream "conspiracy theory"
It gives them something to use in denial, truth won't matter.
Gazza
Matthew Stiles said:
February 14, 2008 12:03 PM | permalink
To be fair to Gary, it seems he is not the only person to question whether this is a real photo but the Snopes site that investigates urban myths etc has looked into it and reckons that the photo has not been manipulated. See http://www.snopes.com/photos/medical/orange.asp
Ernesto said:
February 14, 2008 3:23 PM | permalink
The issue of photo - faking is far more important than the reason for some poor little bugger's deformity - for example, I possess a photo of Cliff Richard and there ain't a Shadow to be seen anywhere..........is he still alive?
February 11, 2008 4:30 PM | permalink
How sad it is that the actions of the US Government don't surprise me in the least.