From Agent Orange to Napalm: The Dark History of Using Defoliants as Weapons in War

During the Vietnam War, U.S. forces used defoliants, substances that caused leaves to fall off plants when applied, as a way to deprive North Vietnamese forces of cover. These defoliants were sprayed en masse over forests and led to major illnesses in over a million people in Vietnam after the war.

Britain was the first country to use defoliants as a weapon of war during the Malayan Emergency, where they used a substance similar to Agent Orange but with the addition of Dioxin. Dioxin was responsible for the Seveso disaster of 1976 and is still considered a highly toxic substance today.

Alongside Agent Orange, the U.S. developed a mixture of cacodylic acid, sodium cacodylate, and water to destroy rice plants during World War II. The use of defoliants against civilian populations has been banned since 1980, but civilians were affected during both wars due to their indiscriminate nature.

Napalm, a substance that burns easily and sticks to surfaces, was famously photographed in 1972 by Nick Ut during his Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph “The Terror of War.” The photograph brought attention to the horrors of war and sparked outrage around the world.

At a U.N. conference in June 1972, Olof Palme described the effects of defoliants on both Vietnam and Laos as “ecocide” and advocated for them to be designated an international crime under international law. His efforts paved the way for future attempts to hold those responsible for using these harmful chemicals accountable for their actions.

In conclusion, defoliants have been used as weapons throughout history with devastating consequences for both military targets and civilians alike. Their use must be carefully considered and regulated in order to prevent future harm and protect human rights.