About Us:

    Loose Cannons, Inc. (LCI) is an effort, through increased social, cultural & educational contact between the peoples of the United Sates and Viet Nam, to heal the outstanding wounds of “The Vietnam War”.   The LCI name reflects the intent to mobilize, in a productive & self-effacing manner, the talents of professionals from a variety of different fields to meet that goal.

   At the moment, LCI’s current focus is addressing the effects of the problem of “Agent Orange”[AO], a legacy of human & environmental destruction caused by a defoliant used by American forces during “The Vietnam War” on areas & populations in Viet Nam, the United States & elsewhere, thereby exposing same to dioxin – a harmful AO byproduct -  wherever AO was produced, stored and/or sprayed.


Background

     In 2005, several individuals, with a history of humanitarian work, came across the Magnum photographer Philip Jones Griffiths’ (PJG) seminal “Agent Orange, ‘Collateral Damage’ in Viet Nam” photography book, and, feeling a pressing need to bring further attention to the issues addressed therein, have – between then and the present - designed ads for the “AO” book & raised money to run the ads in national magazines; mounted several large Philip Jones Griffiths photo exhibits; helped to develop AO-related websites (e.g., www.agentorangerecord.com; www.lastghostofwar.com]; circulated a number of AO documentaries [one narrated by the actor Kevin Kline]; facilitated private donations to AO charities; enlisted support from celebrities like Dustin Hoffman, Matt Damon, David Hyde Pierce, etc., including Colin Farrell, arranging for Farrell to visit AO victims & centers in Viet Nam; promoted press stories & editorials on AO in major American media [e.g. New York Times, Vanity Fair]; and, in 2007, opened a small office in New York City to further expand its work.


Goals

In the future, LCI – having incorporated in 2010 into a non-profit corporation - plans to:

  • Increase awareness and a sense of urgency about the AO problem;
  • Funnel third-party support to charities & individuals working with AO victims; 
  • Employ its NYC office as an AO contact point & resource center; 
  • Encourage foundations & governments to address the AO problem on a larger scale [including: aid to victims and their families, mapping out affected areas & populations, building rehabilitation facilities, expanding dioxin remediation, etc.]. 

======================================================================