Hanoi(VNA) – The Vietnamese language edition of thebook “The People Make the Peace: Lessons from the Vietnam Antiwar Movement,” editedby two American writers, was launched in Hanoi on July 11.
The launch eventwas held by the Vietnam –USA Society (VUS) and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) tocelebrate the 75th VUS founding anniversary (1945-2020) and the 25thyear of the normalisation of the Vietnam – US relations (1995-2020).
In the book, edited by KarinAguilar San-Juan and Frank Joyce, nine American activists discuss their role inopposing the war in the US and their risky travels to Vietnam 40 years ago inthe midst of the conflict to engage in people-to-people diplomacy.
The bookfeatures 11 touching and inspiring stories about their experiences in search of peaceful solutions to the war. It also featuresan afterword by Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vietnamese Vice President.
Addressing theevent, VUS Vice President Bui The Giang lauded the developments of Vietnam – US relations since the two countriesnormalised ties 25 years ago.
Bilateral relations have seen remarkable progresswith Vietnam and the US going from foes to friends, and are now comprehensive partners, he said. Thanks to this, two-way trade has thrived, US visitors to Vietnam are mounting and Vietnam is the top Southeast Asian sender of students to theUS, he noted.
Giang said thesedevelopments were partly attributable to the antiwar movement inthe US of peace activists who played a significant role in ending the war.
“A marvellous collection that comes full circle inunderstanding America’s past and present relationship with Vietnam, and thatreminds us of the power and impact of the antiwar movement through the voicesof peace advocates from that era who recently returned to Vietnam,” DavidCortright, Director of Policy Studies at Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute forInternational Peace Studies, said about the book.
Marilyn Young,professor in the Department of History, New York University, said the book willbe of interest to all who cherish peace and work towards achieving it.
FrankJoyce and four other American peace activists are making a visit to Vietnam fromJuly 4. -VNA
VNA