New website to protect wild animals launched

The organization, ‘Education on Nature Vietnam’ (ENV), has announced a new website where people can identify many different kinds of species to encourage communities to protect Vietnam’s wildlife.    

The easy-to-access website helps users identify wild animals which are at risk of being abused or stolen and smuggled out of the country.

It also provides information on the laws relating to each species as well as an online service where users can report breaches of the law on wild animals.

The website currently provides updated information on 19 wild animals with others being added at a later date.

According to ENV’s Deputy Director Tran Viet Hung, thousands of wild animals are being hunted everyday, pushing many species to the verge of extinction.

The online data will help ENV volunteers nationwide to report and record violations, especially in the country’s larger cities.

Tobacco-related deaths four times more than road accidents

According to the Ministry of Health, the number of tobacco-related deaths is four times that of deaths caused by road accidents and twice more than pulmonary disease or tuberculosis deaths.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan at the meeting

These statistics were released at a meeting on May 24 in Hanoi organised by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation on occasion of ‘World No Smoking Day’ (May 31) and ‘No Smoking Week’ (May 25-31).

According to the ministry, Vietnam reports more than 40,000 tobacco-related deaths every year, a figure which is four times higher than reported in road accidents and two times more than pulmonary or tuberculosis related diseases.

At the meeting, the health minister said that day by day and year after year more younger youth are being affected; when once smoking was being adopted by youth around the age of 19-20, now at least 43 per cent are seen to be around the age of 15 only.

Also attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, who addressed all ministries, sectors, and people to actively participate in the no-smoking campaign and support the law to tackle the harmful effects of tobacco. Efforts to contain smoking will also be discussed at the ongoing session of the 13th National Assembly.

Deputy PM Nhan also introduced a new message-‘Vietnamese Youth say NO to Smoking’, in the hope that the youth of the country will totally reject tobacco.

Smoking kills nearly six million people every year in the world, of which 600,000 are passive smokers, 80 per cent of who come from low and middle-income countries, WHO said.

However, according to WHO, tobacco addiction is preventable if addressed in time.

HCM City hastens construction of steel overpasses

HCMC authorities have urged the local Department of Transport (DOT) to complete the planning and construction of steel traffic overpasses.

The DOT and HCMC Infrastructure Investment JSC have been asked to quickly complete their plan to build a light overpass over Thu Duc junction.

According to the original DOT proposal, the 328 metre overpass at Thu Duc will have two nine-metre lanes and join Le Van Viet Street to Vo Van Ngan Street. However the plan has been altered to include up to four lanes.

The local authorities also asked DOT to ensure the progress of the overpasses at the Hang Xanh intersection which is scheduled to open by November 20. Both 256-metre long four lanes overpasses will run in parallel.

After the two overpasses are completed, HCMC will continue to build two more at Cay Go and Lang Cha Ca junction to deal with persistent traffic congestion.

In the previous report, the local Department of Transport said the city currently has 1,350 intersections with 120 main roads. It proposed to build light overpasses which have short construction times. Construction work will also have little effect on traffic in the meantime.

Ly Tong jailed after being convicted 4 counts

Vietnam-born Ly Tong was found guilty of four counts before a court in San Jose on May 24 over his attack on Vietnamese popular singer Dam Vinh Hung nearly two years ago in the US.

His charges include: two misdemeanors -- simple assault and resisting arrest and two felonies -- using tear gas and burglary with the intent to commit a felony.

Tong was jailed after the verdict was announced.

He could face a maximum of three years and eight months behind bars if convicted. The court is set to announce its sentencing on June 22.

As reported by Mercury News, the jury of eight men and four women acquitted Tong of the felony assault charge (using a deadly weapon) as they could not reach agreement on whether he used pepper spray, or a mixture of perfume and fish sauce to assault Hung. Either way, they agreed that neither spray was a deadly weapon.

On July 18, 2010, Tong, disguised as a woman, sprayed Dam Vinh Hung with a form of tear gas during a concert at the Santa Clara Convention Centre.

Tong motioned like he was going to hand Mr. Dam a flower. But as the singer bent down to accept the gift, Tong shot the chemicals into the celebrity's face and chest.

The spray also hurt female singer My Tam, who was performing alongside.

Ly Tong, whose real name is Le Van Tong, was born in Thua Thien-Hue in central Vietnam in 1946. He was arrested and sentenced in 1993 to 20 years in Vietnamese prison for hijacking a Vietnam Airlines jetliner. He was set free after serving just 6 years thanks to Vietnamese clemency policy.

In January 2000, he violated Vietnamese airspace and when he returned to Thailand, he was arrested for violating Thai airspace. Tong was sentenced by a Thai court to seven years in prison. He was released in 2006.

Sanitation falls short in rural areas

It is estimated that 20 million people living in rural areas do not have access to proper toilets, a report by the Economics of Sanitation Initiative (ESI) run by the World Bank's Water and Sanitation Programme revealed yesterday.

The four-year study was launched in 2007 in two phases.

Guy Hutton, a World Bank's senior economist, said the first phase of the study, which ended in 2008, showed that Viet Nam suffered economic losses of US$780 million each year due to poor sanitation.

The second phase focused on analysing the benefits and costs of better sanitation in six countries – Indonesia, Cambodia, China, Lao, Philippines and Viet Nam.

"The benefits of using hygienic latrines include reduced disease-infection rates due to poor sanitation and improved water supply quality due to the decrease in open defecation," said Nguyen Viet Anh, the study's consulting team leader.

Better protection for the environment is also believed to be another benefit, Anh said.

Another result of the study showed that sanitation quality had a direct link to tourism and economic development.

Under a recent small-scale survey, general sanitation conditions in Viet Nam were perceived to be poor, scoring just 2.9 out of maximum of 5.0, the lowest acceptable score for an urban environment.

The quality of toilets available in public places such as bus stations also scored poorly.

The main hygiene concerns of foreign tourists relate to tap water and food safety.

Guy Hutton said the study aimed to provide sanitation-decision makers with useful information when it came to formulating better hygiene policies, especially in rural areas where more than 30 per cent of the population still lacked basic sanitation.

The authorised agencies are advised to raise funds to provide better sanitation services, he said.

He said he hoped the study would attract greater private investment in sanitation services.

Conference discusses gender, migration issues

An international conference, themed “Gender and Migration: Asian Vision” took place on Ho Chi Minh City on May 24.

Jointly held by Ho Chi Minh City ’s University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung organisation in Vietnam , the conference drew the attention of social scientists from Britain , Germany and India and 50 domestic experts.

The delegates exchanged experiences and shared their opinions on migration trends during crises, the impact of migration on cities, the improvement of living standards for migrants, especially women in Vietnam and Asian countries, and the development of proposals and projects to help migrants.

Doctor Nicola Piper from Germany said that the picture of international migration in recent years has diversified due to rapid changes in politics, economies, geography and society, raising the urgent issue of migrant control around the world. Countries need to revise policies and laws, with attention to gender issues, regarding interventional migration programmes, the researcher said.

On the issue of female migrants, Prof. Dang Nguyen Anh from Vietnam Institute for Social Sciences said that in the past decades, female migrants have increased in both quality and quantity.

At the conference, delegates also called for deeper gender-based research to make policies more effective and easier to enforce in Southeast Asian countries.-

Nearly 70 graduates to help poor communes

About 70 excellent students were appointed as vice chairmen to poor communes in northern mountain Ha Giang Province's six districts including Dong Van, Meo Vac, Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Hoang Su Phi and Xin Man yesterday.

These graduates were selected from among 100 candidates who attended a refresher course on activities of communal vice chairmen.

Next month, these districts will hold people's council meetings to elect students for communal vice chairmen.

The project is part of the Government effort to help the localities to develop social-economics and eliminate hunger and reduce poverty.

Young model, actress caught selling sex for $1,500

Model-cum-actress Hong Ha was caught in the act in a hotel in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh District as officers from the Ministry of Public Security bust a large-scale sex ring on May 24.

At 5.30pm, officers from the Police Department of Criminal Investigation in Social Order (C45) and Hanoi police suddenly inspected a hotel on Son Tay Street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi and discovered two couples having sex in two hotel rooms.

At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City police also found another couple at M&M hotel in the southern city.

Among those detained is model and actress Hong Ha hailing from Thai Binh province, who was believed to be paid US$1,000-1500 for that night.

Hong Ha has been modeling for some foreign and national magazines and fashion brands and starred in several movies.

According to initial information, the sex ring, which boasts 20 high-level prostitutes, was founded in 2009 by 26-year old Do Trung Kien.

Kien tried to get to know models and actresses at model agencies and would wander around cafés, famous discotheques to solicit customers.

He would approach rich businessmen and provide them with the girls - who are students, models, actresses and contestants in some beauty pageants.

The procurer would give them his number and pass code. When they feel in need, the men can contact Kien for price quotation, time and location. The prostitution mostly takes place in expensive hotels in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City or are organized under a form of vacation.

The prices range from VND4-6 million ($200-300) a time, US$400-600 a night or US$1,000-1,500 for a holiday trip.

The C45 police said this is a large-scale sex ring involving many individuals in different locations, operating for a long time and earning a large amount of money.

At the police station, Hong Ha said she is working for a model agency Elite. However, the same day, Thuy Hanh, the company’s representative denied that Hong Ha belongs to the company.

“We do not know who Hong Ha is. Elite has never worked with Hong Ha or invited her to any fashion show,” Hanh confirmed.

She added that her company may sue the model for giving false information which may affect their brand.

Sex ring with involvement of models prosecuted

The Central Investigation Police Department today prosecuted a case of prostitution intermediary with the involvement of many models and actresses whom were caught in the act today in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Police also issued an arrest warrant and detained the sex ring organizer Do Trung Kien, 26, residing at 158 Ngoc Ha in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh District.

Kien declared to police that he has been organizing the ring since 2009 and is paid 20 – 30 percent of the sum his girls are paid.

Around 20 prostitutes enlisted in the ring include high-profile fashion models, actresses, students and beauty contestants, according to the police department.

Yesterday, police burst into a hotel in Hanoi and caught red handed two couples engaging in sexual activities in two separate rooms. One of the prostitutes was identified as model Hong Ha, who has been modeling for some foreign and domestic magazines and fashion brands and starred in several movies.

She is believed to be paid US$1,000-1,500 for a trip in Hanoi. On average, a girl in the ring is paid VND4-6 million ($192 – 290) a time, $400-600 a night or $1,000 – 1,500 a trip.

At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City police also raided a hotel on Bui Thi Xuan Street in Ben NGhe District and found a girl selling sex at M&M hotel.

Action month for children 2012 launched

Action Month for Children this year will be themed, “For a society without violence and injuries to children” with a launch ceremony to take place on May 29 in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) made the announcement in Hanoi on May 24.

Speaking at the conference, Nguyen Hai Huu, Head of the Department of Children Protection and Care under MOLISA, said during past years, activities for protecting and caring for children have gained many achievements, while attention has been paid to prevention and support for violated children.

However, he said, the situation of child abuse, trafficking and injuries has become a critical issue in society.

This year’s action month aims to call for the engagement of the entire society in protecting children, creating a healthy, safe and violence-free environment for children, helping them reach their full potential, both physically and mentally, he said.

Action Month for Children 2012 will include numerous activities across the country, such as the President’s meeting with outstanding children nationwide on June 1, a MOLISA survey on the law of protection and care for children via the internet and other activities of presenting gifts and free healthcare for poor children nationwide.

Communication activities during the month will also focus on raising awareness on child protection and care among agencies, organisations, communities, schools and also among children themselves.

Kindergarteners on strike over food

All of the teachers at a Ho Chi Minh City kindergarten went on strike Thursday to protest the school’s repeated provision of decayed food for them and its kids.

School managers then had to ask their relatives to look after some of its 50 kids as the five childminders refused to work, while parents decided to bring home the others.

The kindergartners told Tuoi Tre that the school, ABC which is located in District 12, had continually fed them and the children with rotten meat and vegetables despite their regular complaints and even objections.

“We could not stand anymore when the kids just kept refusing to eat, as the food was truly awful,” they protested.

Many parents felt really upset because the school failed to properly feed their children, they added.

The teachers went on strike because of summer break schedule issues, Nguyen Thi Bich Thao, owner of the kindergarten, said, passing the rotten food buck to the school’s meal suppliers.

They have not returned to work since the five are unable to reach any compromise with the school.

ABC is still waiting for a renewal of its business license after the preschool changed hands last October.

House in Hanoi’s Old Quarter on fire

A blaze broke out in a house located in Gia Ngu street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, burned all furniture inside and even spread to neighboring buildings at 10.45pm on Thursday.

According to witnesses at the site, the fire broke out for a while before the residents discovered and ran for their life.

On the house’s third floor, an old lady could not walk to escape and a neighbor called Binh ran up there to carry her downstairs.

When he came inside for the second time, he got stuck and had to climb to the second floor of the house next door. As he jumped down, he hurt himself and was taken to hospital.

The house is a boutique whose three stories are packed with clothes which were easily consumed by the fire. It quickly covered the three-story house and was about to spread to nearby houses.

The Hanoi fire department called up more than tens of fire trucks. Firemen tried to stop the spread while cooling down the burning house. All the windows in the house were broken due to high heat.

The blaze was finally put out within an hour and a half.

Locals said the cause of the blaze is probably a short circuit. Meanwhile, police have cordoned off the scene to investigate further.

Vietnam’s first sea wind turbines built in Bac Lieu

Two sea wind turbines, the first of its kind in Vietnam, have been installed in the sea off southern Bac Lieu Province, as part of the first sea wind power project in Vietnam.

Yesterday, May 24, Bac Lieu-based Cong Ly Construction and Trading Co Ltd completed the installation of the two turbines, which had been provided by the US’s General Eclectic Company (GE), said Duong Quang Loc, director of the management board of the Bac Lieu Province Wind Power Plant Project.

Each turbine is made of titan steel, weighs 210 tons, and measures 90 meters in height. They are part of the project’s Phase 1 to install 10 turbines, said Nguyen Thang Long, assistant to the general director of the company.

The remaining turbines of Phase 1 are expected to be available in August or September 2012 and the power generated from the turbines will be connected to the national power grid.

Under the project, 62 turbines with total capacity of 99.2 MW will be installed at a total cost VND5,200 billion (US$250 million), which is sourced from loans provided by the US Import and Export Bank.

Upon completion, the project will generate 56 million kWh per year.

Last March, Cong Ly company asked for permission from the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee authorities to develop a project to build a sea wind turbine system along the sea off Can Gio District’s Can Thanh Commune.

If the project is approved, the company will install 125 turbines with total capacity of 200 MW at an estimated cost of VND10 trillion ($480.3 million).

The turbines will also be provided by GE and the project is expected to be complete within 3-4 years.

Rescuer turns liability as he can’t swim

Bui Nguyen Thanh D. (11 years old) in Chau Thanh district, the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang last Friday jumped into a canal to rescue his drowning friend even though he himself cannot swim. As the rescuer started to sink, the victim was able to hold on.

Previously D. was playing alongside a canal with a friend who later tripped and fell into the water.

Looking around, D. saw no one so he decided to jump into the canal to save his friend who was struggling to stay afloat.

While D.’s friend emerged from the water and managed to clutch onto a canal’s bank to get ashore, D. started to sink. Luckily a passerby arrived and quickly jumped down to save him.

When brought ashore, D. had stopped breathing and was given first aid before being taken to a hospital where he was resuscitated.

Luckily the 11-year old brave boy was brought to consciousness.

When a doctor asked the why he jumped into the canal even though he could not swim, D. answered simply: “I saw no one around so I risked my life to save my friend. But I didn’t anticipate the consequence.”

According to the doctor, instead of jumping down, D. could have shouted out loud to get people’s attention. Then he could search for a twig, plastic box, water bottle or banana areca to throw to the drowning victim as buoy.

These floating items can be attached into a long rope to drag victim ashore. The rope can be made of clothes tied together.

If enough people are available, they can make a chain by holding hands out to the victim.

In Vietnam about 3,500 children on average die of drowning every year.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 200 children have drowned nationwide, according to Nguyen Trong An, deputy head of the Department for Children Care and Protection, under the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

Truck falls into abyss, 3 dead

A driver and two other people lost their lives after a truck fell into a 30m deep abyss located on National Highway 15 that runs through Huong Hoa commune in the central province of Quang Binh this early morning.

Preliminary investigations found the mishap took place at about 1:00am when the driver lost control.

The deceased were Hoang Lien Son, 45, Vo Van Man, 48, and Tran Van Hien, 45. All of them hailed from Ha Tinh central province.

By 9am the same day, the bodies were handed over to their families for the funeral.

The police are carrying further investigations into the accident.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease kills 27 kids in Vietnam

With five children dying of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) during the past two weeks, Vietnam has had a total 27 deaths of the disease so far this year, the Health Ministry reported.

All the dead were under five years old, the ministry said.

The disease has affected about 50,000 people so far this year, about 10 times higher than the same period last year.

The ten provinces and cities that are leading the country in HFMD infection are Hai Phong, Bac Can, Yen Bai, Da Nang, Lao Cai, Hoa Binh, Vinh Phuc, Quang Tri, Binh Dinh and Dong Thap.

The disease has spread widely since the beginning of the year and will continue developing during the summer, the ministry warned.

HFMD is a common viral illness among infants and children that causes a fever and blister-like eruptions around the mouth and/or a skin rash.

In Vietnam the most common strain is Enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes sores on the mouth and blisters on the hands and feet of patients.

The ministry asked local authorities to use their budget to buy antiseptic and soap and provide the supplies to every household in areas affected by the disease.

Authorities of all levels should make the following information known to the public: the disease can be transmitted though digestive tracts; there are no vaccines or specific medicines to combat the disease; children under five years old are most vulnerable to the disease; and main preventive measures are keeping hygenic practices in eating, drinking and living.

People should wash their children’s hands frequently and thoroughly, especially after they use the toilet and before they eat. They should also keep their children’s toys clean and restrict them from putting any toys or other tools into their mouth, the ministry said.

On May 25, the ministry will organize an online meeting with local health authorities to discuss new measures to combat the disease that has now reached its peak.

Besides Vietnam, many other countries in the region, especially China and Singapore, have also had high numbers of HFMD patients in the first 5 months of this year, the ministry said, citing a World Health Organization report.