On this episode of Center Stage, I speak with filmmakers Alan Adelson and Kate Taverna about their urgent and eye-opening documentary The People vs. Agent Orange. While many believe the devastation of Agent Orange ended with the Vietnam War, this powerful film reveals a chilling truth: the toxic legacy lives on. Across the globe, a primary chemical used in Agent Orange continues to be sprayed in agriculture, forestry, and public spaces, leaving a trail of environmental destruction, cancer, and genetic deformities in its wake.
At the heart of the film are two courageous women: Tran To Nga, a Vietnamese-French activist suing the chemical industry for poisoning her during the war, and Carol Van Strum, an American environmentalist who has spent decades fighting the ongoing use of these deadly herbicides. In our conversation, Alan and Kate discuss the years of investigative work behind the film, the global cover-up still unfolding, and the human cost of chemical warfare that refuses to be forgotten. This is a story of courage, resistance, and accountability—and it’s far from over.