Voice: Daniel Le

The precise extent and consequences of the ongoing oil gusher nearly a mile below the ocean’s surface in the Gulf of Mexico remain unknown. As government officials and researches work to quantify the potential long-term economic, environmental, and health impacts associated with the estimated 130 million gallons of crude oil that have been infused into the World’s oceans, the immediate impacts are readily apparent to residents of towns along the Gulf Coast.
 
Among this population is a large community of Vietnamese-American immigrants who make their living fishing and trolling in the Gulf. In addition to the direct economic impacts that have resulted from fishing moratoriums, cultural intricacies and linguistic barriers have hindered the effectiveness of response and recovery efforts for these communities.
 
The non-government organization Boat People S.O.S. (BPSOS) has been integral to helping meet the immediate recovery needs of Vietnamese-American communities affected by the spill and formulating sustainable long-term solutions. We spoke with Daniel Le of BPSOS to learn more about their efforts and issues specific to Vietnamese communities that could potentially be overlooked by ‘one size fits all’ relief plans. 
 
BPSOS’s commitment to Vietnamese immigrants and refugees spans over three decades.  From its origins as a San Diego-based agency dedicated to rescuing Vietnamese refugees in the coastal waters of Thailand and Malaysia, BPSOS has evolved into national organization with 18 office locations across the United States.  It is estimated that BPSOS has provided direct assistance to approximately ten percent of all Vietnamese-Americans since 1980.  As Mr. Le explained, BPSOS is no stranger to the cultural, linguistic, and political complexities that often complicate disaster relief efforts.  BPSOS was extremely active in providing legal assistance, translation services, advocacy, and mobilizing communities following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
 
In the recent wake of the Gulf oil spill, BPSOS has focused on providing direct services and has begun to advocate for long-term plans that are inclusive of the needs of Vietnamese-Americans.  As Mr. Le explained, BPSOS has served as a liaison between British Petroleum (BP) workers providing recovery assistance and Vietnamese-Americans with limited English proficiency and little familiarity with byzantine bureaucratic processes.   Cultural and linguistic isolation have also posed barriers. “There has been a lot of inaccurate information circulating within communities… BPSOS serves as a bridge between the Vietnamese-American communities and BP officials,” said Mr. Le. While the provision of cash assistance is a pragmatic strategy for meeting immediate needs—such as money for food, housing, and boat payments—it is in stark contrast to the virtues of Vietnamese culture.  “Working is a way of life for the Vietnamese... they are very prideful.  They will accept handouts if necessary, but only as a last resort,” said Mr. Le.  
 
BP has proposed to hire affected fishing vessels to assist in cleanup efforts to help compensate for lost wages.  While this strategy meshes well with the Vietnamese’s cultural inclination to work for a living and not accept handouts, Mr. Le has observed that many of the initial cleanup contracts have wrongly gone to recreational vessels that were not directly affected by the spill.  In response, BPSOS has advocated for the Vietnamese community through meetings with BP officials and local government authorities.  BPSOS’s role as a vocal advocate is a critical component to their success.  
 
According to Mr. Le, there is a cultural aversion to publically airing grievances and “rocking the boat” among the Vietnamese.  Mr. Le described how affected Vietnamese-American communities have expressed outrage and concerns at community meetings and with BPSOS in private, but remained calm and complacent when speaking directly with BP officials.  BPSOS has served as their voice and been a strong advocate when interacting with BP and federal, state, and local officials.
 
While BP and the federal government have both made promises to redress the consequences of the spill, the affected communities are rather skeptical.  As Mr. Le explained, there were a lot of broken promising after Hurricanes Katarina and Rita, broken promises that have eroded already weak trust in government officials.   
 
The long-term impact of the Gulf oil spill on local Vietnamese-American communities is still far from   being known.  At best, clean up efforts will be successful, fishing waters will re-open, and Vietnamese-American communities along the Gulf Coast will regain self-sufficiency and some semblance of their way of life.  At worst, these communities will be forced to continue to rely on handouts, abandon their native trade, and seek professions in alternative industries.  Regardless of the course, BPSOS will be key service provider, partner, and advocate for Vietnamese-Americans in crisis.