Houston, Texas – On Thursday, November 5, 2010, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved new rules permitting water spinach farming in Texas on the condition that growers obtain permits from the state. The new regulation is a compromising solution balancing economic and cultural interests of Asian Americans and environmental protection concerns.

Houston, Texas – Facing the possibility of water spinach being banned in Texas, Asian American communities have come together to defend a popular staple in their traditional diet but considered a noxious weed by the federal government.

As part of a statewide advocacy campaign, BPSOS-Houston, in collaboration with other leading Asian Pacific American community organizations, held a town meeting followed by a press conference on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 ahead of a critical meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission that will decide on whether to allow the farming of water spinach. This decision will affect not only the livelihood of water spinach growers and consumers, but also the state economy.

The press conference were well attended by water spinach growers and covered by local and national media. (photo of BPSOS)

Houston, Texas – BPSOS, in collaboration with other leading Asian Pacific American community organizations, will hold two press conferences on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 to discuss the proposed water spinach regulation and its impact on local growers, restaurants, grocery stores, the Asian American community in general, and the State of Texas.

DATE: Wednesday, October 21, 2009

TIME: 11AM (English panel) & 6PM (Vietnamese panel)

WHO: Dr. Thang Nguyen, Executive Director of BPSOS, Inc. State Representative Hubert Vo (D-TX) Ms. Yani Keo Rose, former president of the Cambodian American Community of Texas Representatives from the Vietnamese American National Chamber of Commerce and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Houston

WHERE: Viet Civic Center (Nha Viet) 11360 Bellaire Blvd. Ste. 900, Houston, TX 77072

Amy Nguyen and Cassady Le

To mark the 4-year anniversary and 1-year passing since the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Ike, respectively, the BPSOS Houston Branch proudly sponsored the film screening of the Independent Lens series’ “A Village Called Versailles,” a powerful documentary highlighting story of the tightly-knit Vietnamese community in New Orleans East.

Brooke Ha

It was the first time we had a mammogram mobile unit in our Vietnamese community. In the beginning it was challenging for Boat People SOS (BPSOS) in Louisville but in the end it proved yet to be another successful event for us.

Cassady Le

August 4th, 2009 – Anahuac and Oak Island is a small area in Chambers County where resources is not as abundant. Several families in this area have not received enough assistance to get back on their feet. Amongst those families, one family’s perseverance stood out above the rest.

Declared the third costliest hurricane, Ike wiped out many homes and left many stranding in water. Mr. N’s home was amongst the foundation that is left after Ike passed through. “When my family and I returned, we couldn’t find our house. It was just a cement field with piles of bricks on top,” Mr. N described.

FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA) is still engaged in winning justice for the Vietnamese guest workers employed at the Malaysian firm Spektra Alucast. Meanwhile, some good news: The US State Department has referenced two cases of concern to CAMSA in its recent human trafficking report.

FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA) is continuing the fight against human trafficking with successes in Malaysia.

Lek Sun Success

CAMSA has once again successfully intervened on behalf of Vietnamese workers in Malaysia, this time at Lek Sun Manufacturing.

BPSOS-Louisville Mobilizes Women for Health Screening

Louisville, KY – BPSOS-Louisville’s partnership with the Americana Family Health Center is helping to ensure better care for women!

Working together, staff members recruited seven Louisville-area women and provided them with free health screenings at the center on April 15.

FALLS CHURCH, VA — The Malaysia office of the Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA) is continuing to scrutinize the treatment of thousands of Vietnamese guest workers in Malaysia, while here in the United States, Boat People SOS is developing its Victims of Exploitation and Trafficking Assistance (VETA) program. The following are developments in the work of both CAMSA and VETA staff.