Depleted Uranium Alert! Call your Representative now!

[travisleit01]

I received something in the mail from the Colorado Coalition for the Prevention of Nuclear War that I am retyping below. Please take one minute and call your Representative and say no to DU (depleted uranium, that is.) Then make a note here that you called them so we can keep track of our progress. Thanks

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"DEPLETED URANIUM WEAPONS: GENOCIDE IN IRAQ?"

Dan Bishop, PhD, who is president of the International Depleted Uranium Study Team (IDUST), says, "We are committing genocide in Iraq because of our use of depleted uranium weaponry." As a result of the 375 tons of depleted uranium (DU) used in the 1991 Iraq war, there have been increased rates of cancers, leukemia, and birth malformations. The cause and effect is accepted by many scientists around the world, including Iraqi physicians. In March and April of 2003, it is estimated that from ONE TO TWO THOUSAND TONS of DU were used by British and American forces on the people of Iraq. Imagine the number of cancers, DNA aberrations, and other suffering that will result over time from this second round of DU used in Iraq. Critics say DU shouldn't be used until studies have supported the Pentagon's contention that "there are no known health problems associated with DU." Dan Fahey, an independent policy analyst on the use and effects of DU said in a June 24 report, "What is clear... is that elements of the US government will manipulate information and even lie about the health of US combat veterans to avoid liability for DU's health and environmental effects." Thousands of the DU shells are about 1 and 1/2 inches in diameter by about 18 inches long and they are SOLID DU - not just "tipped" or "encased" in it as is often reported. DU is an alpha emitter and when the DU weapons explode, the very fine DU particles are released and scattered over the environment to be picked up by children touching and breathing in the dust, breathed in by people and animals, all over Iraq.

Representative Jim McDermott of Washington has introduced H.R. 1483, requiring the US government to conduct studies on DU's effects on health and the environment, and cleanup of DU contamination in the US.

Please write or phone your representative requesting (demanding?) that they support this bill and join with the worldwide determination to ban DU weapons.

I think this should be an issue that appeals to people on both sides of the aisle. From a humanitarian standpoint, and a "support the troops" perspective, DU is too dangerous to allow its continued use.

[acmavm]

1. You are so right. Anybody thinks the killing ends when the bullets and

bombs stop flying, they are crazy. Depleted uranium is the gift that just keeps on giving. It contaminates the soil, the water, and all life forms. The body count will be far higher than we will ever really know.

Just look at our troops. You think if they come home in one piece that they're safe? Nope, not according to scientific reseach. Need proof? Just look at the Afgani population and the diseases they are developing. And it's going to affect generations.

[travisleit01]

2. I completely agree...

I am going to DC to lobby against DU/nuclear weapons in March.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. DU, cluster bombs, and land mines

are all major killers of innocent children in our wars of "liberation".

[treepig]

4. if you're concerned about depleted uranium use in iraq

here's something for you to be 70 times more concerned about:

the combustion of coal right here in the usa.

http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/rev26-34/text/colmain.html

burning coal in the usa will release an estimated 145,230 tons of uranium (of which 144,200 tons will be U-238, or the "depleted" form). that's 70 to 140 times more than has been released due to weapons use in iraq. and it's right here killing you now!!

[travisleit01]

7. Thank you treepig.

I was not aware of how bad the burning of coal was. Now I need to figure out how to incorporate that into lobbying against DU in DC.

[Hubert Flottz]

5. WARNING!

The photos displayed below,
might cause emotional stress
to viewers.
Please make sure
they are not viewed by minors!

http://www.writers-against-war.org/public/depleted-uranium.html

[UTUSN]

6. It's in Lots of Stuff--------Here. Ceramic Tiles, Kentucky, Film

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http://groups.msn.com/AlanBoylesCosmicLog/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=1&ID_Message=892

Self-appointed radiation sleuth Walter L. Wagner wrote in with an update on a May story about “ticking tiles” — vintage ceramic tiles with a glaze that contains uranium:

Name: Walter L. Wagner
Just a quick update to let you know about the Health Physics Society conference in San Diego.
My poster presentation was generally well-received. I spoke with about 50 participants during a two-hour time period. All of them were aware of Fiestaware-type usage of uranium glazing. Only two were aware of uranium glazing on floor and bathroom tiles, and the others were somewhat surprised to learn of its extensive usage.
They all seemed to agree that it points up the fact that the nuclear industry (with some 100,000 tons of depleted uranium waste product sitting around at the enrichment plant in Kentucky) does nothing of the magnitude of what was done before the nuclear industry came into existence (1941), compared to what the tiling/ceramics/uranium-glazing industry did, and which is still in place.
Also, I found several buildings in San Diego with uranium tiles, including one that had extensive usage of yellow bathroom tiles on the exterior (though not in that situation causing any undue risk), pointing up again that many of the houses in that area would have those tiles in the interior bathrooms and kitchens.


http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part040/part040-0013.html

.... manufactured glass brick, pane glass, ceramic tile, or other glass or ceramic used in construction;

(iv) Glass enamel or glass enamel frit containing not more than 10 percent by weight source material imported or ordered for importation into the United States, or initially distributed by manufacturers in the United States, before July 25, 1983.1

(3) Photographic film, negatives, and prints containing uranium or thorium; ....

********UNQUOTE*******