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Subject: Ban Depleted Uranium- Pentagon's Latest Assault
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (DEIRDRE SINNOTT)
International Action Center
39W. 14th St. Rm #206, NY,NY 10011
Ph: (212) 633-6646, Fx: (212) 633-2889
The International Action Center is organizing a campaign which will include
international meetings, demonstrations, educational information, and the
publication of a new book to expose the latest generation of Pentagon
weaponry made from Depleted Uranium. This generation of weapons is causing
tremendous environmental contamination and health problems. What follows
is Former US Attorney General, Ramsey Clark's letter and a description of
the proposed book and September 12th meeting at the UN Church Center at
6:30pm.
Ramsey Clark
September, 1996
Dear Friend,
Have you heard of DU? Most people haven't. It stands for depleted uranium
which may turn out to be one of the great dangers to our environment and
health. The gulf war pioneered the use of this toxic, heavy metal, and
radioactive poison. In five years time it has become a standard material
for so-called conventional weapons which are deployed in bases throughout
the U.S. and around the world.
I have seen the impact of this new poison when I visited hospital wards
for young children in Iraq. Amidst the overwhelming horrors of the bombings
and the starvation caused by sanctions, the doctors at first did not notice
the huge rise in the numbers of childhood cancers, such as leukemia,
Hodgkin's disease, and lymphomas. There has also been a significant rise in
the rate of congenital diseases and deformities in fetuses: an increase
startlingly similar to the increase of these conditions among babies of
Gulf War Vets.
I have also met with veterans of the Gulf War whose health has been
destroyed by a strange combination of afflictions. Today, more than 60,000
veterans suffer from Gulf War Syndrome - These numbers are expected to grow
as the long term effects of contamination take their toll. A common
denominator of these conditions in the U.S. and in Iraq is depleted
uranium.
DU is the radioactive by-product of the uranium enrichment process. Its
ability to penetrate steel has made it a popular weapon. According to U.S.
Army reports, when a DU shell explodes, up to 70% turns into aerosol. These
radioactive, and highly toxic uranium particles travel in the wind and can
be inhaled and ingested. The United States and Britain used so much DU in
weapons during the Gulf War that 350 tons of residue permeate the ground
and water, and will contaminate the entire region for generations.
Information on this escalating contamination has been gathered by
scientists, researchers, veterans and activists. Much of this material
will be presented at the forum we are helping to coordinate at the UN
Church Center on September 12. Many UN Non-Governmental Organizations will
be in New York at that time for UN meetings. We hope that this forum will
have an international impact and encourage groups around the world to take
up this issue and begin a campaign for a BAN on the use of DU.
We must widely publicize this information. We have to end the government
cover-ups of the spreading poison. We need your help to produce and
distribute a popularly written book that will expose this global
contamination.
Your support can make a difference. The book, The Pentagon's Magic Bullet,
can have a powerful impact. But it will depend on our ability to distribute
it to the major media, to veterans and grassroots networks and to schools
and libraries. How widely we can reach out depends on you.
Today the Pentagon is larger than the military machines of the rest of the
world combined. The U.S. government is also the largest distributor of
weapons to other countries. We have a responsibility to act. We must demand
of our government that it immediately cease the spread of this toxic
material. We must encourage others around the world to raise their voices
and to alert their populations. Publication and distribution of The
Pentagon's Magic Bullet can help do this.
The damage to children today and to unborn generations caused by nuclear
testing and by Agent Orange was exposed by grass roots movements.
Determined opposition to the Pentagon's military adventures has had a
powerful impact on the plans of the war makers.
We must act now to confront this new danger of depleted uranium.
Ramsey Clark
P.S. I hope that you will carefully read the information in this mailing.
Please remember that your generous support will make this project possible
And if you live in the New York area I urge you to join me at the meeting
at the UN Church Center.
****Help expose the Pentagon's latest generation
of radioactive weapons
Depleted Uranium (DU) is not a household word but it already may affect
millions of households. The name DU gives the false impression that it is
harmless and that the biological and environmental danger of enriched
uranium has been eliminated.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
A new book, The Pentagon's Magic Bullet will explain how Depleted Uranium
is a grave danger to health; why the Pentagon is using it and what we can
do to ban its use.
The Pentagon is depending on an uninformed public that does not understand
the dangers of DU. The munitions industry sees DU as a cheap way to enhance
shells and bullets, making them harder and more able to penetrate armor.
The military is disregarding its own reports that DU poisons the hundreds
of thousands of soldiers who handle it. DU contaminates battlefields,
proving grounds, military bases. DU remains imbedded in soil and water long
after its use where millions can come in contact with it.
In order to build a movement to ban DU we have to make the facts widely
known.
The Pentagon's Magic Bullet will bring together for the first time, in a
popularly written form, the many dangers inherent in the use of DU. But
this book can only come out with your help.
Your donation will pay the cost of publishing and distributing this
important new work. This valuable resource must get into the hands of
environmental and anti-war activists. The Pentagon's Magic Bullet should
be available in schools, libraries, and be seen by the major media,
commentators and journalists.
The Pentagon's Magic Bullet will be a popularly written explanation of the
dangers of increasing spread of Depleted Uranium. Scientists, veterans,
doctors, researchers, environmental experts and political activists will
all contribute to this book.
BECOME A SPONSOR
Many scientific and educational projects receive support from government
and corporate sponsors.
The Pentagon's Magic Bullet will not get a dime from the big trusts and
foundations because it challenges the military-industrial complex. They
won't sponsor this book, but YOU CAN!
By sponsoring this book you will help alert and awaken a movement. You will
be providing the basic information, the contacts and the resources to
encourage others take up the challenge.
Benefactors, sponsors and donors of $100 or more will be acknowledged in
the book. All donors of $25 or more will receive a book. Your support will
make this project possible. Please be generous.
Donations written to Peoples Rights Fund / DU Education Project are tax
deductable.
Send to: Peoples Rights Fund/ DU Education Project, % International Action
Center,
39 West 14th St, Suite #206, New York, NY 10011 Phone:(212) 633-6646
