McDermott
bill- URGENT
From
Carol Wolman MD, October
24, 2003
After a weekend conference on depleted uranium weapons (DU) with Veterans
for Peace, the Mendocino Pece Action Group feels that DU is the greatest
threat we face right now, and needs to be banned immediately, as its
genetic damage increases with each generation. It is hard to detect,
impossible to filter, and is spreading through earth's atmosphere- a
very scary situation.
The relevant legislation is HR 1483- Depleted Uranium Munitions Study
Act of 2003' Dr. MCDERMOTT (with Mr. RANGEL, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. CONYERS,
Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Ms. LEE, and Ms. BALDWIN)
http://thomas.loc.gov/
then enter the HR 1483 and Depleted
Uranium Munitions Study Act of 2003' Dr. MCDERMOTT
The bill mandates the study of DU, its health effects, and its distribution
in the environment. It also mandates cleanup of contaminated sites,
and periodic reports.
Please ask your Representative to co-sponsor this urgent bill. I hope
one of the online petition groups will set up a link to make this easy.
Right now, the Pentagon is DENYING that DU has any harmful effects.
This is true in its solid state, but once DU is used, pulverized and
ignited, the resulting fine particles are alpha emitters forever, and
are readily inhaled, ingested, or absorbed by mucosa and open wounds.
The particles lodge in lungs, brain, kidneys, and damage all cells in
their immediate vicinity. Fast growing cells, such as those of fetuses,
are particularly vulnerable- hence, the rate of spontaneous abortions
and birth defects in Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Vieques, and other locations.
Our own military personnel are greatly affected. Fully a third of
the troops in Gulf War I were affected by DU, when the US used 320 tons
of it. According to Peace Action's flier, as of May 2002, 8,000 service
men and women have died of DU exposure, with another 159,000 on service-related
disability and illness. Medical care had been denied to them, since
to admit the effect of DU would expose the US to liability... A study
of Gulf War veterans showed that 67% had children with severe illnesses,
missing eyes, blood infections respiratory problems and fused fingers.
http://nycap.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=5735&group=webcast
It is criminal to expose the current generation of soldiers to such
dangers. Their total education consists of a 20 MINUTE briefing on the
dangers of DU, which is everywhere in Iraq right now, especially in
Baghdad. And its half-life is 4.5 BILLION years!
We haven't seen thermonuclear weapons used since 1945. DU has being
used extensively, however, and its mutagenic effects are spreading.
Just as Strontium 90 in cow's milk in the 50's sparked public outrage
and resulted in the banning of atmospheric testing, so should the hazards
of DU lead to banning of this horrible munition.
Peace, Carol Wolman, MD
