Booko
Deviled Hen
Rather than derail a topic over in Health & Healing, I thought I would start something on "Dep U" (as it's called in the military) over here.
Depleted uranium is used in munitions by several countries. It's primary use is to make rounds "heavier" and thereby increase the rounds ability to pierce armour.
There are some health effects of Dep U, though. Despite the efforts of our military-industrial complex in the U.S. to make sure the average American never hears of Dep U, the knowledge is out there, and most especially in other countries.
Dep U poses a danger not primarily because of radiation, but because of heavy metal poisoning. Dep U rounds remain in the soil where they were fired. Airborn dust particles are inhaled. The soil, and therefore the food chain and water table, are contaminated.
There is conclusive evidence of the effects of Dep U on the populations where these rounds are used. Djamila mentioned what she has seen in Bosnia. The damage done to Iraqi children is unquestioned. And there is a possible link to Gulf War Syndrome (which also affects the next generation -- our vets' children).
I really think it's in the interest of every American to educate themselves on the issues of Dep U, and write our leaders demanding we stop, and indeed even support a ban, on this method of warfare. Surely the effects are as bad as land mines, cluster bombs, and white phosphorus -- other armaments that should be banned.
Here are just a *few* of the sources on this subject, to get you started. The Wikipedia article seems accurate (from what I know on this subject) and has many links you can follow to further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium
I'll follow up with some further sources in separate posts.
Depleted uranium is used in munitions by several countries. It's primary use is to make rounds "heavier" and thereby increase the rounds ability to pierce armour.
There are some health effects of Dep U, though. Despite the efforts of our military-industrial complex in the U.S. to make sure the average American never hears of Dep U, the knowledge is out there, and most especially in other countries.
Dep U poses a danger not primarily because of radiation, but because of heavy metal poisoning. Dep U rounds remain in the soil where they were fired. Airborn dust particles are inhaled. The soil, and therefore the food chain and water table, are contaminated.
There is conclusive evidence of the effects of Dep U on the populations where these rounds are used. Djamila mentioned what she has seen in Bosnia. The damage done to Iraqi children is unquestioned. And there is a possible link to Gulf War Syndrome (which also affects the next generation -- our vets' children).
I really think it's in the interest of every American to educate themselves on the issues of Dep U, and write our leaders demanding we stop, and indeed even support a ban, on this method of warfare. Surely the effects are as bad as land mines, cluster bombs, and white phosphorus -- other armaments that should be banned.
Here are just a *few* of the sources on this subject, to get you started. The Wikipedia article seems accurate (from what I know on this subject) and has many links you can follow to further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium
I'll follow up with some further sources in separate posts.