Your Local Newspaper/Jouralist/Representative:

Regarding: DEPLETED URANIUM WEAPONS

Depleted Uranium has been used in the manufacture of munitions for a variety of weapons in the U. S. These weapons were used extensively in the Gulf War, some in Bosnia and Afganistan. Depleted Uranium is a very dense metal and pyrogenic, it pierces armor like “it’s butter”. But when the DU burns, it leaves a layer of powder that is toxic and radioactive for billions of years. Depleted Uranium is a human contaminant that if inhaled or ingested may be stored in the kidneys, lungs, bones and testicles. Nearly 250,000 veterans of the Gulf War have reported chronic health issues: disabling neurologic and pulmonary symptoms, a high rate of cancers, and children born with birth defects. These same symptoms have been reported in the exposed Iraqi population over the past 12 years.

The United States has thwarted research on the human and environmental effects of Depleted Uranium. Many civilian and professional groups have detailed the toxic and radioactive effects of this pyrogenic metal. There are compelling documents, reports, films and expert presentations available through these research groups.

Decontamination of the environment is a monumental, daunting and extremely expensive task. Once the Depleted Uranium powder is blown around and deposited in the water and soil it is a lifelong radioactive contaminant for the people of the exposed area.

On several counts Depleted Uranium does not meet the four criteria that applies to weapons under existing international humanitarian and human rights law in armed conflict: 1) weapons must be limited in effect to the field of battle, 2) weapons must be limited in effect to the time period of the armed conflict, 3) weapons must not be unduly inhumane, and 4) weapons must not unduly damage the environment.

We ask you to do all in your power to expose this issue. Before the U.S. military use these weapons in Baghdad, we need a bill in Congress to ban the use of DU. Depleted Uranium Weapons are WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION and we must hold ourselves accountable for their use. It is just a matter of time before the world will judge us for our unconscionable behavior in using these weapons.

Respectfully,

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