Depleted Uranium
When uranium yellowcake (U308) is processed into U-238. and U03. and U02, and UF6, and also into U-235, then this latter product is known as depleted uranium DU). Over the years of enrichment the USA has accumulated some 700,000 tonnes of the material. The military found that it could be used to harden bullets and bombs, and to be very pyrophoric. So, a shell will slice through the steel wall of a tank and immediately burst into flames. With the explosion it sends a shower of radioactive particles into the region, thereby getting into the dust and water of the area. Following the Gulf War (1991), children playing around the burned out tanks and machines were radiated, causing leukemia and thyroid cancers and sickness.
These special munitions and bombs were used in Yugoslavia (1990's—34 tons). In Afghanistan (2002—800 tons) and in the Gulf War (2003—800 tons). Again, they were used in the Iraq War in March and April of 2003. Meanwhile, a special set of radiation filters had been set up in Aldermaston, England, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). In the "shock and awe" campaign of 2003, some 1500 bombs and missiles were dropped on Baghdad and region, and 300,000 rounds of DU ammunition were fired by A-10 warplanes.
A report by Dr. Chris Busby stated that within 7 to 9 days higher levels of uranium radiation were picked up at the five sites in Berkshire, England, some 2400 miles away. He believes that uranium aerosols were dispersed in the atmosphere and blown across Europe. Hence, the increase of radiation levels in the globe. 15
After 14 years, the USA Dept. of Veteran Affairs reports that over 518,000 Gulf-war veterans are now on medical disability, although some 7,039 had been wounded on the battlefield. Many babies, since born to the veterans, have shown birth defects. Many children and adults in the region of the Gulf War have suffered leukemia and various illnesses.
The USA has seven factories manufacturing depleted uranium ammunition at Paducah, Ohio; Portsmouth , Kentucky; Oak Ridge, Tennesee; Aerojet Ordnance at Downey, Calif.,; Honeywell at Hopkins, Minnesota; and Alliant Techsystems in Edina, Minnesota. Many planes, helicopters, tanks, ships and missiles use this radioactive material. 15 A recent news item stated that the USA has sold depleted uranium ammunition to 80 different countries. A Japanese physicist, Dr. Katsuma Yakasaki, has estimated that the radiation fallout from weapons testing and the use of depleted uranium munitions, amounts to the fallout from 400,000 Nagasaki bombs. 16
The USA has an annual military budget of $500 billion, and continues the possession of 10,000 nuclear warheads, while Russia has some 7000 nuclear weapons, with some 4000 of them on high alert. Each warhead is capable of totally destroying any of the largest cities of the world, and a nuclear war would destroy our civilization. These are the situations to which Saskatchewan exports more and more uranium.
End Notes— Sources of Information
(1) "Chemical Measures, Smoking, Radon Exposure and Lung Cancer Among Elliot Lake Uranium Miners," by Finkelstein and Kusiak, Ontario Ministry of Labour, May 1995, pp. i,1,8.
(2) "Components and Modifiers of the Healthy Worker Effect." By Howe, Chiarelli, and Lindsav. American Journal of Epidemiology. Vol.128.No.6. !986. p. 10.
(3) News Release, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, June 18, 2004.
(4) Comprehensive Study Report, Cluff Lake Decommissioning Project, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Dec. 2003. section 6, pp.6-13.
(5) Letter from Kevin Sdssons, Director of CNSC office in Saskatoon.
(6) "Why Nuclear Power Cannot Be a Major Energy Source," by David Fleming.
www.Feasta.org -Dublin. Ireland, April 2006, p.3.
(7) E-mail from Club Sierra of Canada—sierradub.ca.2006, p.1
"European Heat Wave Shows Limits of Nudear Energy," by Julio Godoy, July 28, 2006. <OneWorld> "Proposed nuclear solution to energy crisis pollutes debate," by Adam Ma'amt, CCPA Monitor, Dec. 05—Jan, 06, p. 11. Also, “Following the Path Backwards,” by Gordon Edwards, Canadain Colaition for Nuclear responsibility (CCNR) May 2005, pp. Iv,17.
(8) Sierra Club, e-mail artide, 2006, p. 1
(9) "Chernobyl kills while bought ex-Greenpeace shills," by Harvey Wasserman, The Free Press Speaking the Truth to Power, April 29,2006., p.2 (—
www.freepress.org/col umns/display/7/2006/1360)
(10)Spiegel International-Online, April 24, 2006, Interactive Map
(www. Spiegel.de/international/SpiegeJ/0,1518,41)
(11) "Tried, tested and failed," by Chris Hune, The Guardian., June 20. 2006
(12) Cited above, Fleming, "Why Nuclear Power Cannot... p.5 Also, Briefing Paper #3 .March 2005, Canadian Nuclear Association.
(13) P. Fritz and S.K.Frape, eds. Saline Waters and Gases in Crystalline Rocks. Geological Assodation of Canada, Special Paper 33,1987, Chap. 3.
(14) "The ethics of nudear waste," by Hugh Robertson, Straight goods, April 5, 2006, p.2. (
www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature6.cfm7REFs206) Also, "Shut Down Nuclear Plants," by Gordon Edwards CBC Commentary, May 30, 2005.
(15)"UK Radiation Jump Blamed on Iraq Shells," by Mark Gould and Jon Angoed-Thomas, The Sunday Times, Feb. 19, 2006/
Also, "From Battlefield in The Middle East: Depleted Uranium Measured in British Atmosphere,."by Leuren Moret, Global Research, March 2,2006.
Also, "Occasional Paper on Depleted Uranium, by Chris Busby and Saoirse Morgan, Green Audit: Aberstwyth, January I, 2006 (
http://www.mindfully.org/Nucs/2006/DU-E ... jan06.html)
Also, "Nuclear Depleted Uranium is WMD," by Leuren Moret, Aug. 29 2006. (
www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle)
Also, "The Trojan Horse of Nuclear War," by Leuren Moret Global Research, July 2004, pp. 5.8.10.11.14 (
www.globalresearch.ca/articles/MOR407A.html)
(15)"Canada .Playing Our Part in the Business of War," Coalition to oppose the Arms Trade, Ottawa. "Press for Conversion" Issue #52 October 2003.
(16) "A Question of Survival," by Dr. Ronald McCoy. President of International Physicians for the Prevention of War, Speech in Vancouver. June 26.2006.
Also, "The Terrible and Rapidly Increasing Danger of a Nuclear Holocaust," by Mel Hurtig, Speech given at Nathan Phillips Square Toronto, August 9, 2006. (
mhlist@vivelacanada.ca)
Also, cited above, Leuren Moret,"From the Battlefields of the Middle East....," p.4.
Just the facts Jack
