Dear IDUST friends,
Many of you have asked what you can do about helping stop the use of
depleted uranium in military weapons, enclosed is a short list.
I will
be leaving for Europe this week to continue organizing IDUST Regional
Chapters there. I will be away for a month.but will check my E-mail
on
occasions.
Cheers Damacio Lopez
IDUST REGIONAL CHAPTERS
We encourage International Depleted Uranium Study Team members to help
us with our work by gathering information and evidence. If it is
determined that a country possesses DU munitions, are they testing
them
on weapons ranges that they control? DU can be detected by soil
sampling. Also, are there increased incidence of cancers and other
radiation and heavy metals health effects in the local populations?
Here
is a short list of ACTIONS that you can take:
GATHERING INFORMATION
1 Ask the military if they possess munitions that contain DU? Ask
weapons manufacturers if they produce weapons containing DU? Send a
copy
of your requests to local representatives and the media.
2 Ask a friendly politician to question the Defense Minister in
parliament. Keep in mind that some federal governments hide behind
a
veil of secrecy especially if they perceives something that could be
to
its detriment.
3 Try approaching old friends from the armed forces.
4 Use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request or a similar
citizens right to know law in your country.
GATHERING EVIDENCE
1. Take soil and water samples and other material (e.g. portable parts
of tanks used as targets) from practice ranges. In uranium battlefield
countries, take soil and water samples from areas hit by missiles and
other weapons such as cluster bombs.
2. Look for increases in incidence of radiation and heavy metal related
diseases in local populations. Seek out epidemiologists for help.
3. Seek out laboratory backups, geologists and other scientists who
willtest and analyze samples and locate radiation instruments that
detect alpha radiation. A hand held German made model MR9511 ABX-ALERT
MULLER LEHRTECHIK, will cost around 480 deutsche marks.
ACTION PEOPLE CAN TAKE
The issue of whether a country has weapons containing depleted uranium
U-238 (DU) can be approached from the directions of cause and effect.
"Cause" weather a country's military possess munitions that contain
DU
and "Effect" if they do possess them are they testing them on weapon
ranges they control? DU can be detected by soil sampling. Also, are
there increased incidence of cancers and other radiation and heavy
metals health effects in the local populations?
Damacio Lopez IDUST Executive Director
PH (505) 867-0141
P.O. Box 1688, Bernalillo, New Mexico 87004 USA