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CADU NEWS 16
Winter 2003/2004

Contents
Formation of the International Coalition for a Ban on Uranium Weapons
US Navy Knew Risks of DU in 1984
Is DU Ammunition Being Fired at Hard Targets in
Scotland?
Campaign to Force Labelling of DU Munitions in Transportation
British Soldiers Contaminated with DU
Korean Island Bombed with DU
28 Anti-DU Protestors Found Not Guilty
Australia To Buy US DU Tank
World Uranium Weapons Conference
ATSDR Study Finds DU Site Could Have Caused Lung Cancer and Kidney Disease
Cleanup of DU in Serbia Gets Under Way
Truck carrying DU Overturns
MoD Denies it is to Phase-out DU Weapons
Japanese Government Doesn't Even Know If It Is Risking its Troops to DU Exposure
US Government and Military Trying to Wriggle Out of DU Cleanup at National Sites
British Government Says No Central Register of DU in Iraq Kept
Summary Of Scientific Papers on DU
Message from CADU to All Our Supporters

Formation of the International Coalition for a Ban on Uranium Weapons

A new coalition of grassroots groups has formed with the aim to achieve a legal international ban on depleted uranium weapons. CADU is one of the founding members of the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons (ICBUW) and we are hugely optimistic that working together this coalition offers a real opportunity to stop the use of these toxic weapons. Despite being in its early days the coalition already has the involvement of groups from around the world and a draft international treaty has been written. Over the next few months we will be working hard to establish a proper organisational structure, funding and functioning teams. So far there have been two planning meetings and a coalition headquarters has been set up in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. CADU will act as a focus for inquiries into the coalition in the UK and we will keep our members up to date with coalition developments in CADU News.

Below is the full mission statement of the coalition:
On October 13th, 2003, after a conference in Berlaar, Belgium, grassroots organisations and experts in several disciplines launched an international campaign for a ban on the military use of uranium [1] and other radioactive materials in weaponry. These radioactive and chemically toxic weapons were first used on a large scale by the US and the UK in the Gulf War in 1991, subsequently in Bosnia and Yugoslavia by NATO, and again in the war on Iraq by the US and the UK in 2003. At least sixteen countries have weapon systems with uranium in their arsenals [2].

Because of mounting evidence of harmful effects of uranium on human health and the environment, we call for an immediate and universal ban [3] on the military use of uranium and other radioactive materials. In addition, we call for the cleaning up of all sites contaminated by these weapons along with compensation for all affected populations. We call for a halt to the production, testing, sale, stockpiling, transport and export of these weapons and a decommissioning of all existing stockpiles. We call for immediate medical assessment, treatment and long term monitoring of all those who have been exposed to uranium weaponry. We demand from the accountable governments full disclosure of all locations where uranium weapons have been used as well as the amounts of uranium involved. We call for financial support from organisations and individuals to provide independent medical and environmental investigations of affected countries. Finally, we call on governments to exclude their troops from alliance with any government that uses uranium munitions.

In pursuit of these goals, the organisations below have established the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons. We announced the start of our campaign in mid-October at the CSC (Christian Labour Union) in Brussels and at the Uranium Weapons Conference held in Hamburg. Within two months of the Berlaar conference, over thirty organisations had given us their support. We call on non-governmental organisations, governments and other interested parties to join us in this urgent effort.

The Coalition encourages and supports direct action, campaigns and the formation of national coalitions to inform and educate the public regarding uranium-its origin, properties, use, and impact on human health and the environment. The Coalition is working on a Draft Convention on the Prohibition against the Development, Production, Possession and Use of Uranium Weapons and is planning to hold an international conference in Brussels in May 2004 to launch a full-scale international campaign.

To find out more please visit: http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/

Notes

[1] 'Uranium' here refers to so-called 'depleted' uranium and to depleted uranium mixed with recycled reactor fuel, which contains plutonium and other fission products. We consider the term 'depleted uranium' to be grossly misleading. However, because it is already widely used in activist and scientific communities, we will use this term or the abbreviation DU, as needed to avoid confusing those already accustomed to it.
[2] Bahrain, France, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America
[3] On use of the term 'ban' or 'prohibition': Although we believe that the use of uranium weapons is already prohibited by existing international laws, we nevertheless believe that we need to establish an explicit and comprehensive prohibition of production, possession and sale. The fact that such weapons are in active use, despite existing international laws and that warnings supported by independent scientific research have been raised, indicate the need to address this issue clearly and directly leaving no doubt about the will of the majority on these specific weapons. We are also convinced that seeking a comprehensive convention that includes a clear demand for compensation will help to establish the groundwork for eventual compensation of victims.

List of Founding Coalition Partners

Campaign Against Depleted Uranium (CADU), United Kingdom
Campaign Against Radiation Exposure (CARE), Japan
Center for Peace and Justice, US
For Mother Earth, Belgium
Grassroots Actions for Peace, US
International Depleted Uranium Study Team (IDUST), US
German Affiliate of the International
Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)
Laka Foundation (Documentation and research centre on nuclear energy), the Netherlands
RISQ; Independent foreign policy think tank, the Netherlands
Military Toxics Project (MTP), US
NO DU Hiroshima Project, Japan
Our Common Future, United Kingdom
Stop USA, Belgium
VD/AMOK (Documentation and research collective on the military), the Netherlands
Youth Terminating Pollution, US

US Navy Knew Risks of DU in 1984

Papers secured for release by Glen Milner of the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, USA, through the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the US Navy have long known about the dangers of DU munitions and that special precautions are needed in handling and decontaminating these weapons. This evidence of pre-knowledge is important because it predates usage in the 1991 Gulf War when soldiers were not given safety instructions on using the weapons. It also exposes the continued cover-up of the US military when they argue that DU usage has no health risks and that decontamination after usage is not needed. Page 3 of the document says:

8. Should DU be handled in powdered form [DU munitions create a fine powder when fired due to their pyrophoric nature] or should a DU penetrator oxidize resulting from a penetrator's involvement in an accident such as a fire, then the intake of DU aerosol or ash via inhalation, ingestion or absorption presents an internal radiation hazard.
9. Depending on the solubility of the particular DU compound in body fluids, it may also be toxic, particularly to the kidney.
10. Should an accident occur or DU corrosion be discovered, cleanup and decontamination should be performed only by authorized personnel.
11. Anyone who may have inadvertently come in contact with material that is potentially contaminated with DU should be surveyed for decontamination by authorised personnel as soon as possible, wash clothing that may be contaminated, wash hands, arms, face and any other exposed part of the body with soap and water. Do not eat, drink, smoke or apply cosmetics before being satisfactorily decontaminated.
The full documents can be viewed at: www.gzcenter.org/NavyDU.htm

Is DU Ammunition Being Fired at Hard Targets in
Scotland?

Photos taken by activists inside the Dundrennan test fire range, near Kirkcudbright in southern Scotland, show that weaponry has been shot at hard targets inside the test fire area. The Dundrennan site is the main test fire range for DU weapons inside the UK.

The MoD has always claimed that DU weapons were only shot into the Solway Firth, the sea area bordering the test fire range, and therefore argued there was no DU contamination risk to the area. When grass and soil samples, taken as part of an environmental study in 2000, showed DU levels "well above acceptable limits" at the site the MoD claimed this was due to misfirings.

These new photos will raise doubts as to the truth of these statements. The photos clearly show hard targets, including burntout tanks riddled with ammunition holes, and close up shots of ammunition casing. Local resident, Dan Kelly, who has campaigned against the use of DU in the area for years has always maintained that DU weapons were being shot at hard targets within the base. Is this the evidence that can backup his claims? When photos were sent to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), they replied they had no powers to regulate MoD activity. CADU is currently attempting to get answers to these questions and verify what munitions precisely has been used on the targets.

Meanwhile the anti-DU movement in Scotland has been going from strength to strength. A petition with 400 signatures was handed into the Scottish parliament petitions committee, who ruled that the Scottish Parliament does not have the compentency to rule on the issue of DU weapons testing as defence and radioactive materials are reserved issues. This despite the fact that environment and health issues are devolved issues.

ACTION
For more details on the Scottish campaign against DU please contact Galloway Coalition for Justice & Peace: tel: 01671-403340, 01988-500730 or 01671-830390. See all the photos taken inside the Dundrennan test site

Campaign to Force Labelling of DU Munitions in Transportation

Four groups in the United States, Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, the Traprock Peace Center, the Military Toxics Project and Nukewatch have started a "Depleted Uranium Munitions Action Plan" to force the military to label DU munitions. They argue that "The United States military does not want civilian populations to know how and when DU munitions are being shipped through their communities for fear of "unnecessary public concern about the radiation risks associated with DU
munitions."

"Normally this type of shipment would be labelled with both Department of Transportation (DOT) "Radioactive" and "Explosive" placards. Branches of the U.S. military, however, have a special Department of Transportation exemption, DOT-E 9649, which allows them to ship DU munitions without the "Radioactive" placard. The exemption must be renewed every few years by the DOT and the Military Traffic Management Command.

The current DU munitions shipping exemption expires on June 30, 2004. Public pressure could force the DOT to not renew the next application for exemption by the Military Traffic Management Command. DU munitions should have a "Radioactive" placard and an "Explosives" placard on shipments. DU is an extremely toxic material and much more dangerous when shipped with an explosive propellant as in the case of DU munitions."

The Department of Defence argues there would be no increased risk to the public by not labelling the shipments radioactive, because "in the unlikely event of an accident or incident involving transportation of DU munitions, the DoD maintains Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams nationwide trained in the health hazards associated with DU munitions. These teams are capable of responding on short notice with protective equipment and radiation survey instruments". Activists however have countered this by pointing out that, without labelling, in a fire or accident the local police and firefighters would have no idea the shipment contained radioactive material. They are asking that the public contact the Department of Transportation Exemptions division and ask that the DOT immediately terminate and not renew DOT-E 9649.

ACTION
Write to your MP/MoD asking about DU transportation in the UK, and relevant safety planning.

British Soldiers Contaminated with DU

The Sunday Mirror reported (30/11/2003) that five British Soldiers have so far tested positive for depleted uranium contamination while fighting in Iraq. They were all believed to have been in vehicles hit by DU shells in two 'friendly fire' attacks. They now face the possibility of developing cancer or other diseases.

Although these are the first soldiers to have tested positive we can expect many more as most soldiers have not so far returned and many are still facing armed combat. Most worrying of all, as reported in the last CADU News, is that the tests being offered to soldiers returning from this attack are not accurate and are capable of giving a negative result when in fact contamination has occurred. Scandalously the MoD has developed an accurate test in cooperation with Leicester University but is not offering this test to soldiers from the 2003 conflict. Instead it will only be made available to veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.

Given the very real risk to all soldiers and the necessity of testing all returning soldiers it must be asked why continue to use these weapons at all?

Korean Island Bombed with DU

The Maehyang-ri bombing range, based on an island off South Korea, fires daily at the tiny surrounding islands with fighter jets, including the DU-firing A-10. Communities who live less than a mile away have had their lands taken and are now facing toxic pollution. The villagers live by fishing and clam fishing but environmental studies of the area have found the shellfish to be severely contaminated. Villagers have also been hit by shells, with at least 12 killed. Thousands of shells have gone off target and lodged in the hillsides around the area. One entire island has already been wipe out while another two mile long island has been reduced to two-thirds its original size.

But the Maehyang-ri bombing range isn't run by the US Air Force and it isn't run by the US Army. Five years ago, the bombing range was privatized and turned over to the multinational weapons contractor Lockheed Martin. Then, in July, the bombing range changed hands. An Alaska-based company called Arctic Slope World Service took over the contract.

28 Anti-DU Protestors Found Not Guilty

On Friday, October 17, 2003, a six-person jury of citizens from Hennepin County declared that International Law can trump the local private property/no trespass law. At the height of the recent war against Iraq, on April 2, 2003, 28 Minnesotans "crossed the line," entering the world headquarters property of Alliant TechSystems Corporation in Edina with the express purpose of conducting a "Citizens' Weapons Inspection."

The letter they carried demanded that they have access to the books and records of Alliant TechSystems Corporation (ATK) to see if they had completed any studies on the medical and environmental effects of the DU uranium munitions they produce. The defendants contended that there is significant evidence that the DU munitions produced by ATK containing U-238, a radioactive substance with a half-life of 4.5 billion years, is a prime suspect in escalating rates of cancers and birth defects among residents of southern Iraq and US troops who served in the first Gulf War. On April 2, 2003, 28 activists crossed the line and entered Alliant TechSystems. On October 17, 2003 a public trial was held and all 28 were found not guilty.

Australia To Buy US DU Tank

Australia is set to buy 60 Abrams M1 battle tanks from the US for $600 million. Although modifications are being made for the Australians, like replacing the DU armour with ceramic plate, the Abrams tank still fires DU munitions. The choice of the tank is to strengthen the alliance with the US by boosting "interoperability" for future Iraq-style conflicts. In an indication of the strategic importance of the move, the US Administration will handle the deal, selling the tanks directly to Australia. Critics say the Abrams are unsuitable as they are too heavy to be airlifted and deployed easily.
Australia has never used its previous 30 year old tank fleet.

World Uranium Weapons Conference

Rae Street of CADU talking at the World
Uranium Weapons Conference

From October 16th-19th the World Uranium Weapons Conference was held in Hamburg Germany. A mixture of activists, scientists and veterans came to the conference from all over the world, including two scientists from Iraq. Images and documents from the conference can be viewed at:
http://traprockpeace.org/du_hamburg_03

ATSDR Study Finds DU Site Could Have Caused Lung Cancer and Kidney Disease

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), has released a study of past emissions from the Colonie Site (formerly National Lead Inc.) in Albany, N.Y. In the study they found that "After evaluating the environmental data, ATSDR concluded that past DU emissions from the plant were a public health hazard and may possibly have increased the risk of kidney disease and lung cancer, particularly for smokers who had lived near the plant. The extent to which risk was increased, however, is unknown."

Residents near the plant however are not satisfied with the study (which took 10 years to achieve) and are considering bringing a class action lawsuit against National Lead's successor company, Houston, Texas-based 'NL Industries Inc.' They claim the study is full of omissions in data and inconsistencies and that several serious areas such as the risk to children from contaminated soil have been overlooked or dismissed. More than 89 residents have signed a petition demanding "a comprehensive health study of the community impacted by NL Industries pollution, with input from a community-appointed Citizen Advisory Committee." They claim strong incidences of cancer and other diseases occur around the plant.

Cleanup of DU in Serbia Gets Under Way

A site contaminated with DU in the 1999 bombing of Serbia has been decontaminated. The Serbian Government claims that the cleanup at Bratoselce has been 95% effective. It has cost the Serbian government 15 million dinars. Given that under International Law weapons should not continue to have effect after the war has ended, it is a shame that a poor country should have to pay so much money to cleanup the mess left behind by rich NATO armies. Meanwhile more than 200 DU rounds have been found in a site near Presevo in Southern Serbia...

Truck carrying DU Overturns

While the Department of Defence continues to insist that there is no need to label transport carrying DU, a road in Montana, USA, was closed when a truck carrying uranium hexafluoride was found to have overturned. Authorities reopened the road some hours later after determining there was no leakage.

MoD Denies it is to Phase-out DU Weapons

An article in the Telegraph (21/09/2003) that the UK Government was planning to phaseout DU tank rounds caused some excitement but proved to be a bit premature. In a reply to a member of the public the MoD said ". This article is not entirely accurate. .. To date DU has consistently out performed all equivalents as a kinetic penetrator when employed in anti-armour weapon systems: its use, therefore, offers the best operational effectiveness in this role."

Japanese Government Doesn't Even Know If It Is Risking its Troops to DU Exposure

In reply to questions asked in the Japanese Parliament, the Japanese Government admitted that it did not know if DU was used there by the US army, despite this being widely publicised. One of the sites Japanese troops may be sent to, Samawah, is believed to have been widely contaminated.

US Government and Military Trying to Wriggle Out of DU Cleanup at National Sites

The US Government and military is trying to walk away from its commitments to cleanup sites contaminated by DU and other radioactive materials at the Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG), Indiana and Hanford, Washington. The army initially has a decommissioning plan for JPG but now is saying that because of unexploded ordnance, it is too dangerous to send Army workers into the area for decommissioning. However environmental group 'Save the Valley' have put in a hearing request that the regulations governing decommissioning do not provide for an open-ended license with no timetable for decommissioning. If the Army is allowed to not have a plan in place, a precedent could be set for how the same issue is handled at other bases. At Hanford the Department of Energy is attempting to avoid cleanup by redefining more than 3/4 of its most dangerous radioactive wastes as 'incidental'.

British Government Says No Central Register of DU in Iraq Kept

In response to written questions in parliament asked by Angus Robertson MP to the Secretary of State for Defence about British DU deployment, location and recovery in Iraq, he replied "I am withholding information about numbers of rounds of DU munitions deployed on operations (in Iraq)... All surplus DU ammunition has now been returned to the UK. Obvious surface-lying DU fragments continue to be removed from the battlefield as they are discovered, however the details of DU findings are not held centrally."

Summary Of Scientific Papers on DU

Prof. Glen Lawrence of Long Island University has prepared summaries of many of the scientific papers written on the health effects of DU. Although written primarily for those with some scientific understanding it is very useful for anyone doing research in this area or interested in finding out more on the subject. Please contact CADU if you would like a copy of his work in email or paper form.

Message from CADU to All Our Supporters