"Depleted" Uranium (D.U.)

Uranium occurs naturally in rock, in some parts of the world, and should be left there. From the pure element, when further refined, only a small fraction is suitable, either for fuel in reactors or for nuclear bomb making. The rest is hazardous, so-called "depleted" waste. But some evil genius thought that this embarrassing waste could be used in the manufacture of ammunition and as a component of deep penetrating bombs. The metal is getting on to be twice the weight of lead. Missiles having D.U. "penetrators" will cut through the steel armour plating of tanks and some thicknesses of concrete. It has the property of being pyrophoric, that is, it ignites on impact at immense heat, whereby a dust is formed, each microscopic particle of which is both highly poisonous and dangerously radio-active, if ingested by man or beast. British and USA forces have fired D.U. ammunition, firstly in Iraq 1991 and more of it in the 2003 invasion, and in other military assaults, with devastating effect upon the civilian population, contaminated by fall-out dust. Within the human body, the insidious damage progresses, affecting all parts, including reproductive organs and horribly deformed offspring result where both parents are affected. Rank and file military are not made fully aware of the hazards of D.U. ammunition and fall-out. Our governments, the senior members and top-brass military, have thrown a despicable blanket of secrecy over the subject, by silence, half-truths or lies, and the media, (a branch of the establishment, it has been accused) is complicit in this information black-out.

A massive crime against humanity is being enacted, with only a flutter of protest among ignorant populations so far.

Spread the word.

Ban this despicable weapon.

See Campaign Against Depleted Uranium

by Richard Crump

Richard spent the last six months of his life in St Leonards, near Hastings. He was a keen Hastings Against War member and continued his campaign against "depleted" uranium with us. He died on 26th December 2008.

If you would like to celebrate Richard's life please make a donation to CADU.