[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [DU-WATCH] 29th May Target Depleted Uranium
Michael Walcher
solaraycer at yahoo.com
Fri May 17 14:10:45 CDT 2002
Greater Manchester and District Campaign for <gmdcnd at gn.apc.org> wrote: To: du-watch at yahoogroups.com
From: "Greater Manchester and District Campaign for"
Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 17:39:39 +0100
Subject: [DU-WATCH] 29th May Target Depleted Uranium
Reply-to: du-watch at yahoogroups.com
29th MAY - TARGET DEPLETED URANIUM
International Day of Action Against Depleted
Uranium
Wherever Depleted Uranium is used in the world, military and civilian populations are
left a legacy of raised cancer rates, birth deformities and long-term environmental
contamination. Now is the time to take action to demand an immediate end to this
“weapon of indiscriminate effect”.
On the 29th May 2002 there is a call for an International Day of Action Against
Depleted Uranium. Groups all over the world will be showing those who produce,
promote and use depleted uranium that its risks are an unacceptable threat to life and a
violation of international law. Whether as a group or an individual the Campaign Against
Depleted Uranium is asking you to take action.
What is Depleted Uranium?
Depleted Uranium (DU) is a chemically toxic and radioactive metal that is used by armed
forces in many countries for its dense properties that allow it to pierce armour and tanks.
Used by UK and US forces the Gulf War and the US and NATO in the Balkans, it has
been blamed for Gulf War Illness and the massive rise in birth deformities and childhood
cancers in Iraq. The same patterns are now starting to be repeated in the Balkan region.
As a recent UNEP report found, raised levels of DU are present long after fighting has
stopped and can contaminate water and food supplies for returning civilian populations
for many decades to come.
And it is not just those in war zones who have something to fear. All those around DU
production, mining, transportation and test firing ranges are also at danger from exposure
to DU dust, and that includes a lot of people in the UK.
What Can You Do?
On May 29th why don’t you visit or ring one of the organisations below to express your
disapproval at their involvement in the use of DU? Many people may not know the
dangers of DU and leafleting employees, visitors and those nearby can really raise
awareness. CADU has prepared leaflets that we can send to you for this purpose.
Please let CADU know if you are preparing an action or if you want to become involved
with an existing one.
Of course campaigning against DU is important at all times. Speak to your MP/MEP
about their stance on DU, and if they support the EU moratorium on the use of DU, or
hold a public meeting or stall.
UK Organisations Involved In The Production And Use Of DU
BNFL (British Nuclear Fuels Ltd) are involved in the production of depleted uranium
and hold patents relating to DU products. Last year it was revealed that they were
planning to dump 30 000 bags of DU, generated from the Springfield’s BNFL site, at a
rubbish dump at Freckleton, near Preston in Lancashire.
Head office: BNFL plc, Group Office, H280 Hinton House, Risley, Warrington, Cheshire
WA3 6AS
Tel: 01925 833574 Fax: 01925 833545
Springfields BNFL: Springfields, Salwick, Preston PR4 0XJ
Tel: 01772 763914 Fax: 01772 762470
Lancashire Waste Services is the waste company who have been allowing DU to be
dumped at Freckleton with complete disregard for the well being of those who live
nearby.
LancashireWaste Services Ltd, Tustin Court, Portway, Preston, PR2 2YQ
Tel: 01772 325500
Urenco is a company involved in uranium enrichment, which produces DU as a side
product. They currently are thought to store 38,000 metric tonnes of DU.
Head office: Urenco Limited, 18 Oxford Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 2NL
Tel: 01628 486 941 Fax: 01628 475 867
Uranium enrichment site: Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd, Capenhurst, Cheshire,
CH1 6ER
Tel: 0151 473 4000 Fax: 0151 473 4040
Rio Tinto is a British company that is involved in Uranium mining in Australia. This has
been strongly opposed because it has destroyed the ancestral lands of Aboriginal people,
affected the health of people living and working around the mines and is taking place
within Kakadu National Park, which is a World Heritage Site.
Head Office: Rio Tinto plc, 6 St James's Square, London, SW1Y 4LD
Tel: 020 7930 2399
BAe Systems, formerly known as British Aerospace Ltd, is the world’s largest arms
manufacturer and is involving in producing DU components for tank ammunition and the
AV-8B Harrier II which was used to fire DU ammunition in the Gulf region. It has a DU
production and handling site at Featherstone, near Wolverhampton, which was the scene
of a serious fire involving DU in 1999, which led to widespread fears of local
contamination.
Head Office: 6 Carlton Gardens, London SW1Y 5AD
Tel: 01252 373232 Fax: 01252 383991.
The Royal Ordnance Speciality Metals factory: PO Box 27, Wolverhampton, West
Midlands, WV10 7NX, United Kingdom
Tel: 01902 783939 Fax: 01902 783352
Rolls Royce, the engineering company, is the second biggest contributor to the UK Arms
trade. They have been involved in the production of engines for the AV-8B Harrier jets
which were used during Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War to fire DU munitions.
Six million pounds of ordnance was dropped on the Persian Gulf.
Head Office: Rolls Royce PLC, 65 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AT.
Tel: 020 7222 9020 Fax: 01332 622 935.
And showrooms around the country!
DU Firing Ranges
Four firing ranges have been used to test DU munitions in the UK, with local people not
told what is being tested there and munitions often left where they have fallen to corrode
and pollute the environment.
Eskmeals, Millom, Cumbria, LA19 5YR.
Tel: 08700 100 942 Fax: 01252 393399
Kirkcudbright. Dundrennan army range, south west Scotland.
West Freugh (Luce Bay), Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway.
Foulness Island, off the coast of Essex.
Army Recruitment Offices
The MoD has a shameful record of exposing of exposing its soldiers to DU, and then
refusing to care those harmed afterwards. Veterans suffering from Gulf War illness are
still fighting for compensation as they battle with this debilitating illness. CADU has
often visited Armed Forces Careers Offices to speak to those working there and possible
new recruits and finds this a very successful action.
There are Armed Forces Careers Offices all over the country. To find your local one
visit: www.royal-navy.mod.uk and look under careers or contact CADU.
Most of these companies have many more branches and factories nationwide than can be
listed here. If you are particularly interested in finding one in your area please do contact
CADU for details.
If you would like receive some free leaflets for your action or just to find out more about
Depleted Uranium please contact us or visit our website:
Campaign Against Depleted Uranium
Bridge 5 Mill
22a Beswick St
Ancoats
Manchester
M4 7HS
Tel/Fax: 0161 273 8293
Email: info at cadu.org.uk
http//:www.cadu.org.uk
This message is available in leaflet form from CADU.
**********************************************************
Greater Manchester & District
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Bridge 5 Mill
22a Beswick Street
Ancoats
Manchester
M4 7HR
UK
Tel. : +44 (0) 161 273 8283
Fax. : +44 (0)161 273 8293
**********************************************************
Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
du-watch-unsubscribe at egroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
Do You Yahoo!?
LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/mailman/archive/peace-discuss/attachments/20020517/90de8653/attachment.html
More information about the Peace-discuss
mailing list