Millions around the world are concerned about the prospect of further war, but while the media focus remains on the search and inspection of Iraq’s possible weapons of mass destruction, insufficient attention is being paid to the types of weapons being amassed by the U.S. Uranium remains a threat to the environment for far longer than chemical or biological weapons. It has a half life is 4.5 billion years. On 13th February 2003, a European Parliament resolution on the harmful effects of unexploded ordnance (landmines and cluster submunitions) and depleted uranium ammunition was passed. This was largely ignored by the British press. It called for E.U. Member States to
“immediately implement a moratorium on the further use of cluster ammunition and depleted uranium ammunition (and other uranium warheads), pending the conclusions of a comprehensive study of the requirements of international humanitarian law”. [21]
The development of guided weapons and uranium warheads has proceeded undetected by international arms control agencies and unquestioned by governments since 1985, until the E.U. Parliament resolution in February 2003. NATO blocked investigation of bomb and missile targets by UNEP in Kosovo and Serbia after the Balkans war. The U.K. government was warned of potential uranium contamination in the Afghan bombing in October 2001 but rejected calls for weapons inspection, health and environmental surveys. Military radiation surveys and medical records in Afghanistan have not been published.
“immediately implement a moratorium on the further use of cluster ammunition and depleted uranium ammunition (and other uranium warheads), pending the conclusions of a comprehensive study of the requirements of international humanitarian law”. [21]
The development of guided weapons and uranium warheads has proceeded undetected by international arms control agencies and unquestioned by governments since 1985, until the E.U. Parliament resolution in February 2003. NATO blocked investigation of bomb and missile targets by UNEP in Kosovo and Serbia after the Balkans war. The U.K. government was warned of potential uranium contamination in the Afghan bombing in October 2001 but rejected calls for weapons inspection, health and environmental surveys. Military radiation surveys and medical records in Afghanistan have not been published.