Photo by Peter Thompson, December 2002
Depleted Uranium updates
articles: Phil Steger, John Maus, news from the "peace bridge"
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Photo by Peter Thompson, December 2002 |
Depleted Uranium updates articles: Phil Steger, John Maus, news from the "peace bridge" |
Postwar Iraq: Consequences and Concerns
1. Humanitarian Crisis: The war on Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands of Iraqi civilians and soldiers. Many people have been without food, water and medicine, and millions of children have been traumatized. The war has resulted in immeasurable losses to the Iraqi people and has left scars that may never heal.
2. Unexploded Ordnance: Cluster bombs and anti-personnel landmines are two of the lethal leftovers of the recent war against Iraq. Many of them remain unexploded and can be set off by human touch.
3. Depleted Uranium (DU): DU weapons, which are highly toxic and radioactive, were used throughout Iraq in the recent war, including heavily populated areas. Birth defects and childhood cancers increased 600 to 1,100 percent in the areas of Iraq where DU was used in the first Persian Gulf war.
4. Self Determlnation: The U.S. government has determined that the U.S., not the Iraqi people, will rule Iraq and control its oil wealth. A transitional Iraqi government will merely have a consultative role.
5. Environmental Degradation: The soil and water in Iraq have been severely contaminated as a result of two wars and thirteen years of debilitating sanctions.
War is not the answer. Occupation is not liberation. Let Iraq Live.
FFI: Twin Cities Peace Campaign Focus on Iraq at 612-522-1861 or Women Against Military Madness at 612-827-5364 (www.worldwidewamm.org) To receive periodic information on a list serve, contact Marie.
Talk to your elected officials about banning DU, cluster bombs, and landmines, which keep on killing long after a war is over. Insist that the U.S. meet its obligations to clean up all unexploded ordinance, restore the environment, and support economic relief and self determination for the Iraqi people.
President George Bush 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov Phone: (202) 456-1414; fax: (202) 456-2461
Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of State
Senator Norm Coleman 2550 University Avenue W., Room 100 N St. Paul, MN. 55114-1025 651-645-0323; fax: 651-645-3110 (D.C.) 202-224-5641; fax 202-224-1152
Senator Mark Dayton Bishop Henry Whipple Building, Suite 298, I Federal Drive. Fort Snelling, MN 55111 612-727-5220; fax 612-727-5223 (D.C.) 202-224-3244; fax 202-228-2186
Congresswoman Betty McCollum 164 Western Avenue No #17 St Paul, MN 55102 651-224-9191 fax 651-224-3056
Congressman Jim Ramstad 1809 Plymouth Road South, #300 Minnetonka, MN 55305 952-788-8200 fax 952-738-9362
Congressman Martin Olav Sabo 286 Commerce at the Crossings 250 Second Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55401 612-664-8000 fax 612-664-8004
Toll Free Washington DC for Congresspeople: 1-800-839-5276
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Alternet has updated coverage on the war on Iraq, and the continuing occupation: http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/ Locally: www.justview.org (you're there) Check the links for groups in your area. The Iraq Action Coalition www.iraqaction.org Comprehensive resource of activists. National Network to End the War on Iraq Site: www.endthewar.org National Groups with Iraq pages: Fellowship of Reconciliation: www.forusa.org/generation.htm; American Friends Service committee: www.afsc.org/iraqhome.htm |
Please contact Webworker: carolm@justview.org for corrections, updates