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state-run institutions and hospitals for contraceptive purposes or menstrual management. Having an intellectual disability does not preclude individuals from making decisions or refusing treatment. The informed con- sent of these citizens was not obtained by the authorities. In fact, these individuals were deliberately misinformed about the nature of the surgical procedures performed on them. People with dis- abilities were routinely told that they were having their "appendix out", or having a "hip operation", when in fact they were being forcibly sterilised by the state. As many as 60,000 people in Sweden were involuntary ster- ilised from 1935 to 1976, on the basis of having "undesirable" racial characteristics or otherwise "inferior" qualities including poor eyesight and "mental retardation". Unmarried mothers were also routinely sterilised.” More than 16,000 Japanese women with disabilities were invol- untarily sterilised with their government's approval between 1949 and 1995. In France, 15,000 women with intellectual disabilities were forcibly sterilised by the state; in Denmark, 6,000; and in Norway, 40,000. In Austria, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, compulsory sterilisation was practised on mentally handicapped and/or rationally unstable men and women well into the 1970s. Up to 70 per cent of intellectually disabled women in Austria were forcibly sterilised. In Australia, advocacy workers estimate that 50 per cent of women with intellectual disabilities were routinely sterilised up until the early 1980s. A Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission report, released in December 1997, concludes that at least 1,045 intellectually disabled girls have been sterilised since 1992, though only 17 of these procedures were legally authorised. tried to buy forgiveness through compensation. We should have at least expected our great defenders of democ- racy—the media—to expose the horrible truths about human experiments, but journalists and editors have chosen to act as the agents or adjuncts of the state. Information about the radiation experiments was available as far back as 1971, yet the news media hushed up reports until the 1990s. There is little evidence to suggest that the media will take up the gauntlet and expose fur- ther details of human experimentation, which obviously continues to this day. The disinformation and propaganda surrounding the origin of AIDS, Ebola and Marburg are testament to the continued role of the media as the Fourth Estate. The experiments described in this report cannot be justified by Cold War zeal, by the quest for scientific knowledge, by the desire for medical advances, by cultural imperialism or by igno- rance. Democratically elected governments, upheld as 'good' international citizens, have funded and executed cold and calcu- lating tests on their own citizens. They have treated their citizens with contempt and without regard for human dignity or life. They have breached medical and scientific ethics, for the first responsi- bility of the physician is to "do no harm". And they have deliber- ately violated the 1948 Nuremberg Code and the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human rights, which they collectively wrote. As we reach the dawn of the 21st century, governments contin- ue to experiment carte blanche upon their citizens. Perhaps what is most frightening is that while experiments upon individuals continue, the number of experiments conducted on the masses is also increasing. We will be remembered as the generation who were the victims of government ‘experiments’ involving genetical- ly engineered foods, childhood vaccinations, fluoridation of the water supply, electromagnetic disease induction, and trials of drugs such as the contraceptive pill. When our elected representatives reassure us that certain human experiments have stopped, we should be suspicious. We can be sure that some experiments have only ceased because they are obsolete, and that new technologies and techniques are providing a breeding ground for new kinds of human experimentation. — © wepptys we ro oe GOVERNMENTS ON TRIAL drugs such as the contraceptive pill. Western democratic governments have been silently and effec- When our elected representatives reassure us that certain human tively waging war against their own citizens for decades. If you experiments have stopped, we should be suspicious. We can be or I had detonated nuclear devices, injected people with plutoni- sure that some experiments have only ceased because they are um, sprayed biological warfare agents in public places or given obsolete, and that new technologies and techniques are providing LSD to unsuspecting people, we would be charged, tried and a breeding ground for new kinds of human experimentation. — © gaoled by the state. We would be hounded and ‘tried’ by a ruth- About the Author: less and unrelenting media. ; Susan Bryce is a freelance investigative journalist whose But governments and their representatives have not been put on _ interests include environmental health, technology and global trial: they have merely offered hollow apologies and occasionally politics. She is based in southeast Queensland, Australia. Endnotes 8. "US fallout '10 times Chernobyl", The Publishers, Maryland, USA, pp. 18-19. 1. Bowart, W., Operation Mind Control, Australian, 31 July 1997. 16. Cole, Leonard A., The Eleventh Fontana/Collins, Glasgow, Scotland, 9. Reed, Christopher, "Radioactive milk Plague: The Politics of Biological and 1978. cancer fear for '50s children", The Sydney — Chemical Warfare, W. H. Freeman & 2. Nicholson, Joe, "Nuke Risk Clear to sae Tae Sale 31 July US old company. New eee p. 60-61. tet tga on . Lee, Gary, "Pay test victims, told", . Cole, op. cit., pp. 33-37. Gov'tin 47", The Daily News, London, 11 ci 7 Gctaber 1995. 18. Cole, Clouds of Secrecy, 55. January 1993. 3. Lee, Gary, "Over 23,000 in Radiation 11. Healey, Melissa, "Nuclear leak no 19. Cole, The Eleventh Plague, p. 17. Experiments", The Guardian Weekly accident", SMH, 26 August 1994. 20. Gilligan, Andrew, "Revealed: MoD's L a ° k dine 30 Octob foo 12. Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, germ warfare tests on London", The oncon, wee encing - Giees . "Human Radiation Experiments in Britain Sunday Times, London, 2 February 1997. 4. Associated Press, "Radiation Tests from 1957 to the Current Day", CND 21. Budiansky, Stephen, "Cold War Ruled a Violation of Students", Leading Information Office, November 1996. Guinea Pigs", The Sunday Telegraph, Edge, Yelm, WA, USA, no. 69, May 13. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and London, 13 March 1994. 1994, — ce ws Torres Strait Islander Studies, 22. ibid. 5. Honicker, Cliff, “Burning Secrets of the Encyclopedia of Aboriginal Australia, 23. MacDonald, Victoria, "Down's babies Cold War", Guardian Weekly, wie 10 July Aboriginal Studies Press, 1994. used to test out vaccines", SMH, 9 July 1994. 14. Cole, Leonard A., "The Spectre of 1997. 6. "USAF must come clean over tests", Biological Weapons", Scientific 24. "Experiments shock", Southern Cross, New Scientist, 10 February 1996. American, December 1996. 11 June 1997. 7. Perez, David, "Cold War Testing: US 15. Cole, Leonard A., Clouds of Secrecy: 25. Heintz, Jim, "Swedish sterilisations Radiated Humans", Workers World The Army's Germ Warfare Tests Over revive Nazi ghosts", The Australian, 27 Service, 8 January 1994. Populated Areas, Rowman & Littlefield August 1997. 40 - NEXUS FEBRUARY - MARCH 1998