Nexus - 1004 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page 76 of 78

Page 76 of 78
Nexus - 1004 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Continued from page 74 5. Contaminated and damaged equip- ment or materials should not be recycled to 1. All DU contamination must be physi- manufacture new materials or equipment. There is a famous quotation, "And a child shall lead them". But if the children are sick or dead and the citizens of the world permit this to continue, then there will not be a child who can fulfill the prophecy and lead us to peace. J implore you to act! oo 1. All DU contamination must be physi- cally removed and properly disposed of to prevent future exposures. 2. Specialised radiation detection devices that detect and measure emissions of alpha-particles, beta-particles, X-rays and gamma-rays at appropriate levels from 20 dpm up to 100,000 dpm and from 0.1 mrem/hour to 75 mrem/hour must be acquired and distributed to all individuals or organisations responsible for medical care and environmental remediation activi- ties involving depleted uranium/uranium- 238 and other low-level radioactive iso- topes that may be present. Standard equip- ment will not detect contamination. 3. Medical care must be provided to all individuals who have (or may have) inhaled, ingested or had wound contamination, to detect mobile and sequestered internalised uranium contamination. 4. All individuals who enter, climb on or work within 25 metres of any contaminated equipment or terrain must wear respiratory and skin protection gear. What has occurred? Visual evidence, personal experience and published reports verify that: 1. Medical care has not been provided to all DU casualties. 2. Environmental remediation has not been completed. 3. Contaminated and damaged equip- ment and materials have been recycled to manufacture new products. 4. Training and education has only been partially implemented. 6. Contamination management procedures have not been distributed and implemented. About the Author: Dr Doug Rokke is a Doctor of Philosophy (University of Illinois, 1992), a Master of Science (University of Illinois, 1986) and holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Western Illinois University, 1975). He is an environmental sciences and nuclear medical sciences specialist, educator and consultant with extensive experience in academic and military fields. During Operation Desert Storm, Dr Rokke served as a health physicist with the 3rd Medical Command, US Army, in assessing and cleaning up the DU contamination. To see more of Dr Rokke's writings on Gulf War casualties and depleted urani- um, visit the Traprock Peace Center website, http:/Avww.traprockpeace.org. What should happen next? All citizens of the world must raise a uni- fied voice to ban the future use of depleted uranium munitions and force those nations that have used depleted uranium munitions to recognise the immoral consequences of their actions and assume responsibility for medical care and thorough environmental remediation. JUNE — JULY 2003 NEXUS +75 The Scourge of Depleted Uranium www.nexusmagazine.com