The environment and depleted uranium

Abstract

The right to a healthy environment and other ecological rights are, at the same time, human and economic-social rights. Many things can endanger nature, and consequently man. So ecological problems are: social, economic, politic and cultural ones. Ecological consciousness and freedom mean, also, the particular rights of citizens and the main one is the right to a healthy natural environment. Contrary to other rights, ecological ones are determined by way of negative definition -by bans. It obliges society to provide reasons for the accomplishment, as well as everyone's duty for earth, water and sea exploitation (it must be without endangering the environment). Ecological consciousness and freedom are conditions for man to act free in nature, contributing to health, security and humanity. The usage of depleted uranium munitions was only indirectly forbidden (by the General convention which is against environmental pollution) up to its mass application in the last decade of the XX century (Iraq, Bosnia, Yugoslavia). The United Nations are on their way of adding depleted uranium to the list of forbidden weapons, as has been already done with chemical and biological weapons and land mines. During 1996. and 1997, munitions with depleted uranium were put on the list of weapons for mass destruction with long lasting effects, by a Resolution of the United Nations. Radioactive material, with which the weapon is fried, dispersed on the ground continues to cause harm even when the war actions are finished and there is no excuse for its application even when it is said to be a low radioactive material. By decision of the NATO Political Committee about the "lack" reasons for a ban of the use of the munitions, the worldwide consensus on this subject has been directly violated. The explanation that the material is harmless for health is wrong; depleted uranium is dangerous, it is radioactive. The International Radiation Protection Association - IRPA, including materials, statistics, epidemiological studies, concludes that every use of radiation should be strictly forbidden and must be avoided under all circumstances. Depleted uranium is called an invisible threat and the consequences of contamination, either incidental or accidental, like accidents of civilian planes with counterweights of depleted uranium, the disaster of the disaster. For these reasons its other name Silver Bullet (for the extremely strong fire balls which are formed after the projectile strikes a solid target) has been pushed into the BACKGROUND: . On the other hand DU "can not" distinguish civilians from soldiers, conquerors from the conquered, children from soldiers, children of their children.... and for that its name has been changed to the Deadly Bullet. An invisible threat which continues to cause unexplained illness in people who have been in contact with it, deformities of newly borne babies and genetic handicaps for future generations, simply - a total overkill. Are these enough to ban its usage or do we need something more?.

Osiromašeni uranijum je otpad koji treba na odgovarajući način deponovati i koji je, našavši primenu za izradu specijalne municije, postao zbog svojih sekundarnih efekata predmet sukobljavanja mišljenja i interesa onih koji ga koriste i drugih koji osećaju njegove "posledice". Iza dobrog marketinškog pristupa o efikasnosti, ubojitosti, preciznosti municije sa osiromašenim uranijumom, iza hvalospeva o njegovom preimućstvu nad ostalom municijom ostaje kontaminirana životna sredina, mrtvi vojnici i civili, ali i teška genetska oštećenja. Cilj ovog rada je ukazivanje na štetnost upotrebe municije sa osiromašenim uranijumom kako na lokalnom tako i na globalnom nivou.