Physician's Group Calls for a Halt to Depleted Uranium Ammunition Use

Interview by Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus.

Depleted uranium, as its name implies, is less radioactive than the highly enriched uranium used in nuclear weapons. But DU, as it's called, is the subject of growing concern among public health officials worldwide due to its carcinogenic properties and because its effects on human health and the environment are not thoroughly understood.

DU is now used by many nations in both offensive and defensive weaponry. It was first widely used in the battlefield during the Persian Gulf War, when U.S. forces and their allies employed DU weapons against Iraq. NATO forces again used DU ammunition in the ethnic conflicts in both Bosnia and Kosovo as the nation of Yugoslavia broke apart.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Martin Butcher, director of security programs with Physicians for Social Responsibility, a group founded more than 20 years ago to oppose the nuclear arms race. Butcher explains why his group is concerned with the use of depleted uranium weapons, and what he believes should be done about i t(A RealAudio Version of this interview may be found At http://www.btlonline.org).

Contact Physicians for Social Responsibility by calling (202) 667-4260 or visit their Web site at www.psr.org

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