----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 12:58:20 -0300
X-Sender: •••@••.•••
Mime-Version: 1.0
To: •••@••.•••
From: •••@••.••• (Jan Slakov)
Subject: ECOLOGICAL catastrophe - NATO bombs - REF. list
From: "Janet M. Eaton" <•••@••.•••>
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 11:48:47 +0000
Subject: ECOLOGICAL Catastrophe - NATO Bombings - REF. List
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><<>
For your information and knowledge!!
Please forward widely to all manner of citizens and NGO's
concerned with the disastrous consequences for the environment,
people and the future of humanity of the NATO bombings in the
Balkans and forward also to journalists, business representatives,
political representatives of all parties and government officials. .
USE AS EVIDENCE OF THE NEED TO :
1) STOP THE NATO BOMBING
2) STOP THE HUMANITARIAN AND ECOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE
3) RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WITH THE UN INVOLVED
AND FIND INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTABLE SOLUTIONS !!
As is stated in the first annotated reference below by Dr. Rosalie
Bertell: "This is certainly not to be interpreted as condoning so
called ethnic cleansing or any [related] nationalistic actions of
the Yugoslav government."
All the best,
Janet Eaton !!
Dr. Janet M. Eaton,
Educator, Researcher,
Public Policy Consultant,
Concerned Global Citizen !!
Wolfville, N.S.
CANADA
•••@••.•••
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
ECOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE & HEALTH HAZARDS OF THE NATO
BOMBINGS: AN ANNOTATED LIST OF INTERNET ARTICLES, NEWS, PRESS
RELEASES !! [Compiled by Dr. Janet M. Eaton, from e-mails received
from list serves, and directly from anti-war, peace and environmental
NGO's and News Services etc. during the period March 31- April 18th]
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
INDEX [ Followed by Annotated list with Website URL's ]
1) MARCH 31st, 1999
Subject : WAR in Kosovo: Use of depleted uranium;
Author: Dr. Rosalie Bertell, PhD, GSNH - A Statement From
2) APRIL 1, 1999.
Subject: Radioactive weapons used by U.S./NATO in Kosovo
Author: Sara Flounders and John Catalinotto, 212-633-6646
International Action Center
3) APRIL 1, 1999
Subject: Kosovo: A Youthful Green Voice
Author: -Stephan Buzharovski, Vice Chairperson of the
Federation of Young European Greens
4) APRIL 2, 1999
Subject: Serbian Ecological Society Plea vs War !!
From: Radoje Lausevic and Dmitar Lakusic, Serbian
Ecological Society, University of Belgrade
5) APRIL 4, 1999
Subject: NATO using depleted uranium weapons
Author: Felicity Arbuthnot and Darran Gardner April 4 1999
Sunday Herald Glasgow, Scotland
6) APRIL 7, 1999
Subject: Environment of Europe at Risk from NATO Bombing
>>>>>From the Environment News Service (ENS)
7) APRIL 9, 1999
Subject: Uranium weapon fears in Kosovo --A-10 - Can fire depleted
uranium shells Author: Environment Correspondent Alex Kirby of the BBC
8) APRIL 11, 1999 Subject: Impacts of Nato's "Humanitarian"
Bombings, The Balance Sheet of Destruction in Yugoslavia Author:
Michel Chossudovsky, Professor of Economics, University of Ottawa,
9) APRIL 13, 1999.
Subject: A New Chernobyl in the Balkans
Author: Natasha Dokovska
10) APRIL 14, 1999
Subject: End Eco-destruction Yugoslav Scientists Plead
Author/Origin: Environment News Service (ENS)
11) APRIL 16, 1999
Subject: NPPs Around Yugoslavia: Potential Source of Nuclear
Catastrophe
Author: Anti-war committee , NGO in Moscow [Press Release]
12) APRIL 18, 1999
Subject: Threat of Ecological Catastrophe <--> NATOBombings !!
From: Serbian Ecological Society with Intro by Janet Eaton
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
ANNOTATED LIST WITH WEBSITE REFERENCES &
CONTACTS
1) MARCH 31st, 1999
Subject : WAR in Kosovo: Use of depleted uranium;
Author: Dr. Rosalie Bertell, PhD, GSNH - A Statement From
E-Mail Contact: Message via Catherine Euler, [CES]
"<•••@••.•••
URL: http://news.flora.org/flora.mai-not/10957
Rosalie Bertell, Ph. D., GNSH, Canadian Epidemiologist, whose
specialty is in higher mathematics, with applications in the
radiobiology and the biomedical sciences says:
Depleted (DU) uranium is one of the largest categories of radioactive
waste produced for the nuclear weapons and nuclear reactor industry.
It is highly toxic to humans, both chemically as a heavy metal and
radiologically as an alpha particle emitter which is very dangerous
when taken internally.
When used in war, the DU bursts into flame from the impact when it
hits a target. It can pierce tanks and armoured cars, releasing
inside of them a deadly radioactive aerosol of uranium, unlike
anything seen before. It can kill everyone in a tank. This ceramic
aerosol is much lighter than uranium dust. It can travel in air tens
of kilometres from the point of release, or be stirred up in dust and
resuspended in air with wind or human movement. It is very small and
can be breathed in by anyone: a baby, pregnant woman, the elderly, the
sick. This radioactive ceramic can stay deep in the lungs for years,
irradiating the tissue with powerful alpha particles within about a 30
micron sphere, causing emphysema and/or fibrosis. The ceramic can
also be swallowed and do damage to the gastro-intestinal tract. In
time, it penetrates the lung tissue and enters into the blood stream.
It can be stored in liver, kidney, bone or other tissues, again for
years, irradiating all of the delicate tissues located near its
storage place. It can effect the blood, which is the basis of our
immune system, and do damage to the renal system as it is eventually
excreted in the urine. It can also initiate cancer or promote cancers
which have been initiated by other cancinogens.
Dr. Bertell refers to a 1998 WHO study of increasing cancer rates,
especially leukemia in young children, in southern Iraq where most of
the war took place and notes that thousands of veterans of the Iraq
War are recognized as seriously ill with an unknown syndrome, and,
she says, we have been able to document DU in their urine as late as
7 or 8 years after the war. There is no natural source of DU to
explain this phenomena!
It is imperative that we all denounce this radiation and
toxicchemical warfare! It has now been used by the US and Britain
against Iraq and in Bosnia. It is now being used in Kosovo (NATO
announcement in Europe, 30 March 1999). It has been condemned by the
United Nations Human Rights Tribunal (August 1996 Session of the UN
Commission on Human Rights, Sub-Commission on the Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities). The Human Rights
Commission has requested that the Secretary General prepare a written
report on DU and certain other weapons of mass destruction
(Resolution 1997/36, which also established a UN Rapporteur to take
over the study of DU and other weapons of mass destruction on behalf
of the UN). The damage being done will not only cause incredible and
unending suffering to today's victims, but the genetic damage it may
cause can be passed on to their offspring. Such weapons and war
itself need to be condemned as utter barbarianism!
This is certainly not to be interpreted as condoning so called ethnic
cleasing or any of the nationalistic actions of the Yugoslav
government. She concludes: " This Kosovo action is resulting from deep
seated conflicting ideas of "World Order" - that proposed by NATO's
vision of itself as a world police force, and that of the OSCE
(Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) which sees
security rising out of honest cooperation and legal resolution of
conflicting opinions."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2) APRIL 1, 1999.
Subject: Radioactive weapons used by U.S./NATO in Kosovo
Author: Sara Flounders and John Catalinotto, 212-633-6646
International Action Center
email: •••@••.•••
URL: http://www.iacenter.org/duyug.htm
The International Action Center, a group that opposes the use of
depleted-uranium weapons, called the Pentagon's decision to use the
A-10 "Warthog" jets against targets in Kosovo "a danger to the people
and environment of the entire Balkans."
There is solid scientific evidence that the depleted uranium residue
left in Iraq is responsible for a large increase in stillbirths,
children born with defects, and childhood leukemia and other cancers
in the area of southern Iraq near Basra, where most of these shells
were fired .[and] to the condition called "Gulf War Syndrome" that
has affected close to 100,000 service people in the U.S. and Britain
with chronic sickness.
John Catalinotto, a spokesperson from the Depleted Uranium Education
Project of the International Action Center and an editor of the 1997
book Metal of Dishonor: Depleted Uranium, said the use of DU weapons
in Yugoslavia "adds a new dimension to the crime NATO is perpetrating
against the Yugoslav people--including those in Kosovo."
Sara Flounders, a contributing author of Metal of Dishonor: Depleted
Uranium and the Co-Director of the International Action Center,
said.,. "The use of Warthogs with DU shells threatens to make a
nuclear wasteland of Kosovo," Flounders said. " The pentagon is laying
waste to the very people--along with their children--they claim to be
saving; this is another reason for fighting to end NATO's attack on
Yugoslavia.
"Worldwide protests against these bombings are
growing. The U.S. use of radioactive weapons
must be linked to all the protests and
opposition that is taking place internationally
to the bombing. These protests must be joined by
environmental activists, veterans groups,
anti-nuclear groups, and all those who know the
long-term destruction to the environment and to
whole civilian populations that this type of
warfare will cause."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3) APRIL 1, 1999
Subject: Kosovo: A Youthful Green Voice
Author: -Stephan Buzharovski, Vice Chairperson of the
Federation of Young European Greens
E-mail Contact: None
URL Not available
The author of this e-mail Stefan Buzharovski, Vice Chairperson of the
Federation of Young European Greens, offers a passionate anti-war
citizens/ youth/ ecological/ perspective on the War and recent events
involving DEM-Youth [Ecologist Movement of Macedonia] and asks for
support for an e-mail campaign by requesting any who read this to
forward e-mail list serve addresses to which he can forward
messages!! He notes that he is drafting a declaration against the
strikes that he will propose to the Federation of the Young European
Greens for adoption and asks for emails to support him personally-in
this endeavor - if you agree - see addresses at end of message.
" I cannot sleep for nights trying to tap all the media reports I can
get .... but still it is hard to imagine the horrifying situation in
which the citizens of Yugoslavia have been placed without their will.
I stand firmly in their support, in the name of justice and peace."
"We have come to a situation where world leaders speak
straight-faced in front of their nations, with statements implying
that bombs and missiles are delivered to innocent civilians as
humanitarian aid."
-Stephan Buzharovski, Vice Chairperson of the
Federation of Young European Greens
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4) APRIL 2, 1999
Subject: Serbian Ecological Society Plea vs War !!
From: Ass. Prog. Dr. Radoje Lausevic and M. Sci
Dmitar Lakusic, Serbian Ecological Society,
University of Belgrade
E-Mail Contact:
M. Sci. Dmitar Lakusic, President
•••@••.•••
Ass. Prof. Dr. Radoje Lausevic, Secretary
•••@••.•••
URL http://news.flora.org/flora.mai-not/10547
" I do not believe bombing is a way of developing democracy and
civil society in Serbia, Montenegro and Yugoslavia. I do not believe
cruising missiles are appropriate tools for solving humanitarian
problems on Kosovo. But I believe this war is an excellent
opportunity for war industry in America, Russia and many other
countries, war industry which perspective and development [is] based
on permanent instability and many local wars, like in Africa, South
America, Asia, and since recent years in the hearth of Europe... And
best way how to hide someone's sexual oddity, budget scandals,
corruption affairs or unsuccessful internal politics...... Serbian
Ecological Society does hope that you personally and your scientific
societies, as a very respected part of your democratic society, can
and will help us."
--President & Secretary of the Serbian Ecological Society,
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5) APRIL 4, 1999
Subject: NATO using depleted uranium weapons
Author: Felicity Arbuthnot and Darran Gardner April 4 1999
Sunday Herald Glasgow, Scotland
URL http://news.flora.org/flora.mai-not/10677
"Deadly depleted uranium weapons, blamed for spiraling numbers of
cancers and birth defects in Iraq, are being used by NATO forces in
Yugoslavia. Both Tomahawk Cruise missiles and munition rounds used by
American Warthog bombers contain the radioactive waste material. While
British forces launched their first cruise missiles from the submarine
HMS Splendid this weekend, American forces have already fired more
than 100 at targets across Yugoslavia.
The weapons, first used in the Gulf War in 1991, require depleted
uranium (DU) for their armour piercing coating. The DU is imported
under license from America and manufactured into tank-busting shells
by Royal Ordnance in the English Midlands, before being shipped to
storage in South Wales and at Chapelcross in Dumfriesshire.
DU shells have been linked to Gulf War Syndrome, which is thought to
be responsible for the deaths of more than 400 UK war veterans. DU
munitions are currently listed by the UN as weapons of mass
destruction."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6) APRIL 7, 1999
Subject: Environment of Europe at Risk from NATO Bombing
From: the Environment News Service (ENS)
URL: http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr99/1999L-04-07-04.html
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia, April 7, 1999 (ENS) - A leader of the
Yugoslavian New Green Party says NATO bombing of Yugoslavia is
endangering the entire environment of Europe.
Branka Jovanovic, president of Council of the New Green Party,
member of the Movement for Peace of the Muslims and Serbs,
member of INES (Italian Network for peace, human rights, Ecological
awareness and cooperation for Sustainable development) says
that not only are military targets being hit but the water supply for
much of Eastern Europe is being contaminated. "I warn you that Serbia
is one of the greatest sources of underground waters in Europe and
that the contamination will be felt in the whole surrounding area all
the way to the Black Sea, she says in an email from Belgrade.
On the first day of the NATO air strikes, March 24, the municipality
of Grocka was hit where the Vinca nuclear reactor is situated,
containing a great stockpile of nuclear waste, Jovanovic reports.
The municipality of Pancevo has been hit, in which the petrochemical
factory and a factory for the artificial fertilizers are situated.
The municipality of Baric has also been hit with a large complex for
the production of chloride, which is using Bopal technology.
"It is not necessary for me to explain what the blowing up of one of
such factories would represent," she writes. "Not only Belgrade,
which is situated at a 10 kilometre (six mile) distance, would be
endangered, but the rest of Europe too." On the second day in the
Belgrade suburb of Sremcica, a factory for the chemical production
and a rocket fuel storage area were hit causing releases into the
surrounding area, Jovanovic reports. "I am pointing out that four
national parks were hit - all members of the International
association of the national reservations - you have to realise that
FR Yugoslavia is among 13 of the world's richest bio-diversity
countries," she writes. Especially worrying to Jovanovic is a recent
news report heard in Belgrade that, "in the next phases of their
bombing, NATO will use the airplanes B1 and A10 which are carrying
missiles with depleted uranium previously used in Iraq and Bosnia
Herzegovina.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7) APRIL 9, 1999
Subject: Uranium weapon fears in Kosovo --A-10 - Can fire depleted
uranium shells Author: Environment Correspondent Alex Kirby of the BBC
URL: http://news.flora.org/flora.mai-not/10717
Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov says he believes Nato forces may
be using weapons containing radioactivity against Yugoslavia. "In a
number of areas of Kosovo, experts have detected enhanced radiation
levels in the atmosphere and on the ground," Mr Ivanov said... The
[UK] Labour MP Tam Dalyell, who opposes the use of force against
Yugoslavia, told BBC News Online he thought it was "more than
possible".. John Catalinottto of the International Action Center in
New York, set up by former US Attorney-General Ramsey Clark and others
to oppose US military involvement around the world, said: "As the
shell hits its target, it burns and releases uranium oxide into the
air. "The poisonous and radioactive uranium is most dangerous when
inhaled into the body, where it will release radiation during the life
of the person who inhaled it." The IAC said the Pentagon's decision to
use the A-10s in the conflict was "a danger to the people and
environment of the entire Balkans".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8) APRIL 11, 1999
Subject: Impacts of Nato's "Humanitarian" Bombings,
The Balance Sheet of Destruction in Yugoslavia
Author: Michel Chossudovsky, Professor of Economics, University of
Ottawa,
E-mail: •••@••.•••
URL: http://news.flora.org/flora.mai-not/10788
In making the case that the bombings of Yugoslavia are not strictly
aimed at military and strategic targets as claimed by NATO but instead
as being largely intent on destroying the country's civilian
infrastructure as well as its institutions, Professor Chossudovsky
highlights seven related impacts of the bombing including the dangers
of environmental contamination. [je]
"Refineries and warehouses storing liquid raw materials and chemicals
have been hit causing environmental contamination. The latter have
massively exposed the civilian population to the emission of poisonous
gases. NATO air strikes on the chemical industry is intent on creating
an environmental disaster........ A report by NBC TV confirms that
NATO has bombed a the pharmaceutical complex of Galenika, the largest
medicine factory in Yugoslavia located in the suburbs of Belgrade.
The fumes from this explosion have serious environmental
implications."
-- Michel Chossudovsky, April 11, 1999
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9) APRIL 13, 1999.
Subject: A New Chernobyl in the Balkans
Author: Natasha Dokovska
For Full Text and Graphics Visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr99/1999L-04-13-01.html
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 1999
SKOPJE, Macedonia, April 13, 1999 (ENS) - Macedonian environmentalists
are reacting with horror against the bombing in Yugoslavia,
particularly after reports from Greek researcher, Professor Zeferos
who said that bombing in Yugoslavia is a great environmental
catastrophe for the entire Balkan region. Professor Zeferos, an
environmental chemist from the Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki, says that the first three days of bombing
above Yugoslavia released a large amount of hazardous
toxic, carcinogenic and radioactive substances.
The biggest fear of possible bombing of power plants
by NATO forces, because the public's risk of inhaling highly
contaminated air would then be very high.
- Natasha Dokovska
Specific dangerous hazards to public health and the environment
rererrd to in the article include:
* furans and dioxins which are released at the time of the bomb
explosions are being carried for long distances across the planet.
* nitrous oxide, released from aircrft fuel when it burns, which
damages the ozone layer with dangerous results for human health.
Macedonian environmentalists ... [also] fear radioactivity on the
scale of that released by the Chernobyl nuclear accident in the
Ukraine 13 years ago and still felt across Eastern and Central
Europe.
10) APRIL 14, 1999
Subject: End Eco-destruction Yugoslav Scientists Plead
Author/Origin: Environment News Service (ENS)
URL : For Full Text and Graphics Visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr99/1999L-04-14-03.html
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia, April 14, 1999 (ENS) - Scientists are warning
that the NATO bombs being dropped on Yugoslavia are destroying not
just military targets but the entire ecology of the region. One of the
healthiest areas in Europe is turning into an environment hazardous
for human health as land and water are being irreversibly polluted,
they report.
Especially vulnerable are the underground waters, says[Dr.] Momir
Komatina, author of 12 books and over 260 scientific essays on
subterranean waters."The pollution of water resources in the wide
area of NATO bombing is not damaging just for our country but for the
Balkans and a part of the South Europe as well,
especially for the countries in the Black Sea area....He says
Yugoslavia is full of numerous aquifers containing major or minor
subterranean water reserves including mineral , thermo-mineral
and top-quality boiling water.
The press release also quotes Dr. Radoje, agronomist
and member of the Programme Council of The New Green
Party in Belgrade:
"By burning down enormous quantities of naptha
and its derivatives more than a hundred highly toxic
chemical compounds that pollute water, air and soil
are released. When these three elementary conditions
of life are endangered, the basis of life for all the people
on the Balkan Peninsula as well as those in the
neighbouring regions is also in danger".
Dr. Radoja [also] points out that "the NATO
bombing" ...[will prevent ] "the planting of 2.5 million
hectares of land..".
"The lack of fuel for agricultural machines will have catastrophic
results, because it leads to hunger of the entire population.
When you add to this the poisoning of the water, air, and soil
catastrophe becomes a cataclysm".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11) APRIL 16, 1999
Subject: NPPs Around Yugoslavia: Potential Source of Nuclear
Catastrophe
Author: Anti-war committee , NGO in Moscow [Press Release]
E-mail contact: "Vladimir Slivyak" <•••@••.•••
Alisa Nikoulina (aln@glasnet. ru), Oleg Kireev (•••@••.•••)
URL: http://news.flora.org/flora.mai-not/10955
"Undeclared war between NATO and Serbia is a threat to whole world,
nuclear plants in Eastern Europe aren't protected adequately", said
Moscow' Anti-war committee on Friday. Not only Zagreb' research
nuclear reactor can be affected by this armed conflict, but also both
Bulgarian Kozloduy (KNNP) and Hungarian Paks (PNNP) nuclear plants.
KNPP located in just 200 km and Paks in less than 400 km away from
conflict zone.
"In order to prevent a global nuclear disaster the Balkan war should
be stopped immediately, Russia should not be involved into the war but
it must effectively stimulate peaceful negotiations," - says Vladimir
Slivyak, coordinator of the Anti-war committee in Moscow. "Otherwise
global nuclear disaster will happen to the world.."
12) APRIL 18, 1999
Subject: Threat of Ecological Catastrophe <--> NATOBombings !!
From: Serbian Ecological Society with Intro by Janet Eaton
E-mail Contact: •••@••.•••
URL: http://news.flora.org/flora.mai-not/10989
The message speaks alarmingly of the bombing, in the early
hours of the morning of April 18th at 1:00 a.m., .in Pancevo,
northern suburb of Belgrade, of a petrochemical complex which
completely destroyed an Ammonia plant ("Azotara") and Vinyle
Chloride Monomere (VCM) plant ("Petrohemija"). It notes that a huge
dark cloud of VCM appeared over the city of Pancevo - "a huge dark
cloud [which] is spreading over the territory of SouthEastern Europe."
The authors say "we are faced with serious ecological catastrophe."
I spoke at length with Dr. Radoje Lausevic, Associate
Professor of Biology, University of Belgrade and he confirmed
that at 1:00 a.m. April 18th NATO jets bombed plants of the
Petrochemical Complex in Pancevo.
Professor Lausevic said " Only one sure thing is that the whole
petrochemical factory has been destroyed. It was hit by at least
three bombs. I was at home about 3 kilometers away and heard the
sounds of explosion very well and saw the flames in the dark sky last
night- a huge flame."
--- -Janet Eaton
According to all the terms and rules of warfare accepted and followed
so far, the plants of chemical process industries of this type have
never been military targets and objects of strikes. The range of
products of "HIP Petrohemija" d.p. Pancevo is of extremely civilian
nature and bombardment of these plants represents the worst
war crime....Therefore, we call upon the petrochemical producers,
licencors and engineering houses all over the world to raise their
voice and warn those who give orders for bombing of the danger and
catastrophic consequences which might be caused by bombing of this
kind of plants."
--Ass. Prof. Dr. Radoje Lausevic, Serbian Ecological
Society, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
========================================================================
•••@••.•••
a political discussion forum.
crafted in Ireland by rkm
(Richard K. Moore)
To subscribe, send any message to •••@••.•••
A public service of Citizens for a Democratic Renaissance
(mailto:•••@••.••• http://cyberjournal.org)
Non-commercial reposting is hereby approved,
but please include the sig up through this paragraph
and retain any internal credits and copyright notices.
Copyrighted materials are posted under "fair-use".
To see the index of the cj archives, send any message to:
•••@••.•••
To subscribe to our activists list, send any message to:
•••@••.•••
Help create the Movement for a Democratic Rensaissance!
A community will evolve only when
the people control their means of communication.
-- Frantz Fanon
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
committed citizens can change the world,
indeed it's the only thing that ever has.
- Margaret Mead
Share: