仲田です。
劣化ウラン情報の転載です。
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
サンフラワー・メーリングリストにより送られてきた情報です。かなり量が多
いので、目次と劣化ウラン関係の記事のみを転載します。翻訳することが出来
ないですみません。全文をご覧になりたい方は、個人あてに送りますので連絡
下さい。
Forwarded by NOMURA; Osami <peace-st@jca.apc.org>
---------------- Original message follows ----------------
From: Carah Lynn Ong <admin@abolition2000.org>
To: sunflower-napf@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 19:38:25 -0700
Subject: [sunflower-napf] The Sunflower February 2001 No. 45
--
The Sunflower Newsletter No. 45 February 2001
Online monthly newsletter of the
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
The Sunflower
February 2001 (No. 45)
The Sunflower is a monthly e-newsletter providing educational
information on nuclear weapons abolition and other issues relating
to
global security. Back issues are available.
I N T H I S I S S U E
PERSPECTIVE
ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE SYSTEMS
DEPLETED URANIUM
NUCLEAR MATTERS
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR TESTING
BOOK REVIEWS
NUCLEAR INSANITY
NAPF HAPPENINGS
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE (FEATURING NATIONAL CALL-IN DAYS)
RESOURCES
************************
DEPLETED URANIUM
************************
Depleted Uranium Causing Balkan Syndrome
International concern about the use of depleted uranium (DU)
erupted in January after the announcement that at least seven Italian
soldiers and soldiers from several other countries have died from
leukemia or contracted illness linked to radiation exposure.
DU
munitions are primarily used by the US and British armies.
The US
used the munitions in the bombings of Iraq during the Gulf War.
US
jets also fired some 31,000 rounds of DU ammunition during NATO's
1999 bombing in Kosovo. NATO also recently admitted to the use
of DU
for a short period in Bosnia during the 1992-1995 war there.
On 15
January, NATO medical chiefs met in Brussels to discuss potential
risks of DU munitions to health and the environment. Further
controversy over the use of the weapons has emerged since the
announcement that the munitions used in Kosovo may have contained
plutonium, which is even more deadly than uranium.
A majority of NATO countries turned down requests from several allies
for a temporary ban on DU munitions in the NATO arsenal on 10
January. Although circumstantial evidence continues to mount,
there
has been no conclusive evidence of the dangerous after-effects of DU.
DU munitions are favored by the armies that use them for their
ability to penetrate heavy armor. DU munitions burn on impact
with
steel, leaving toxic and alpha-emitting uranium in solid form on the
area of impact. After impact, a portion of the uranium aerosolizes
into fine particles, which can settle or drift in the air,
contaminating the surrounding environment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent a team of
experts to Kosovo to further investigate the links between DU and
cancer cases. Meanwhile, NATO is trying to calm fears in Europe
by
denying DU's role in high rates of leukemia in the unexplained
sicknesses and deaths.
(sources: Green Horizon, 11 January 2001; NY Times, 11 January
2001;
BBC News, 19 January 2001)
IDF Confirms Possession of DU Ammunition
On 11 January, the Yediot Aharonot, Israel's largest daily newspaper,
reported that Isreal possesses Depleted Uranium (DU) ammunition,
similar to the NATO ammunition used in the bombings of the former
Yugoslavia. According to the article, Israeli Defense officials
confirmed the possession of the DU ammunition just three days after
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued an announcement stating that
"depleted uranium missiles were never used by the IDF."
Tsadok Yechezkeli and Anat Tal-Shir, co-authors of the article,
reported that the DU ammunition was taken out of service one year ago
and is no longer used by the Israeli army. The report also stated
that Israel first used DU ammunition in 1985 when the Israeli Navy
fired a missile at a "large terrorist" boat 160 kilometers from its
shore. Pe'er Weisner, chairperson of the Israeli Green Party,
said
that IDF soldiers were exposed to extreme danger in handling DU
materials. He also called for the establishment of an independent
organization to supervise environmental safety in the IDF.
(source: Yediot Aharonot, 11 January 2001)
************************
NUCLEAR MATTERS
************************
Ukraine Ratifies the CTBT
The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) adopted, almost
unanimously, a law on ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty (CTBT) on 16 November 2000. The Ukraine is one of the
remaining 14 states whose ratification is required for the CTBT's
entry into force. Mr. Oleh Semenets, Director of Arms Control
Affairs in the Ukrainian Ministry described the ratification as the
Ukraine's confirmation of its leading and responsible role in the
field of arms control and nuclear disarmament.
The following thirteen states are required to ratify the treaty
before it can enter into force:
Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt, Algeria, Democratic Republic of the
Congo,
Colombia, Iran, United States, China, Israel, North Korea (sign and
ratify),
India (sign and ratify), Pakistan (sign and ratify)
(source: CTBT Express, 25 January 2001)
New Zealand Government Expresses Concern Over MOX Shipment
The New Zealand Government expressed its very strong concern over a
shipment of nuclear waste traveling from France to Japan. Phil
Goff,
Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, said that New Zealand and other
Pacific states do not want nuclear shipments coming through the
Pacific region.
Mr. Goff stated, "The South Pacific prides itself on its nuclear-free
status. The countries along the possible shipment routes are
innocent bystanders. The Government calls on the British and French
companies undertaking
this atest shipment to adhere to the highest possible safety standards.
The
overwhelming public support for our anti-nuclear laws illustrates the
extent to which New Zealanders want nothing to do with these
dangerous cargoes."
Of great concern is that the nations that ship nuclear waste claim to
have safeguards in place should an accident occur, but refuse to
accept liability in the event of an accident. The shipment
destined
for Japan contains a uranium and plutonium mixed oxide fuel (MOX),
which could in theory be converted into nuclear weapons material.
(source: Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Media
Statement)
Trident Protesters Found "Not Guilty"
On 18 January, Sylvia Boyes and Keith Wright were cleared of charges
of "conspiracy to cause criminal damage" to one of Britain's Trident
submarines. The two anti-nuclear activists, both members of Trident
Ploughshares, admitted that they plotted to damage the HMS Vengeance
but denied criminal charges, arguing that their actions were
justified because nuclear weapons are immoral and illegal under
international law. The HMS Vengeance is equipped to carry
approximately one quarter of the UK's nuclear arsenal and the
protesters aimed to disarm the submarine in November 1999.
The verdict was delivered by a Manchester jury and follows a
string of acquittals in the UK of sabotage against military
equipment. Anti-nuclear activists see such acquittals as highly
significant in terms of setting a precedent for UK citizens to hold
the government accountable to its obligations for nuclear
disarmament. A spokesperson for Trident Ploughshares said that
the
acquittal will also "pave the way for further direct action to disarm
submarines." Gareth Pierce, lawyer for Sylvia Boyes, "The jury
has
given the clearest possible decision legally, factually and morally,
on the continued possession by Britain of weapons of mass destruction
and where governments fail us, of the necessity of direct action."
(source: Guardian Newspapers Limited, 19 January 2001)
**********************
NUCLEAR TESTING
**********************
India Tests Advance Intermediate-range Missile
On 17 January, India successfully test-fired its Agni
intermediate-range ballistic missile. The test was the second
of the
upgraded version of the Agni missile, which has a 1,250 mile range.
The test-fire prompted immediate concern from Pakistan, Japan and the
UK. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry stated, "India's test-firing
today
of its Agni II missile is part of its ambitious nuclear and missile
program, which poses a direct threat to Pakistan's security and has
been a matter of concern for the international community."
Japan also called on India to refrain from further testing
and said it hoped that Pakistan would exercise restraint. The
UK's
Foreign Office also urged India to restrain from further testing
stating, "restraint in developing nuclear weapons and possible
delivery systems is in the long-term interests of both India and the
region."
(source: LA Times 18 January 2001)
*************************
NUCLEAR INSANITY
*************************
Rumsfeld on reducing the US nuclear arsenal:
"I don't know whether we can reduce or not. There is a minimum
below
which you cannot go and maintain the kind of target list that
rational people think is appropriate."
Declassified Documents Reveal US Considered Bombing China
Recently declassified US government documents show that the Kennedy
and Johnson Administrations were alarmed by the rapid developments
of
China's nuclear program in the early 1960's and considered bombing
targets and killing experts as well as supplying India with nuclear
weapons. Pentagon officials began to express concern with China's
nuclear program as early as 1961, when the CIA estimated that China
could have the bomb as early as 1963. In 1963, intelligence reports
concluded that China had made significant progress and it became a
prominent issue for the Kennedy Administration. Kennedy's Joint
Chiefs of Staff prepared a document that examined options to prevent
the development of China's nuclear program. The options included
blockading China and infiltrating and sabotaging the program; air
attacks on Chinese nuclear facilities; supporting a Taiwanese
invasion of China; and launching a tactical nuclear attack.
Later reports from Robert Johnson, a State Department official for
both the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations, stated that China's
nuclear capability would never be great enough to threaten US
interests. Other declassified papers demonstrate that both
Administrations considered helping India develop nuclear weapons
capability in order to contain China. President Johnson never
chose
such means to stop China from developing its nuclear capability and
instead chose diplomatic means to contain nuclear expansion.
(source: AP, 13 January 2001)
---------------- Original message end ----------------
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
仲田博康
nakada_h@jca.apc.org