Old Nukes, New Uses

Cliff Kindy, a Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) member, stands outside Alliant Techsystems/Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in Rocket City, West Virginia, where radioactive depleted uranium is added to warheads and other munitions. Craig Etchison of Fort Ashby, West Virginia, who joined the peace vigil in November, called the use of depleted uranium "the most censored topic in the American political dialogue." CPT is calling for the Pentagon and all subcontractors to stop the manufacture and shipping of DU products. "Depleted uranium is a biological invasion of privacy," said CPT supporter Bill Arnold. Many studies demonstrate that DU, a radioactive byproduct of nuclear power, violates human rights and armed conflict laws established by the U.N. and the Geneva Conventions due to its long-term, indiscriminate harm to civilians and natural resources.