Mendocino County Chapter 116 of Veterans For Peace (VFP) invites the public to join us in our petition campaign to the U.S. Congress, calling for a moratorium leading to a ban on depleted uranium (DU) munitions. The petition is now circulating locally and nationally through VFP chapters, participating groups, and individuals.
A Petition to Members of Congress:
WHEREAS, the United Nations has declared the use of depleted uranium an illegal weapon of war,
WHEREAS, the European Parliament has passed a resolution calling for an EU and NATO-wide moratorium and global ban on the use of depleted uranium munitions,
WHEREAS, the United States has been using depleted uranium enhanced weapons in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq,
WHEREAS, the health effects of depleted uranium on veterans of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm show that these munitions are poisoning our own soldiers,
WHEREAS, breathable uranium oxides, released on impact of depleted uranium weapons, increase the risk of cancer for soldiers with multiple tours of duty in the Middle East,
WHEREAS, chromosomal damage among exposed civilians in the Middle East and soldiers has been transferred to their loved ones with an increase in birth defects in their offspring,
WHEREAS, it has been scientifically established that depleted uranium binds to human DNA leading to various cancers,
WHEREAS, uranium oxide dust particles remain polluting the environment for billions of years,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S. Congress call for a moratorium leading to a ban on the military use of depleted uranium and the sale of depleted uranium munitions to other countries.
