The use of depleted uranium munitions has been fiercely debated, with opponents like the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons saying there are dangerous health risks from ingesting or inhaling depleted uranium dust, including cancers and birth defects.

  • rogrodre [none/use name]@hexbear.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    39
    arrow-down
    7
    ·
    1 year ago

    the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons saying there are dangerous health risks from ingesting or inhaling depleted uranium dust

    Literacy rates in capitalist nations continue to plummet.

    • Big Miku@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      But I said that in my original comment, didn’t I? Maybe I just said it a but unclearly, since English isn’t my first language, but it’s there.

      Here’s the part I mentioned it.

      With the exception that you inhale it or eat it

        • Big Miku@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          Yes I did say that.

          Firstly. The main cause of concern with depleted uranium is that according to some research it can linger around the area where they were used, and give people depleted uranium poisoning. Note that there hasn’t yet been any concrete evidence to prove this is the case.

          Secondly. Ukraine themselves asked for these weapons, so they have most likely gone over the risks of using depleted uranium ammunition and have deemed their usefulness to outweigh the potential health down sides that comes from using depleted uranium.

          Thirdly. The rounds given to Ukraine are armor piercing rounds, so the chances of them being fired at buildings are minimal, thus minimizing the possibility of them affecting people if they really were as dangerous as some research tells us.

          • usernamesaredifficul [he/him]@hexbear.net
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            1 year ago

            Secondly. Ukraine themselves asked for these weapons, so they have most likely gone over the risks of using depleted uranium ammunition and have deemed their usefulness to outweigh the potential health down sides that comes from using depleted uranium

            yes because the ukrainian government couldn’t give a shit about the welfare of the people being poisoned

    • mintyfrog@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      If only the world were so simple that we could trust the organization tasked with banning the substance rather than reading primary sources.

      I agree that depleted uranium shouldn’t be used, but your quote from the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons means nothing.

        • mintyfrog@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          That’s not the same thing at all.

          The comment above mine is more akin to wanting to ban water because the Coalition to Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide said so. Or wanting to ban abortion because Americans United for Life said they’re immoral. Or to increase fossil fuel usage because OPEC said it isn’t bad for the environment. You’re citing an opinionated secondary source without even considering the other side.

          If you want facts, you go to unbiased, peer reviewed primary sources. Or at least hear both sides. If you want opinions, go to a “coalition to ban something.”

          The comment 2 above mine was saying that depleted uranium’s effects are up for debate. The next commenter provided only one side of the argument and claimed that it was fact, even mocking their literacy for not seeing it.

          • usernamesaredifficul [he/him]@hexbear.net
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            yes it is an opinionated source but it is also an opinionated source with scientific evidence to back up its claims. What you are doing is seeking false balance between the position that has been reached trhough scientific peer reviewed study and the position “nuh uh”

            • mintyfrog@lemmy.ml
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              1 year ago

              I’m agreeing that depleted uranium weapons are a bad idea. I’m disagreeing that someone is illiterate for not believing an opinionated source.

              I could easily quote Wikipedia just as the prior comment quoted OP’s article:

              The U.S. Department of Defense claims that no human cancer of any type has been seen as a result of exposure to either natural or depleted uranium.

              Surely the DoD has at least some scientific research, no? It would be foolish to take this quote and believe that depleted uranium is safe, and it would be even more foolish to insult someone’s intelligence for not doing so.