arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Brussels' protests during International Day of Action to Ban Uranium Weapons
target bank investments as well as French, UK and US embassies


The action is part of an international day of action organised by the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons, which pressures governments to negotiate an international treaty for a ban on uranium weapons. The actions mark the United Nations day for the Prevention of the Exploitation of the Environment during wars and armed conflicts, 6th November.

When a DU-projectile impacts on a hard object it turns partly to dust particles of uranium oxides. Wind and water can carry along these oxides, which can cause cancers if they enter the body. Under certain conditions depleted uranium may damage the genetic material DNA.

Following visits at Foreign and Defence Departments the activists will split up and visit the Belgian headquarters of the banks AXA, ING, Dexia and Fortis to account for their investments in uranium weapons manufacturers. New numbers were released about the involved of the banks in two companies involved in depleted uranium weapons.

* Alliance Tech Systems: AXA 29,516.500 US$; ING 7,607.000 US$

* General Dynamics: AXA 334,238.485 US$; Dexia 5,377.404 US$; Fortis 96.966 US$; KBC 4,022.039 US$; ING 196,496.065 US$


There will also be stops at the UK and US embassies as both countires have used uranium weapons as recently as during the second Gulf War in Iraq, in Afganistan and in Kosovo. This despite strong and continuing evidence of the terrible effect of exposure on veterans of the first Gulf war more than ten years ago. They will also viit the French embassy to demand the abolition of its stockpiles of uranium weapons. The tour will end at the Brussels Beurs/Bourse where there is an exhibit about the effects of depleted uranium on human health and the environment. There they performed street theatre showing….


Ria Verjauw, spokesperson of the Belgian Coalition Stop Uranium Weapons! declared: ""The UN-Sub-Commission on Human Rights has labelled conventional weapons containing depleted uranium as illegal weaponry, because of the indiscriminate nature of the weapons. Uranium weapons cannot make a distinction between civilians and soldiers. Nevertheless, these weapons have been widely used in the US led wars in Iraq, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. Belgium has still not ruled out the use of these weapons, and supports NATO operations that use depleted uranium."



- The 'Belgian Coalition Stop Uranium Weapons!', consists of


For Mother Earth - Friends of the Earth Flanders - ACV-Brussel - Netwerk-Vlaanderen - Greenpeace - Artsen voor Vrede - International Action for Liberation - Geneeskunde voor de Derde Wereld - Forum voor Vredesactie - Vakbondsmensen In Verzet tegen
Oorlog - Mouvement Chrétien pour la Paix - Stop United States of Aggression - Aktie Vredesbelasting - Pax Christi Vlaanderen - Vlaams Overleg Duurzame Ontwikkeling - Coördination Nationale d'Action pour la Paix et la Démocratie - Pax Christi Leuven - Bond Beter Leefmilieu -Oxfam - Solidariteit - Vrede


Demands for the Belgian government


· that Belgium will, by no means including third parties be involved in the design, the production, the purchase, the testing, the transport, the storage and the use of weapons that contain uranium*


· that Belgium works on an international level in order to prohibit the design, the production, the purchase, the testing, the transport, the storage and the storage of uranium weapons


· that Belgium urges NATO to map the regions targeted with uranium weapons and the spots where these weapons are stored. These regions must be made public


· that the Belgian government deploys no military and humanitarian missions to uranium-contaminated sites


· that Belgium plays a pioneering role in establishing a 'total ban on uranium weapons', as it did in the course of the campaign against landmines


· that Belgium bears a part of the costs of decontamination, including the costs for medical assistance


· that Belgium takes the initiative for the foundation of an aid-fund compensating the victimised populations.

Presscontact: Ria Verjauw +32-474-756668