THE IMPACT OF MILITARISM ON THE ENVIRONMENT: AN OVERVIEW

0,78

MB

OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS

45

stron

3415

ID

Physicians for Global Survival

2004

rok

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION 02

2. WARTIME ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF MILITARY ACTIVITIES 03

2.1 The Environmental Effects of Weapons Use 03

2.1.1 Major Conventional Weapons Use 03

2.1.1a High explosive fragmentation weapons 03

2.1.1b Incendiary weapons 03

2.1.1c Enhanced blast munitions 04

2.1.1d Herbicides and defoliants 04

2.1.1e Anti-personnel mines 05

2.1.2 Biological Weapons Use 06

2.1.3 Chemical Weapons Use 09

2.1.4 Nuclear Weapons Use 10

2.1.5 Weather Manipulation 12

2.2 The Environmental Consequences of Refugee Creation 13

2.2.1 Deforestation 13

2.2.2 Loss of Biodiversity 13

2.2.3 Land Degradation 14

2.2.4 Waste Production and Water Pollution 14

2.3 The Targeting of Civilian and Industrial Facilities 14

2.3.1 Civilian Infrastructure 14

2.3.1a Hydrological facilities 14

2.3.1b Hospitals, roads and airports 14

2.3.1c Agricultural land 15

2.3.2 Industrial Facilities 15

2.3.2a Chemical and fertilizer factories 15

2.3.2b Nuclear power stations 15

2.3.2c Oil refineries and fuel dumps 16

2.4 The Environmental Impact of Military Personnel 17

2.5 Inadequate Wartime Environmental Legislation 17

2.5.1 Internal Armed Conflict 17

2.5.2 Inter-state Conflicts 17

3. PEACETIME ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF MILITARY ACTIVITIES 19

3.1 Military Use of Resources 19

3.1.1 Land 19

3.1.2 Airspace 19

3.1.3 Oceans 20

3.1.4 Outer Space 20

3.1.5 Energy and Fuel Resources 21

3.1.6 Non-Fuel Minerals 21

3.2 Arms Production, Storage, and Disposal 21

3.2.1 Biological Weapons 22

3.2.2 Chemical Weapons 23

3.2.3 Nuclear Weapons 24

3.3 The Environmental Impact of Military Operations 25

3.3.1 Training and Practice Maneuvers 25

3.3.2 Military Bases 26

3.3.3 Weapons Testing 27

3.3.3a Biological weapons testing 27

3.3.3b Chemical weapons testing 27

3.3.3c Nuclear weapons testing 28

3.3.4 Military Accidents 29

3.3.5 Small Arms trade 29

3.4 Consequences for the Environment of Resource Diversion 29

3.4.1 Military Expenditure 30

3.4.2 Military Research and Development 31

3.4.3 Federal Subsidies for Defence Contractors 32

3.5 Inadequate Peacetime Environmental Legislation 33

3.5.1 Domestic Law 33

3.5.2 International Law 34

4. CONCLUSION 34

5. RECOMMENDATIONS 35

Acknowledgements 35

Appendix: List of Acronyms and Abbreviations 36

Bibliography 37