Joyce Riley
Citizens
of Missouri and surrounding states are outraged to find that biological
materials have been released into the open air on a regular basis
at Fort Leonard Wood this past year in "training exercises."
Informed consent of the general population has not been obtained
in any of these releases. The biological agent utilized in these
exercises is "Bacillus subtilis," also known as "Bacillus
globigii" (BG), and is being used because it closely resembles
anthrax and can be detected by the Biological Integrated Detection
System (BIDS) units at Fort Leonard Wood.
According
to Robin Byrom, with the Chemical School Materiel and Combat Development
Department at Ft. Leonard Wood, "There have been four courses,
they started in. I believe January of this year and there is ongoing
a class at Fort Leonard Wood right now"
Although Army
officials claim that these simulants are "virtually harmless,"
Congressional records report there is no such thing as a safe
biological simulant. BG is known to cause spontaneous abortions
in sheep and cattle, upper respiratory infections, eye infections,
and can affect those with compromised immune systems such as the
elderly, the chronically ill and the very young. Senate reports
entitled "Biological Testing Involving Human Subjects, 1977"
and "Human Drug Testing by the CIA," establish a clear
and consistent track record by the Department of Defense of deceiving
and manipulating the general public in regard to the development
and use of biological and chemical agents. The Department of the
Army, is invited to attend.
An emergency
public "Town Hall" hearing will be held at the Versailles
Middle School in Versailles, MO. on Thursday, October 26, 2000,
at 7PM to address the release of these pathogens and what action
must be taken to immediately stop the Department of the Army from
continuing this practice. Public Officials, law enforcement, medical
personnel, livestock ranchers and all concerned citizens are urged
to attend.
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