Organizersâ statement: As the United States begins a new Mideast intervention, we should reflect carefully on the outcomes of the most recent occupation.
On 10-15-2014 at MIT, a panel of two experts presented a frightening picture of current conditions in Iraq, not normally seen in the so-called mainstream. Since the U.S. invasions and bombings starting in 1991 and 2003, congenital birth defects there have skyrocketed by a factor of seventeen. They seek more involvement by U.S. academia in support of serious investigation, accountability, and 100% remediation where possible.
The U.S. has involved itself, reluctantly, in investigation and treatment ⦠of returning U.S. soldiers who fall sick, presumably from toxics in the munitions theyâve rained on Iraqis, some at the rate of 300 bullets per victim death. But what about the Iraqis, and particularly, what about pregnant mothers and babies in Iraq? They are far more sensitive to toxics.
Dr Muhsin Al-Sabbak is a practicing Iraqi obstetrician who oversees 12,000 to 14,000 births each year in one of Iraq's biggest maternal hospitals. He recounts what he has seen with his own eyes in the course of this work. His slides include some of the scariest most of us will ever see; they are posted here for download. (TIP FOR LISTENERS: Concentrate, and listen carefully! Dr Al-Sabbak speaks rapidly, with an Iraqi accent, employing many technical words.)
Dr Mozhgan Savabieasfhani is an Iranian environmental toxicologist, currently teaching at University of Michigan. She provides facts, figures, and dramatic slides of her own (also posted here).
The MIT Science for the People seminar series provides a platform for students, staff, and faculty to discuss ideas on how to use science to make a better world.
Co-sponsors ⢠MIT Western Hemisphere Project ⢠South Asia Forum at MIT ⢠Association for India's Development, MIT ⢠MIT Science, Technology, and Global Security Working Group ⢠Massachusetts Global Action
We have posted the respective slide shows at https://archive.org/details/IraqBirthDefects-141015
Truth and Justice Radio airs Sundays 6-10am ET on WZBC 90.3FM, Newton, MA, streaming and archived for two weeks at wzbc.org; TJR's website is truthandjusticeradio.org; we hope you'll write to us at tjr@bluebottle.com if you rebroadcast our work, or have questions or comments.
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