Open burn pits are usually areas of land that are used to burn up solid waste that has been disposed of.
A few weeks ago, I was reading about the life-long deadly diseases that were contracted by United States service members who were exposed living next to these burning pits while serving on missions overseas.
What I read is simply incredible!
First of all, this is something I did not even know about.
I had always wondered where all that waste from all those soldiers, excreted out in faeces and urine ended up, though!
And then, what sealed it all for me, were the numerous claims of veterans that suffer the effects of exposure to these pits, being turned down by the United States government!
Photo credit: Amazon.com
These pits have existed for a long time….at least long before people that were affected from them started showing up.
They are intended to be a short-term method of waste disposal…
But as the years went by, they became somewhat permanent in war zones like Iraq, Afghanistan and Djibouti!
Some of these pits stretch(ed) the size of 10 acres!
They burn(ed) 24 hours a day non-stop 7 days a week, with the help of jet fuel that was poured onto this waste to burn.
The waste include(s) Styrofoam containers from the dining hall, batteries, metals, plastics, paints, petroleum products, medical waste, amputated limbs, sewage, discarded food, ammunition among other.
Photo credit: Medium
I bet you have noticed, in the paragraph above that I have a few words bearing letters in brackets, right?
That implies that over 47 of these burn pits still being currently used by the Army…including 38 of those being operated in the United States…of course, in regions that are considered to be rural and low-income!
According to Grist,
— IPTC Data ——————
Position: 28th Public Affairs Detachment.
“At these sites, the military collects excess, obsolete, or unserviceable munitions, including bullets, missiles, mines, and the bulk explosive and flammable materials used to manufacture them, and destroys them by adding diesel and lighting them on fire, or by blowing them up. Last fiscal year (2021), the Department of Defense destroyed 32.7 million pounds of explosive hazardous waste on U.S. soil using these methods, known as open burning and open detonation”.
Photo credit: Grist
Keep in mind that wherever these pits are opened up and used,
There are natives that have already been living in that same area and are now going to be exposed to these same toxins!
I wonder who ever checks up on those ones!
Photo credit: Kansas Reflector
So, before you support and cheer on anything military,
Ask yourself, in your heart of hearts about how waste is going to be disposed off in the open burn pits, by these soldiers heading to war.
I bet you will see if it is truly worth it or nuh!
Photo credit: The New York Times