Media: Oil on board
Dimensions: 28" x 18.5"
Date of Work: 2007

I think of myself as a peaceful person, gleefully unaware. I am a painter, I love those in my life, and I dream big about
my future. If I were to sum up my work in one sentence, it would be this; I want people to feel something.

This painting was one of the hardest pieces for me to finish. I was constantly looking at children with birth defects; it
is humbling like no other thing I can imagine. I can say that I truly hate this painting, but I am most proud of myself for
is creation. I do not want to paint images like this- I love my freeness and lucidity of my mermaids, the power I can
catch in my animal hybrids, and the seediness of my fairy tales.

GeneratioNext, terrifies, and saddens me. This painting is the result of my recent studies about Depleted Uranium
a.k.a. DU.
What exactly is Depleted Uranium?

It is the waste product produced in nuclear reactors (for energy) when uranium is enriched, Nuclear Waste. I found
it hard to believe that our country is actually using nuclear waste as weaponry. Prior to reading-up on DU I thought the
only radioactive weapons were bombs-Not true. If you have even caught a little of the news chances are you have
heard terms like "armor piercing shells," ask yourself what material can shoot through 10inches of steel. Depleted
Uranium is very hard, much harder than steel, and burns so hot that a tank becomes a stick of butter. As it burns, it
leaves particles much smaller than the dust found in a uranium mind. In addition, one doctor explains the difference
between uranium dust and DU dust like this. Uranium Dust is just that dust, its like pottery, before you fire it, its
week. DU dust fires at temperatures much higher than those fires in the twin towers, making radioactive dust so small
and hard that you inhale it with your air- killing you. She goes on to say that, our planet is one that recycles, that is its
design, and DU knows no National boundaries.

I just finished a book called On the Beach; it takes place in Australia and on an American Submarine. It follows a few
Australians and an American through there last few months as they wait for the radiation sickness that has killed the
rest of the world to reach them too. The book is amazing, they plant gardens they will never see bare fruit, and buy
gifts for those already dead. From the start to the finish the book remains honest, there are no miracle tonics to fix
the damage already done.

I am so sorry for the people of Iraq, and Afghanistan, and our own soldiers. Ilkie to believe the majority of people
are just trying to live a life, raise a family, and maybe leave the world with something they are proud of. This is not
my war.

While painting GeneratioNext friends asked me what gave me the idea for this one? I explained to them a little about
what I had been reading, Nuclear waste (DU) lasting 4.5 billion years, and how we are using it everyday. 100% of my
friends had thought I had lost my mind, that none of this is true. Sorry, it just is, its no secret, we have been using
hundreds of tons of DU and have been for over 25 years. Uranium ammunitions are being used and sold; this is all fact,
plain and true. The debate is what constitutes a lethal dose of radiation. The military says the inhalation of DU
particles passes no risk at all. However government videos produced in 1995 warn that DU particles or smoke can be
inhaled unless the proper protective gear is not worn. Warning that DU may be picked up and ingested if gloves are not
worn. Still it goes on to say that depending on how much DU is inhaled or gets under the skin heavy metal poisoning may
occur, causing damage to internal organs and tissue. The other concern raised was Radiation, but that depends on
whether it is Alpha Beta or Gamma (I got lost there) Rest Easy, Coronal Eric Daxon the army's chief medical annalist
for DU says that the amount of radioactive dust that is inhaled by our soldiers is small enough to do them no harm.
Explaining that the 300 tons (It is believed that we have used 7 to 8 times that much since this interview about the
use in the Gulf War) of DU used is dispersed over such a large area that it is harmless, he agrees DU can travel long
distances. Here is the example he gives word for word, "Have you ever gone on a beach? There's enough sand on that
beach to kill everyone on that beach, but you can't inhale it all." Like I said folks, Rest easy.

A team of physicist was sent to figure out how to clean up the mess after the Gulf War. Of those sent, many are sick
with cancer, including the project director, some have already died. He tells the story of Sept 1996 while at the
pentagon trying to brief everyone on the proper procedures to implement the DU program, showing the videos he wrote
directed edited produced and sent out. He says he was approached and told that he was hot for DU, and his reply "Ok,
will somebody help me? " None of them received any medical help, because if they received help, that would be an
admission of guilt. I am going to end on his words, as if it is too long I am afraid it will go unread. "Astonishing that's
what they did to the Depleted Uranium team physicist, and project director, who had the knowledge, who asked the
questions. Now you wonder what they would do to the average soldier, or wonder what they would do to a woman or
child."