MAPW Dr Sue Wareham : ACT disability services award for major weapons manufacturer?

MAPW Immediate Past President Dr Sue Wareham has written to ACT Chief Minister Mr John Stanhope concerning the Minister's Award of Excellence for services to people with a disability given to Raytheon Australia. Dr Wareham's letter notes 'there is a terrible irony in the receipt of such an award by a major weapons manufacturer.'

'Raytheon Australia is part of a global industry that collectively accounts for untold numbers of deaths, disabilities, maiming and other forms of human misery', says Dr Wareham's letter, 'Raytheon describes itself as a “mission systems integrator”. In plain speak, it has produced cruise missiles, Patriot missiles, laser-guided bombs, cluster bombs and multiple other weapons. The corporation has markets in approximately 80 countries, and many of their weapons have been used extensively in the current US wars. Weapons manufacturers make much of their “precision” or “smart” weapons that are said to kill only the right people.   In 2003, a serial number was recovered from the scene of a market bombing in Baghdad that killed at least 62 people and maimed an unknown number of others. It was made by Raytheon.' 

Read the full text of Dr Wareham's letter here.