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Bomb 'soon to be thing of the past' | Bomb 'soon to be thing of the past' |
(9 minutes later) | |
By Angus Crawford BBC News, Germany Advertisement | |
Angus Crawford shows how the cluster munitions are disposed of | Angus Crawford shows how the cluster munitions are disposed of |
On 3 December, more than 100 countries, including the UK, will sign a treaty banning cluster bombs. | On 3 December, more than 100 countries, including the UK, will sign a treaty banning cluster bombs. |
As a result Britain, by law, will have to destroy more than 30 million explosives. | As a result Britain, by law, will have to destroy more than 30 million explosives. |
The UK does not have the facilities, so they are being exported to Germany for disposal. | The UK does not have the facilities, so they are being exported to Germany for disposal. |
"I feel good to work for a good thing in the world and for peace," says Jorg Fiegert, production manager for Nammo Demil. | "I feel good to work for a good thing in the world and for peace," says Jorg Fiegert, production manager for Nammo Demil. |
It runs a site in Pinnow in Germany which destroys munitions. | It runs a site in Pinnow in Germany which destroys munitions. |
Over the next five years its work will include taking apart bomblets from British cluster munitions. | Over the next five years its work will include taking apart bomblets from British cluster munitions. |
"It can punch through armour," Jorg explains as he holds up a British bomblet. | "It can punch through armour," Jorg explains as he holds up a British bomblet. |
It is only the size of an egg cup, and came from the MLRS, the Multiple Launch Rocket System. | It is only the size of an egg cup, and came from the MLRS, the Multiple Launch Rocket System. |
Each one has six rockets, and within each rocket are 644 bomblets. They are designed to split open in the air and spread small bomblets over a wide area. | Each one has six rockets, and within each rocket are 644 bomblets. They are designed to split open in the air and spread small bomblets over a wide area. |
How cluster bomb warheads can be recycled | How cluster bomb warheads can be recycled |
Cluster bombs have been used in countries including Cambodia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon, and were used in the conflict in Lebanon in 2006. | Cluster bombs have been used in countries including Cambodia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon, and were used in the conflict in Lebanon in 2006. |
Those who ratify the convention in December will then have eight years to get rid of their stockpiles of the weapons. | Those who ratify the convention in December will then have eight years to get rid of their stockpiles of the weapons. |
The UK government had already begun getting rid of its stocks by shipping them to Germany and elsewhere. | The UK government had already begun getting rid of its stocks by shipping them to Germany and elsewhere. |
Nammo has a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to destroy 28 million of these bomblets, and there are another 3.5 million in other systems to be disposed of. | Nammo has a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to destroy 28 million of these bomblets, and there are another 3.5 million in other systems to be disposed of. |
"In principle everything except the explosive can be recycled," explains Ola Pikner, Nammo's vice president of marketing. | "In principle everything except the explosive can be recycled," explains Ola Pikner, Nammo's vice president of marketing. |
Whole weapons enter the factory, but raw materials for civilian use leave it. | Whole weapons enter the factory, but raw materials for civilian use leave it. |
He shows me how the MLRS rocket is split open. | He shows me how the MLRS rocket is split open. |
The bomblets are extracted, the fuses are cut off and the copper inners are removed. | The bomblets are extracted, the fuses are cut off and the copper inners are removed. |
The explosive is then burnt off using red hot plasma. | The explosive is then burnt off using red hot plasma. |
The bombs have been used in Cambodia, Lebanon and Kosovo | The bombs have been used in Cambodia, Lebanon and Kosovo |
The copper, aluminium and other metals are sold for scrap. The packaging for the bomblets is burnt for heating. | The copper, aluminium and other metals are sold for scrap. The packaging for the bomblets is burnt for heating. |
This will take up to 40% of their work for the next five years. | This will take up to 40% of their work for the next five years. |
"There is huge potential", says Ola Pikner, "but the number of cluster munitions from each country is not known." | "There is huge potential", says Ola Pikner, "but the number of cluster munitions from each country is not known." |
Campaigners believe there may be as many as a billion of them across Europe. | Campaigners believe there may be as many as a billion of them across Europe. |
But the world's biggest users - Israel and the USA - will not sign this treaty. | But the world's biggest users - Israel and the USA - will not sign this treaty. |
Nor, it's thought, will China, Russia, India and Pakistan. | Nor, it's thought, will China, Russia, India and Pakistan. |
But Thomas Nash from the Cluster Munition Coalition remains undaunted by this. | But Thomas Nash from the Cluster Munition Coalition remains undaunted by this. |
"What you are going to see is a comprehensive stigmatisation of the weapon," he says. | "What you are going to see is a comprehensive stigmatisation of the weapon," he says. |
"Countries that don't sign up won't be able to use this weapon on operations with those that do. | "Countries that don't sign up won't be able to use this weapon on operations with those that do. |
"You're going to see this weapon becoming a thing of the past." | "You're going to see this weapon becoming a thing of the past." |