I have been looking into weather modification with specific detail on weather warfare and the controversy surrounding it. The term weather warfare means the use of weather modification to aid military attacks. The use of such technology is, according to scientists meant to only cause “local, non-permanent damage”[1], however there is continuing concern surrounding the use of such technology due to fears of further environmental damage or health risk put upon the living. The topic itself is very controversial and has created many debates, surrounding the ethics of such a technological fix. We can use analysis of past attempts at ‘weather warfare’ and come to a conclusion on whether it both a viable option for the military to use and safe one for the environment, judging its current state of disarray. Using historical analysis here will enable us to look back at past attempts of weather warfare and establish the importance of the historical angle to the debate.
This type of warfare has been used by nations as far back as the Roman period. After the destruction of Carthage in the Third Punic War, the Roman army supposedly decided to cover its ruins in salt “apparently as a symbol of its total destruction…and as a means of ensuring the soils infertility.”[2] Despite not being supported by any ancient sources[3], this is a form of weather warfare. The salt would essentially act as a deterrent for any nutrients to enter the soil and thus preventing crop growth. Nowadays we have more advanced technologies in the field of weather warfare, however, it is important to note that this kind of warfare does date back previous to discussion of climate change. Now that we know the possible damage this type of action can cause is it ethically right to even attempt to develop such technology? And if not, are we able to stop such development continuing? It seems unlikely, due to the society we live in. Without major political change, we have little hope of stopping operations like this from continuing.
‘Operation Popeye’ (also known as ‘Operation Intermediary or ‘Operation Compatriot’) was a classified weather modification program used in Southeast Asia during 1967-1972, during the Vietnam War. The U.S military were keen to extend the monsoon season over North Vietnam by “seeding clouds with silver iodide”[4]. Despite being classed by many military officials as a failure, ‘Operation Popeye’ was blamed, for the devastating floods that took place in North Vietnam during 1971. Immediate controversy was caused by such an act, with activists concerned about the cost of the operation and environmental workers anxious about the ethics of “employing environmental warfare”[5]. Has this past incident stopped any further development of such a technology? It seems not.. From the unsuccessful attempt in Vietnam that was fairly badly received by many of the public was it time to put the experiment to rest? Despite many believing that HAARP or ‘High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program’ is a conspiracy theory, it seems to be cutting edge ‘weather warfare’.
HAARP is a research program of the U.S military defence program designed to create new ways to use weather as a form of warfare.[6] The status of this program is currently highly classified which would indicate that the content of what they are producing is in need of hiding, due to pervious failures perhaps, or for fear of further debate from the public. The controversy surrounding the project is vast. At fist HAARP was described as simply a scientific experiment for the government, however, as experiments began many within the field began to fear that HAARP was in fact to be used as “universal hammer for geophysical warfare”[7]. HAARP would essentially create a shield to protect nations from acts of war from others. For fears of further damage to the environment and the creation of a weapon that could cause devastating effects, HAARP is met with both condemnation and concern.
According to current climate change blogs it is these attempts at modification that are a primary cause of climate change. Geo-engineering is an attempt to slow down climate change, however supposedly causes further damage to the atmosphere. According to a recent blog “Ozone layer damage is…another known consequence of geo-engineering the atmosphere”[8]. The blog eventually calls out for more awareness concerning weather modification stating that “time is not on our side…we have a chance to sop these lethal programs”[9]. The author of this blog is right. However, without coming across wildly pessimistic, it seems unlikely change will come soon. These attempts at weather modification began being put into place during the 1960’s, even in their infancy, stopping their development was near impossible. Using a historical perspective, there has been little change up until now. A political change is needed.
As mentioned in my previous post, Is the Green Movement Failing? This very present issue concerning weather modification and therefore the climate debate is a political one. Political leaders believe they need these developments in order to create new weapons or to counter act global warming. In order for these damaging programs to be stopped, it is no longer about awareness. It is about changing the social and political order once again. Looking back at Vietnam and the attempt made there by the U.S military shows these ideas have been developing over time. It is no longer about awareness but dramatic upheaval to the political system.
Hattie Wheeler
[1] Tamzy J, House, Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather 2025, US Air Force, (2012).
[2] R.T, Ridley, ‘To be Taken with a Pinch of Salt: The Destruction of Carthage’, Classical Philology, 81, (Apirl 1986), p140.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Christopher R.W, Dietrich ‘Popeye, Operation’ in Spencer C, Tucker, The Encyclopaedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History, (California, 2011), p921.
[5] Ibid.
[6]“HAARP’, http://www.globalresearch.ca/haarp-secret-weapon-used-for-weather-modification-electromagnetic-warfare/20407, [Last Accessed 17th March 2015]
[7] ‘HAARP – CBC News’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO5Adt4nhCk, [Last Accessed 17th March 2015]
[8] ‘Global Weather Modification’, http://www.geoengineeringwatch.org/global-weather-modification-assault-causing-climate-chaos-and-environmental-catastrophe-2/, [Last Accessed 18th March 2015]
[9] Ibid.
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