Poisons and Pestilence

Karl Dewey (2022)

Poisonous affairs: Russia’s evolving use of poisons in targeted killings

https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/poisonous-affairs-russias-evolving-use-of-poisons-in-targeted-kil 

https://twitter.com/KarlDewey1 

 

Audio credit: Clip BBC 

In this episode, I interview Professor Alastair Hay about his work as a toxicologist related to the prohibition of chemical weapons. 

 

 

 

 

In this episode, we examine the development of the French CBW programme  post WW-2 

Etienne Aucouturier (2023) Biological Warfare. Another French Connection

https://materiologiques.com/en/histoire-des-sciences-et-des-techniques/303-biological-warfare-the-french-conection-9782373612394.html 

Olivier Lepick (2008) French Military biological programme, 1947-1972

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299105068_French_Military_biological_programme_1947-1972 

 

In this episode I discuss the emergence of OSINT and Bellingcat- with a focus on work related to chemical weapons. 

 

Sources:

https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/have-chemical-weapons-been-used-ukraine

 

Book 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=bellingcat+book&adgrpid=1172080294039072&hvadid=73255220590861&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=41801&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-73255153838822%3Aloc-188&hydadcr=10776_2102372&tag=mh0a9-21&ref=pd_sl_6o2ld96ezj_e

 

Bellingcat investigations 

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2020/10/23/russias-clandestine-chemical-weapons-programme-and-the-grus-unit-21955/

 

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2020/01/15/the-opcw-douma-leaks-part-1-we-need-to-talk-about-alex/

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2018/09/20/skripal-suspects-confirmed-gru-operatives-prior-european-operations-disclosed/

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2020/10/22/russian-vehicle-registration-leak-reveals-additional-gru-hackers/

 

 

Ukraine riot control agent allegations 

 

Media sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-cJu-6QFC8

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBQ604MWZTQ

 

In this episode we consider the long and complex history of Riot Control Agents- from the first world war, to the battlefields of modern Ukraine. 

There is also a list of recent statements below made in the context of the OPCW on the Ukraine issue: 

 

https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023/11/29-11-2023%20CSP-28%20_Statement%20Germany%20agenda%209d%20RCA%20_0.pdf

 

https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2024/01/Combined%20Canadian%20statement%20on%20Subitem%209d.pdf

 

https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023/11/CSP_28_National%20Statement_Ukraine_OPCW_CW_English.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLNMKRqOrMo  

In our first ever movie review special, Dr Saskia Popescu reviews the classics Contagion (2011) and Outbreak (1995). 

This episode was edited and produced by the wonderful Nicolas Lureau 

The second of our movie review specials. This one looking at The Rock (1996). 

 

With Steve Johnson https://x.com/CBRNEsteve?t=_sSXmOA7t4xGzvcW8TUYPA&s=09

 

I do not own the rights to the trialer used here  under fair use. 

 

 

 

Epic rap battles 

https://youtu.be/_wYtG7aQTHA?si=RltWpU_VOW9xwvHh

In this episode, I am joined by Charles Stephenson, who discusses the use of chemical weapons by Italian invaders in the war against Ethiopia in the campaign of 1935-6. 

You can find the book he recently published on this topic here: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mussolini-Mustard-Gas-Fascist-Way/dp/1399051660 

In this episode we examine some 19th century chemical warfare plans, which were a prelude to the first large scale use of gas warfare in WW1. 

 

Book link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Admirals-Secret-Weapon-Dundonald-Stephenson/dp/B017AJTSBU 

In this movie review special Gwyn Winfield discusses the series 'Fallout'- and touch on the depiction of the environmental effects of nuclear weapons- among other things. Fallout is available on Prime Video. 

 

Gwyn's magazine: https://cbrneworld.com/ 

Trailer audio used under fair usage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPZwLYEVUK8 (Prime Video).