Hi Jc. Another post fro Roy Sefton if you woulent mind sharing again xoxo Jen
Hello veterans, widows and offspring.
I am sorry that there has been a slowing down of communications with you of late. Our affairs have became extremely involved and spread beyond our shores to the UK. Perhaps if I go back a bit it will refresh your memory and also serve in small part to explain the issues and problems that we have been facing.
You will remember the CytoGenetic Analysis, and the Psychological Impact Study. Both were carried out at Massey University, Palmerston North. The mFISH assay incorporated in the CytoGenetic study found chromosome damage in the Op Grapple Vets to be three times that as found in the normal population, and the same level as the Chernobyl nuclear disaster clean up workers. The Psychological Impact Study found the life styles of the veterans were well below those of the normal population and that they suffered stress and anxiety and associated illnesses with cancers topping the list. Government set up a Ministerial Advisory Group on Veterans’ Health. NZNTVA set up a group to meet with them over a two year period. A major success was that the Advisory Group concluded that the Massey genetic research did confirm that the Operation Grapple veterans had been affected by their nuclear service. The Advisory Group refused research on the children, and any new health conditions added to the VANZ ‘Presumptive List’.
Over the last three years at least, I have spent about five nights a week working Midnight to 3-4am with various nuclear factions, professionals and lay people in the UK. Frequent Illnesses have made these tasks even more difficult for me. The deceitful activities of the MoD, the UK Government and the UK judiciary, (yes the UK legal system that is supposed to excel in administering justice) is something that you would expect to read in novels of fiction. Our case for compensation has been through the High Court, the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court often denying us success by only one judicial vote. Our case is presently before the Committee of the Court of Human Rights in France awaiting their decision if the case should proceed to the court or not.
I have also been involved with UK scientists and other professionals, and some UK veterans, looking at alternative prospects should the need arise.
But more on that later.
Time has meant that many changes have taken place within our New Zealand group. Many have passed on, some have retired to rest homes without leaving us a forwarding address, some have received a pension simply lose interest. In particular more off-spring of our veterans are produced. It is these people that we are especially interested in. Government offered to do a Cancer and Mortality Study on the Grapple Veterans. However we refused, asking that the money be used to research the veterans offspring. We never received any response to that plea for children’s research. NZNTVA is now looking to increase political support for such research. Genetic damage can continue through the generations for 900 years so it is an important issue.
We have added an NZNTVA Health Co-ordinator (Jen) who will compile lists of the updated contact and health data of veterans and especially their offspring. Jen Will be working with our Health Researcher Ruth McKenzie. NZNTVA will be introducing new initiatives that will allow our vets to contact us and provide us with the information we need. Flyers have been posted or published in some service organisations. A Face Book Group Page (Families of Operation Grapple) is available. Email is available at NZNTVA@gmail.com .
Sincere best wishes are extended to you all. We look forward to hearing from you EVEN IF YOUR INFORMATION HAS NOT CHANGED OR IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE CONTACT WITH US BEFORE.
Roy Sefton, Tere Tahi, and the NZNTVA team
