The veterans book club will be discussing – A ‘Silent Victim’: How Nature Becomes a Casualty of War by Emily Anthes for the New York Times. This lengthy article explores how war impacts the earth and causes lasting environmental devastation. Anthes is a science and health reporter for the New York Times. She interviews experts who explore the environmental impact of 20th and 21st century wars, including the current destruction in Ukraine.

Dr. Timothy Mousseau from the University of South Carolina will be our special guest facilitator. He is quoted throughout the article and has done groundbreaking research on the impact of radiation exposure on organisms and ecosystems in Chernobyl and Fukushima. Unsurprisingly, many experts are concerned that the war in Ukraine is stirring up potentially dangerous radioactive soil.

Everyone is welcome to join the conversation. You do not need to be a veteran to participate, just interested in reading and thoughtful conversation. The meetings take place in room 301 of the IU South Bend Schurz Library and on Zoom. For more information, a copy of the article or the Zoom link, please contact Rhonda Culbertson rculbert@iusb.edu