Ep 207 Tear Gas: How can a chemical weapon be “humane”?

Tear gas is not a single chemical but an umbrella term for lacrymatory agents like CS and pepper spray, historically used in warfare before being banned in international conflicts but permitted for domestic crowd control. The episode presents evidence that tear gas is often deployed against peaceful protests, disproportionately impacting left-leaning movements, and challenges the notion that it is 'humane' given its indiscriminate effects and long-term health risks. Sources include historical accounts, medical studies, and Amnesty International data on global use.

It dismantles the myth of tear gas as a 'non-lethal' tool by combining medical evidence, historical precedent, and political analysis into a compelling critique of its use on civilians.

1. 01Tear gas is not a gas but a dispersed solid or aerosol containing chemicals like CS or capsaicin that cause severe irritation.
2. 02Despite being banned in war under the Chemical Weapons Convention, it is widely used on civilians during protests, often as a first resort rather than a last.
3. 03Medical research cited shows tear gas can cause long-term respiratory damage and is not harmless, contradicting official claims of safety.