They're soliciting proposals for biodegradable bullets "loaded with specialized seeds to grow environmentally beneficial plants that eliminate ammunition debris and contaminants.
"Such materials best suited for these bullets could include the same biodegradable plasticsused to make water bottles or plastic containers. Or it could be some other material altogether.
According to the request for proposal, the US Army Corps of Engineers' Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory has already developed and tested seeds that can be embedded into a biodegradable composite. They've been bioengineered to germinate only after they've been in the ground for several months.
Apparently the DOD also wants this technology to extend to grenades and tank shells. as well.
This is one of those stories that kind of makes my brain stutter.
On the one hand planting vegetation to remove soil contaminants and feed the wildlife seems like a great idea. On the other hand it kinds of seems like the technological advancement is a little off target.
How about instead of planting a rain forest while blowing people to shit, we instead focus on nonlethal methods for incapacitating our enemies?
Finding a way to temporarily stun or immobilize an enemy combatant while leaving them alive seems far more humane and beneficial to the planet than planting saplings in a pool of their blood.
But hey, that's just me.
Bullets so environmentalists will like war.. Is this is what the fuck have we become?
ReplyDeleteWhat about wars waged in cities?
ReplyDeleteNow the NRA has another talking point, just helping the environment.
I think you missed part of the benefits here. Many people are hunters, and from the stories I hear, they miss more than they hit. Also many people do target practice out in the wilderness, I'm sorry to say. So there is a bit of benefit to this plan without actually killing people.
ReplyDeleteAs long as all lead is removed from any bullet, buckshot or propellant. Too much lead is getting into the food chain.
DeleteJust shoot me and plant a tree..
ReplyDeleteThis is serious. Obamacare repeal has the potential to affect nearly everyone in the country."
https://thinkprogress.org/gop-repeal-obamacare-explained-8258f86611c5#.x5r6za9dg
"Robert Laszewski, president of Health Policy and Strategy Associates, a healthcare consulting group in Washington, D.C., said he was certain that more Americans will be insured during Trump’s upcoming presidency compared to under the Obama administration. <RIGHT!
Deletehttp://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/doctors-say-repeal-obamacare-but-dont-replace-it/
they would need to have bullets with seeds very specific to bio-region, avoiding invasive plants and even just potentially invasive plants. but then if the purpose is for the plants to soak up contaminants - many types of reeds are useful in this way, but they are cut down and then disposed of god knows where else just to clean up wetlands - then any animals browsing on these plants are potentially ingesting contaminants, depending on the level left in the soil after the shooting, bombing, you name it happens. so our troops could possibly be like johnny appleseed, sewing trees and democracy one shot and grenade at a time - i am in no way blaming the troops for this.
ReplyDeleteit is a fact that the military is our biggest polluter at home and abroad - though exxon HAS to come close. but this is just a proverbial drop(let) in the bucket considering all the other waste they create and leave to contaminate places - think hiroshima, agent orange in vietnam and cambodia, and oil fields burning in iraq. i could go on and on. so spending this much effort for so little return seems kinda stupid. besides, if you collect the casings, you could just recycle them to make new bullets - there's an idea.
and yes, i didn't even get to the ethical dimension you mention - there must be a way to more humanely deal with issues we face with isis and whatever else might come up. but then you have the gitmo problem - where do we keep all these prisoners and what do we eventually do with them since we can't bring them to trial? sadly, it's easier if the military kills as many say terrorist combatants as possible, regardless if they are just indoctrinated teenagers that might have a second chance at some point. as a friend so eloquently puts describes some of the UK's similar military dilemma's - "it does me head in."
Pathetic. I hate that probably good minds have been wasted on this shit.
ReplyDelete