Saving the planetAnd there we were, thinking the arms trade was nothing but a "deadly, corrupt business". But no, it's time to give credit where credit's due and applaud BAE Systems for its recent corporate social responsibility.

Yes, they do still create, trade, and profit from devices made solely to brutally murder other, usually innocent civilian, human beings - but they are now developing a warm fuzzy feeling for our beautiful planet it would seem. Using the latest in R&D they are creating lead-free bullets, because the usual variety of standard firearms "can harm the environment and pose a risk to people".

The Poorhouse hopes you did not suffer great shock reading this, but can confirm that it is true: at various points in deep dark history bullets have indeed posed a risk to people and been more than capable of blowing up surrounding flora and fauna. In fact, a common conception was that that was the whole point of them. Apparently not. Along with solar panels and fluffy bunnies, somehow they are here to save the planet. They are even making compost out of old explosives.

The UK Ministry of Defence, previously more known for its subservient illegal invasions and disastrous record in actually managing to finish off what is supposed to be a nice neat quick people-slaying exercise, is also in on the act. Understanding that what really irks those nasty foreigners is excessive late night noise and smoggy-looking windows (rather than splattered brains and blown-off limbs) they have suggested the development of "quieter warheads to reduce noise pollution and grenades that produce less smoke".

Incredible as it might seem, there are some sceptics out there. Those nasty guys at the Campaign Against Arms Trade, who appear to imagine that the preservation of human life is somehow more important than money, oil and power, had this to say: "This is laughable...they make weapons to kill people and it’s utterly ridiculous to suggest they are environmentally friendly."

Oh well, one day they'll learn. And if they don't BAE will probably supply some weapons to blow them to biodegradable pieces anyway.

(Sarcasm - as if! - aside, it is jolly good news that there might be slightly less radioactive uranium dust flying around during the next imperialistic foray.)