Weapons to become environmentally-friendly

SOUTHAMPTON, England, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Britain's BAE Systems has begun designing a new breed of weapons that will retain their deadly nature while becoming less destructive to the environment.

The Times of London reports the arms manufacturer, with support from Britain's Ministry of Defence, will attempt to produce the environmentally friendly weapons as part of a new initiative to limit the impact of its munitions on the world's environment.

"Weapons are going to be used and when they are, we try to make them as safe for the user as possible, to limit the collateral damage and to impact as little as possible on the environment," said BAE Systems executive Dr. Debbie Allen.

Members of anti-weapon organizations, such as the Campaign Against Arms Trade, have come out in opposition to the initiative that has proposed the use of "lead-free" bullets and manure-based explosives.

"This is laughable," CAAT member Symon Hill of told The Times. "BAE is determined to try to make itself look ethical, but they make weapons to kill people and it's utterly ridiculous to suggest they are environmentally friendly."