It appears that the whole world has gone environment-friendly lately, and it's something that we support here at QJ.net. Anything that benefits the environment can only be a good thing, but when phrases like 'environmentally friendly bullets' come our way, the first thing you think is that it's a joke. According to a report by the Times, British company BAE systems have plans to develop environmentally friendly bullets and other assorted weaponry.

The plans for new environmentally-friendly munitions include "lead-free" bullets and rockets with reduced toxins. Dr Debbie Allen, director of corporate social responsibility at BAE systems, said "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."

Campaigners against the arms trade have jumped on the bandwagon to take a swing at BAE systems. "This is laughable" said Symon Hill of Campaign Against Arms Trade. "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."

Despite what campaigners think, we would have to agree with BAE. Arms will be used in the present and future, even if only in training exercises. If they are going to be used, they might as well develop techniques in which munitions can be more helpful to our environment.

The Segway Human Transporter has proven itself to be a handy substitute to cars and buses since its debut in 2001. France, Spain and most US states permit its use on sidewalks; Austria and the Netherlands allow it on cycle paths, while Italy allows it on both.

This acceptance, however, cannot be found in Britain, as its government has declared the $5,000 self-balancing scooter unfit to be used in sidewalks and roads. Invoking the Highway Act of 1835, Britain's Department of Transportation has banned it from sidewalks, and the EU vehicle-certification rules to keep it off roads. According to the department, it is stipulated in the "Regulations for Self-Balancing Scooters"  that  "You can only ride an unregistered self-balancing scooter on land which is private property and with the landowner's permission."

It also rejects proposals that the Segway should be treated like the faster electric bicycle. In further explanation, "A self-balancing scooter does not meet requirements [for electric bicycles] as it cannot be pedaled."

This ruling of the Department of Transportation has been met with criticisms by advocates of the Segway Human Transporter. Bae Systems, Segway gyroscopes developer at its Plymouth, England research center, accused the department of failing to test it properly. Andy Hughes, a spokesman for the company, has said that of the four officials who attended a testing session , three refused to ride it, while the fourth traveled only 100 yards. "The department seems reluctant to accept new technology, and there is a degree of [butt]-covering in the regulations," Hughes said.

A department spokesperson, however, has hinted that the regulations might be reviewed. "We are still in contact with the company and keeping up to date with developments."

The Segway Human Transporter was invented by American Dean Kamen. He suggested that it would be the solution to all transport woes, eliminating queues of belching cars and replacing them with Segway riders gliding silently along at 12mph. In description, Kamen has predicted that it "will be to the car what the car was to the horse and buggy." This self-balancing scooter is kept upright by gyroscopes and microprocessors.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) classified defense technology company BAE Systems' uncooled fixed-mount and handheld infrared cameras as qualified anti-terrorism technology under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act.

Whoo. Before we drown in all those acronyms, let's see what these babies can do. The cameras can detect heat and temperature differences up to a five-mile radius, making them ideal as surveillance cameras especially during the night.

The fixed-mount PMC300TM (640x480 resolution) and the LTC550TM (320x240) would primarily be used for parameter surveillance, and the handheld HH100TM and HHC could be used for law enforcement in the field. I predict that the fixed-mount cameras will be a huge success among nosy neighbors.

The cameras, each worth between $15,000 and $89,000, are available for the DHS but also to the general public - those who can afford it, at least. “The technology is becoming more and more available,” said David Smialek, BAE Imaging Systems business development assistant manager. Smialek anticipates the prices of the cameras to drop in the future.

The IR technology, however, is export-controlled, and will probably be only available to U.S. buyers.