Comments on: ‘Green’ Bullets: For the Ethically and Environmentally Conscious Hunter? http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2009/04/06/green-bullets/ fashion, food & etiquette for the ethically handsome man Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Troy http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2009/04/06/green-bullets/comment-page-1/#comment-904 Troy Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:22:18 +0000 http://thediscerningbrute.com/?p=1197#comment-904 Your'e welcome. And I agree, that greenwashing has to be criticized, all the time. And calling copper bullets green, is wrong. They are not green, they are just from an environmental perspective, better, than lead bullets. Lead for hunting ammunition is going to replaced with copper or other metals in the future through legislation, no matter what we think. And I can't think any other way than that this is a good thing for the areas where hunting is done. Copper-prices will most likely not be affected, given the volume. Your’e welcome. And I agree, that greenwashing has to be criticized, all the time. And calling copper bullets green, is wrong. They are not green, they are just from an environmental perspective, better, than lead bullets.
Lead for hunting ammunition is going to replaced with copper or other metals in the future through legislation, no matter what we think. And I can’t think any other way than that this is a good thing for the areas where hunting is done. Copper-prices will most likely not be affected, given the volume.

]]> By: joshuakatcher http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2009/04/06/green-bullets/comment-page-1/#comment-903 joshuakatcher Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:31:14 +0000 http://thediscerningbrute.com/?p=1197#comment-903 I appreciate yor input, Troy - thanks for the statistics. I believe the point is to showcase why copper bullets are not "eco-friendly" - along with the mainstream hunting industry in general. That is all. Greenwashing is a major problem, and one does not have to be puritanical to point it out as a valid concern. I appreciate yor input, Troy – thanks for the statistics.
I believe the point is to showcase why copper bullets are not “eco-friendly” – along with the mainstream hunting industry in general. That is all. Greenwashing is a major problem, and one does not have to be puritanical to point it out as a valid concern.

]]> By: Troy http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2009/04/06/green-bullets/comment-page-1/#comment-902 Troy Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:11:25 +0000 http://thediscerningbrute.com/?p=1197#comment-902 Strange amalgamation of all things that could be laid out against hunting this article... Without touching the other issues, I'd like to approach the point of equating using copper bullets to being a major consumer of dreadfully mined copper, the statistics: According to this page; http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/lead/; Ammunition's share of lead use in the 2000's is around 3%. Total lead consumption in 2006 was 1,590,000 tonnes (US figures). So ammunition, including military use and shooting ranges, would be upwards to 50,000 tonnes. According to this page; http://www.copper.org/resources/market_data/pdfs/annual_data.pdf, Copper consumption in 2007 was 2,371,000 tonnes. So if we replace all lead ammuntition with copper by weight, even if just a fraction of it is used in hunting, that would amount to a little more than 2% of copper consumption. As you said: "I am not claiming to be perfect – after all, I am typing on a computer with copper in it" True, and you are probably turning on the lights every evening to, a vegan activity, and interestingly enough, according to this page: http://www.copper.org/resources/market_data/images/b02func.gif, 58% of copper and copper alloy consumption was used in the electrical "industry". That would be somewhere around 20 times what is used totally by ammunitions in the hypothetical copper-free future. By all means, I am not a defender of all things hunting, I am pretty much against all other hunting than subsistence and population control hunts. But issues should be considered and discussed on their actual merits, not merely rhetoric. Strange amalgamation of all things that could be laid out against hunting this article… Without touching the other issues, I’d like to approach the point of equating using copper bullets to being a major consumer of dreadfully mined copper, the statistics:
According to this page; http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/lead/; Ammunition’s share of lead use in the 2000′s is around 3%. Total lead consumption in 2006 was 1,590,000 tonnes (US figures). So ammunition, including military use and shooting ranges, would be upwards to 50,000 tonnes.
According to this page; http://www.copper.org/resources/market_data/pdfs/annual_data.pdf, Copper consumption in 2007 was 2,371,000 tonnes.
So if we replace all lead ammuntition with copper by weight, even if just a fraction of it is used in hunting, that would amount to a little more than 2% of copper consumption.

As you said:

“I am not claiming to be perfect – after all, I am typing on a computer with copper in it”

True, and you are probably turning on the lights every evening to, a vegan activity, and interestingly enough, according to this page: http://www.copper.org/resources/market_data/images/b02func.gif, 58% of copper and copper alloy consumption was used in the electrical “industry”. That would be somewhere around 20 times what is used totally by ammunitions in the hypothetical copper-free future.

By all means, I am not a defender of all things hunting, I am pretty much against all other hunting than subsistence and population control hunts. But issues should be considered and discussed on their actual merits, not merely rhetoric.

]]> By: Knatchwa http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2009/04/06/green-bullets/comment-page-1/#comment-905 Knatchwa Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:30:54 +0000 http://thediscerningbrute.com/?p=1197#comment-905 Some good information and insight into an issue that must be brought to the forefront, thanks for taking the time to share it and the video itself was very informative. Looking forward to further views on this environmental issue. Some good information and insight into an issue that must be brought to the forefront, thanks for taking the time to share it and the video itself was very informative. Looking forward to further views on this environmental issue.

]]> By: EY http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2009/04/06/green-bullets/comment-page-1/#comment-906 EY Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:18:28 +0000 http://thediscerningbrute.com/?p=1197#comment-906 I find the population control argument amusing. In the last 30 years, our finite planet has seen it's human population rise by 2.5 Billion. To put that in topical terms, if each of those 2.5 billion people came together and invested $34, that collective could be the proud owner of AIG today. That said, where do we sign up for human population control? Have we not been allowed to multiply unchecked for years now? Are we not a greater threat to ourselves and our world because of it. Shouldn't we start controlling our growth? That's inhumane! Well, what if we used copper bullets? I find the population control argument amusing.

In the last 30 years, our finite planet has seen it’s human population rise by 2.5 Billion.

To put that in topical terms, if each of those 2.5 billion people came together and invested $34, that collective could be the proud owner of AIG today.

That said, where do we sign up for human population control? Have we not been allowed to multiply unchecked for years now? Are we not a greater threat to ourselves and our world because of it. Shouldn’t we start controlling our growth?

That’s inhumane!

Well, what if we used copper bullets?

]]> By: Chris http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2009/04/06/green-bullets/comment-page-1/#comment-907 Chris Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:41:12 +0000 http://thediscerningbrute.com/?p=1197#comment-907 Very well written article. Although we disagree about hunting, you bring up excellent issues and they are well thought-out. Lead shot has not been used in duck hunting for years (also due out of concern for the land and water on which the spent shells drop). I'd prefer that my husband and son enjoy this outdoor activity together and we consume the ducks shot, than mindlessly consume another plastic wrapped chicken from the market that has lead a horrible life and is full of chemicals. All the hunters I know consider themselves conservators of the land and have great respect for the environment. That said, I appreciate an intelligent discussion and you have provided that here. Very well written article. Although we disagree about hunting, you bring up excellent issues and they are well thought-out. Lead shot has not been used in duck hunting for years (also due out of concern for the land and water on which the spent shells drop). I’d prefer that my husband and son enjoy this outdoor activity together and we consume the ducks shot, than mindlessly consume another plastic wrapped chicken from the market that has lead a horrible life and is full of chemicals. All the hunters I know consider themselves conservators of the land and have great respect for the environment. That said, I appreciate an intelligent discussion and you have provided that here.

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