To think ''Chinese Lanterns'' should be banned?

[ThatGingerOne]

Seen several posts now of horses being horrifically injured from the lanterns landing on them. Other stories of course about them starting fires too. Does anyone else agree they're too dangerous to be used?

[fabulousfun]

Agree totally - we have loads of sheep and I'm scared that they will be injured or terrified by these!

[helpimitchy]

Probably should if they're causing harm to animals and causing damage to property

[shadowfax07]

YADNBU - horrible things!

[Lexilooo]

Not in the slightest bit unreasonable, they are pointless and dangerous. I have been sharing anti Chinese lantern stuff for years.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

They do seem unnecessarily risky.

[HappyCamel]

YANBU - I went to a wedding where we all had to let them go at the same time. I hid in the loo...for 40 minutes...while they faffed about lighting them, taking photos and letting them go!

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

We were at a party once where they were lit and two got caught in trees and burned for ages. They are so dangerous.

[EveryDayIsASchoolDay]

I think they look pretty floating on water or whatever but definitely not causing harm to animals / trees etc. I could definitely live without them. YADNBU

[ThatGingerOne]

Brought this up as these articles caught my eye today about another horse who had been burned very badly:

www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/can-life-threatening-event-horse-burned-chinese-lantern-602247

www.essexlive.news/chinese-lantern-leaves-brentwood-horse-with-horrific-burns/story-29843562-detail/story.html

[Haggisfish]

I think Worcestershire has banned them.

[Cherrysoup]

Hate them, I can't believe they're allowed. You have no control once they're released. A stables near us pretty much burnt down, probably due to lanterns landing. Farmer lost his entire hay crop-about £70, 000. A friend did an event recently where hundreds were released. I was horrified. Google the pics, lots of burns recently to a young event horse, older pics show a dead barn owl caught in one.

[PutDownThatLaptop]

One of these set fire to a tree in my garden and had only travelled over the fence from next door.

[WiltingTulip]

I agree. And balloons.

[WorraLiberty]

YANBU

There are 2 trees on my street and they're only a couple of feet from my front gate.

Last NYE my neighbour one on fire with a Chinese lantern. Thank goodness it burned out quickly.

[WorraLiberty]

*Set one on fire

[Sparklesilverglitter]

The council here have imposed fines for anyone caught/reported for using them

I can see why people use them and they are pretty but not good for the environment

[ThatGingerOne]

PutDownThatLaptop What did the neighbours say? Did they offer to pay for any damage?

[unlucky83]

I agree - and also with wilting - and balloon releases. I cringe when I hear of eg a charity balloon release...where do they think most of them end up?

[WeArePregnant11]

I didn't know that... I have very special and fond memories of letting go Chinese lanterns. (I'm kind of sad these memories were just spoiled)

However, if they're dangerous... well, then that's it. No more Chinese lanterns...

[madamginger]

Not only are they a fire risk, they also cause litter with bits of wire landing all over the place for animals to get caught in.
One landed on my neighbours roof, luckily it was raining or Christ knows what would have happened

[PutDownThatLaptop]

ThatGingerOne they were the ones who had to put the fire out as I was not in at the time!

[ThatGingerOne]

madamginger I totally agree about it not just being a fire risk, a horse was also injured when it was eating foliage and some of the wire from a lantern was caught up in it was ingested and tore up the poor things stomach. Surgery had to be perform so you can imagine the damage to the poor animal and not to mention the cost to the owners!

[ThatGingerOne]

PutDownThatLaptop Bloody awful that! I would have been fuming.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

I'd be careful of dragging balloons into this. Lots of bereaved parents release a balloon on an anniversary (and that one balloon probably has far less impact than the adult that wish their child has been) and conflating the two upsets a lot of people :(
Stick to Chinese Lanterns with flames and iit' a lot simpler!

[ThatGingerOne]

Actually there are lots of reports of balloons causing damage to the environment especially with wildlife eating them
I understand they want to do it for bereavement but, I'm sorry, surely there is a safer way to acknowledge something like this tbh