Stop releasing helium balloons in memory of

When someone dies in an accident, it’s a mass balloon release. Couple of teenagers died the other week, round here, rose a stolen motorbike into a car, one without any sort of crash helmet on.

Got the usual “cheeky chappy” bullshit.. and a load of balloons got released, to choke a few animals to death.

What is the point? I think it’s performative grieving … started with Princess Di, and has never really left us.

kill fish birds too

If you believe it's unlikely that they end up in fields where animals live, where exactly do you believe the majority of this shit goes? To heaven?

Agreed. I’ve heard of fireworks at gender reveals setting fire to buildings as well? Insane.

Nah you're just on the wind up

When I can I want to start a memorial bursary in memory of my dad. He always said that any remembrance stuff had to serve the living as it was no actual use to him once he was gone. It sounds really cold and clinical put like that but he was right, these things are for those left more than the deceased.

Some posts in this thread proving again that you can't cure stupid

For my Dad's funeral we gave a pack of seeds to plant in his memory , something lasting and more environmentally friendly .
My Dad didn;t even want flowers , I cannot imagine his horror if we did a balloon release .

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c03522z5lvro.amp

https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/health-welfare/bullock-chokes-to-death-on-helium-balloon

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/farmer-calls-ban-after-stray-28767115

Incredibly selfish attitude!

Just a few instances where balloons did reach farms. There's loads more where they came from. They also reach the sea and cause the deaths of sealife like turtles, whales and dolphins.

Anything like this should be banned. We just don't have the resources on this planet to be wasting them on this shite. And then as you point out, there are the dangers to wildlife.
In fact all helium balloons should be banned (there is absolutely no need for them), never mind balloon releases.
Yes, I sound miserable and yes balloons can look really pretty, but if they were banned people would forget about them in a few years and not miss them.

So much stupidity in one post, where do you even start?

@TheNightSurgeon - that is such a lovely idea. I am sorry for your loss

Yep and farm animals could eat a plastic bottle cap and die too... the world's full of plastic crap unfortunately. I think its highly unlikely the balloons will reach a farm.

I'm in favour of doing it if it will help someone's grief or be part of a celebration.

This is going along the same lines of "we should ban fireworks because it upsets my dog".

I was part of a group of mums that organised the leavers dance from my son’s primary school a couple of years ago. We said we were aware that pre covid balloon releases were common at these parties but times have moved on and we weren’t doing it for environmental reasons plus being near the airport, shortage of helium, litter, birds etc. some mums in the group didn’t say a word then on the night pitched up with the balloons and took a group of kids outside and released them. We were livid. Neighbours complained to the school and we had to answer why it had happened.

Yes it really happened.

The school had organised it, I spoke to the HT about it, and she told me that I was lucky I wasn't in the mums position.

My children died long before I ever lived here so the school didn't know.

There have been many issues with the HT before and since. She's git a shitty attitude about a lot of things.

Absolutely - we live in the countryside and I see them in hedges regularly (I think sometimes accidentally let go by children tbf).

I can’t help thinking that a gender reveal is pulling your pants down in public.

I sensitively raised it with the school and was told I was being insensitive and should thank my lucky stars it wasn't my child.
I then pointed out I had two children who had died, and I do things to honour them that don't include killing wildlife.

did this really happen?

And fuck your balloon arch and your giant birthday numbers. Fuck them up your arse.

Our school had a balloon release in honour of a child who had died.

I sensitively raised it with the school and was told I was being insensitive and should thank my lucky stars it wasn't my child.

I then pointed out I had two children who had died, and I do things to honour them that don't include killing wildlife.

I would never have raised it with the parents though, and I think that's the problem really, it does come across as heartless to complain before a memorial. That's why I think there should just be a ban altogether on these releases.

Me and my dc (when they were younger) used bubbles, the kids would whisper messages as they blew bubbles and the bubbles popping were my children getting the messages from their siblings.

There are a million ways to remember and honour your loved one, why choose something that is so destructive.

Spot on!

TBH anyone who has a 'gender reveal' isn't likely to be thinking of the environment. Or much else, for that matter.

The idea that they might reach my dad’s soul which was floating around on its way to heaven. That sounds so ridiculous but it my grief it made sense. It was also a way for the kids to “send a message to granddad”.

As does the lighting of paper lanterns that float away and end up sometimes in a farmer’s field.

Do you mind me asking what appealed to you about releasing them? Not going to jump on you, I'd just be interested to understand.