AIBU to object to balloon and lantern memorial releases for environmental reasons ?

@BeSunnyLemonSheep is this what you like ? Sorry about the pic but it needs to be seen

And fireworks, especially in rural places where there are livestock and peat moors. Some people are incredibly stupid or know the potential dangers to the environment and wildfire, but their ritual trumps everything else.

I know it’s been mentioned but the moorland fires were started by friends setting off fireworks on dry moorland in a heatwave. This was after an 18 year old died trying a stunt I assume he’d seen online, hit his head and drowned.

100% agree

Thank-you both. Yes, more awareness now. I'm also sorry for your loss, Helppleasestuck.

100% agree with this. I am also sorry for your loss @shinyredbicycle as a fellow bereaved parent.
I have done things in the past that I wouldn't do today, now I am better educated about the impact. It's ok, we learn and try to improve.

You do know you are actually breaking the law under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Littering is strictly illegal. Dropped balloons are classed as litter. Environmental Impact: Under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, dropped balloons are classed as litter.
Wildlife Hazard: Released balloons fall back down to the ground or sea, where animals can ingest them, causing suffocation or starvation Don't Let Go: Balloon and sky lantern releases. 1, 2, 3, 4]

Can you imagine how many balloons will be released when a dozen family members have died in that family? 🙄 it should be a criminal offence, but is against local by-laws in many local authorities, including a few I’ve lived in

And also sad for the people who do it naively when they are full of grief & have seen it on tik tok & think it's a lovely thing to do.

Years down the line they may see or hear stories of some of the devastation or see a balloon discarded in a bush covered in dirt & dog shit & then feel hurt & ashamed of the way they are remembering their loved one.

There needs to be a fine for littering/flytipping for anyone doing it & fines for companies who knowingly take advantage of grieving families to sell this shit.

People would still do it to some extent but it would discourage them from doing it publicly & posting the videos on tik tok etc which is where the ideas are spreading.

Its quite disgusting and barbaric that this happens because some people are too thick to understand the damage they do in the memory of someone who has passed. It needs addressing since some people are incapable of finding better ways to remember that doesn't kill animals in the memory of someone.

20 years isn't that long ago, absolutely people were doing balloon releases and lot lantern releases, they were a big trend at weddings among those getting married 1998-2005 I'd say (when I was early 20s and attending constant weddings it felt like) of anything I'd say they're less socially acceptable now as most people realise how awful they are and only idiots continue

So 40 balloons to wreak havoc? Don't you care that your tribute multiple times a year can cause death and suffering to animals?

So you don’t care about the environment. But you are happy that sheep, cattle or horses or wild animals could die a painful death in memory of your dead family member? Thats sick.To want to harm animals as a memorial..did they work in an abattoir? Some sort of revenge? Why wouldn’t you do something positive and nice instead? Give toys to children’s care home or a kids ward in a hospital, There must be ways to remember a relative by supporting some thing they cared about.

I just can’t help thinking that the deceased person can’t have been nice if their family and friends deem it a suitable tribute to release balloons or lanterns to set fire to places and kill animals.

None of my loved ones would have wanted that as their legacy.

So up to 20 people each 'releasing' 2 balloons to kill wildlife and litter, potentially 40 bits of tatty deflated plastic. Your relative is remembered by tatty plastic. Do you also have an array of plastic tat around the grave.

I hope these tacky displays releasing plastic to the environment is banned in the future. An increasing number of people are educated about this and judge these displays. Poor.

Well I guess, the deceased family member says, "Oh good, you're still sending balloons despite the animals who have died eating the litter when they deflate and land. You must really love me. And I love you. I will continue to be with you until the next balloon offering. Should you fail to offer up balloons on the next offering day, which is pancake day I think, then I shall no longer be with you, I will no longer love you because balloons are what are really important to me." I think there would then be a clap of thunder.

Self indulged, ignorant idiot. People like you are why we have so many problems as a society.

Here's what 'happens' - all your thoughts & memories.

People are idiots. I hate balloon releases too. They should be banned. Plant a tree, sow some seeds, gather and have a party/reading, do something they loved, get a banch but don't make an environmental dent for the sake of it.

This calf will have suffocated slowly & painfully to death whilst being watched by its mum.

All in someone's 'memory'

That's an awful way to remember a loved one ....... a dead dear, once beautiful and alive, killed by idiots and their crap.

Plant a tree.
Bubbles.
A gathering at a favourite place, eg at a beach but without plastic tat release
Plant a rose bush, butterfly bush etc.

Just a few options

Surely you could achieve exactly the same by something that doesn't kill animals?

How does this mean your family member is with you? Did they like killing animals or something?

@BeSunnyLemonSheep please, that’s not a reasonable response. There are many ways to celebrate family members that don’t involve releasing balloons or Chinese lanterns.

You must be able to come up with a different way that is personal to your loved one to celebrate them that doesn’t involve littering the countryside.