Stop balloon releases

Whisky2014 · 2019-06-14T18:54:42+00:00

They litter our land, animals get stuck and entwined around them. If they are helium then it's an unnecessary waste to a finite resource that we actually use for health reasons. Why is it not banned? It's basically accepted to litter in this way and it really confuses me.

ScreamingValenta · 14/06/2019 19:56

I completely agree.

User1053051066 · 14/06/2019 20:05

Stop cars. They pollute the world. Stop buildings. They use up green land. Stop cleaning everything because we have to. The over use of chemicals is killing animals. Stop fireworks. They litter and make scary noises just for fun. Stop finds its. They cause litter, damage and pollution all in one.

It's not ideal nor necessary to life but it's hardly the biggest problem.

OrchidInTheSun · 14/06/2019 20:07

I totally agree but you will find that a lot of MN feel that their event outweighs gush and animals dying painfully and needlessly.

Original poster

Whisky2014 · 14/06/2019 20:10

@User1053051066 but that's not a reason to just carry out completely needless balloon releases is it?
At least cars will be going electric soonish and actually have a purpose.
I do think fireworks should stop too.
Or do you think we should just be ignorant to everything and let you release a balloon for absolutely no reason?

OP posts:

ScreamingValenta · 14/06/2019 20:10

You might be being sarcastic, User, but I'd happily see cars, chemical cleaning, fireworks and building on green land banned! Not sure what 'finds its' is an auto-correct for so will reserve judgement on banning that one.

TheNavigator · 14/06/2019 20:14

Stop cars. They pollute the world. Stop buildings. They use up green land. Stop cleaning everything because we have to. The over use of chemicals is killing animals. Stop fireworks. They litter and make scary noises just for fun. Stop finds its. They cause litter, damage and pollution all in one.

Cars and buildings have a practical use, though we should (and are) looking to make them more sustainable. Balloon releases (and fireworks) are entirely unnecessary sources of litter and animal deaths. I can see no reason why anyone would have one, if they had thought it through, so it is worth raising awareness of the negative impact wherever possible.

Hmmmbop · 14/06/2019 20:32

I agree.

A couple of balloon stores near us refuse to sell balloons for releases, which I think is great.

Queenoftheashes · 14/06/2019 20:33

Of course they should be banned. I mean ffs they’re banning cotton buds.

Sirzy · 14/06/2019 20:34

They need banning now.

I find it hard to understand why anyone would think it wise with what is known now. There are plenty of other ways to remember loved ones, I have seen flower bombs whereby you throw it up and it’s full of seeds so you end up with a wildflower bed - much nicer and helps the environment

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 14/06/2019 20:35

I do agree in principle. But the most recent one I know about was for a six year old who had died after spending most of his life having cancer treatment. I don’t think I have it in me to complain about anything his parents’ do in order to get through the day.

megletthesecond · 14/06/2019 20:36

Yanbu.

But very few people seem to get this. I moaned at the local scouts a couple of years ago because they did a balloon release. Bloody hopeless response to my e-mails explaining why it was so bad for the environment .

ScreamingValenta · 14/06/2019 20:42

I don’t think I have it in me to complain about anything his parents’ do in order to get through the day.

This is exactly why they should be banned - of course no one with a heart would want to challenge grieving families as individuals, but a ban would take any sense of a personal attack away from a sensitive situation.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 14/06/2019 20:45

Good point Screaming.

Although there will always be someone who was planning on doing one just as they were banned which makes it hard.

We need a well publicised eco friendly replacement. (And them to be used it soap operas / top dramas so it becomes the instinctive thing to do.)

Passthecherrycoke · 14/06/2019 20:47

I agree, but are they really that common? I’ve never heard of anyone doing one irl. A friend released 1 balloon on the anniversary of her dads death, don’t know if that counts. Not exactly the time you want to butt in and rant about the environment though

RangerLady · 14/06/2019 20:51

I hate them too. Not a great memorial to a loved one to potentially kill a load of wildlife. I'm always to scared to comment suggesting something else when I see people planning one though... I need to get a spine I guess.

Pokul · 14/06/2019 20:58

I agree they should be banned, I've had a couple land in with my sheep before. Its not much of a lovely memorial, me binning the deflared balloon while cursing the bastard that released it!

Original poster

Whisky2014 · 14/06/2019 21:02

@sirzy the flower bomb is such a good idea!

I doubt any of my relatives would think "you know what would be great if I died? A load of balloons released in my memory"
No. Just no

And also, they are used for baby reveals etc. Look on YouTube to see millions of people doing this and using tonnes of balloons. A

OP posts:

User1053051066 · 14/06/2019 22:16

Find its- funfairs

Whisky, I font do them. Never have. Never intend. Don't see the link between 40 helium plastic bags floating off in to oblivion to then- Yes, pollute and possibly kill. But there are loads of unnecessary fun events going on which cause damage and pollution. Balloon releases will be banned then there will be something else on the campaign list. Like cotton buds and plastic drinking straws......

Original poster

Whisky2014 · 14/06/2019 22:59

Yah and that's a good thing...

OP posts:

Andylion · 14/06/2019 23:51

We need a well publicised eco friendly replacement. (And them to be used it soap operas / top dramas so it becomes the instinctive thing to do.)

I like the wildflowers idea.

ThreeRandomWords · 15/06/2019 00:00

I wish balloons could be banned full stop. I know they are kind of fun and make a good decoration, and I used to buy them myself. I didn't think about the waste of plastic and the harm it could cause, or the waste of Helium in some cases. But as soon as I did think about it, I decided I would never buy another one.
My feeling is that over the next couple of decades we are all going to have to accept a change in our lifestyles. Plastic is causing huge problems already and j think as a start we should all of us think about curtailing the unnecessary use of single-use plastic items.

meditrina · 15/06/2019 07:35

You cannot possibly tel, the bereaved, when they are actually doing this, how awful it is. Because that wouid be hurtful and harmless.

Which is why talking about it at other times, in threads such as this (which include other events such as weddings) is important. So that people have a think about it when their emotions are not heightened. And, one hopes, decide that is something they will never participate in

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 15/06/2019 07:43

Or competitions where a group of people release balloons with a tag attached for the finder to post back.
I saw this on social media recently by the same person constantly going on about taking her children to see turtles hatching and helping raise money for the local dogs home. It's just litter!You are showing your kids what a wide ranging effect a single act of selfishness can have, and it's not a positive thing.

Barnabyboy · 15/06/2019 07:49

The helium used isn’t the same as the helium used medically

TeamUnicorn · 15/06/2019 08:01

I fully agree that they need to be banned. I was out last week with my DD and a stream of people came out of a pub clutching their balloons, I was the other side of the road so couldn't see what it was for. It made me so angry though, everyone must know the risks yet it still happens, but as a pp points out it is difficult to tell people not to do it.

Has Birmingham city council not banned them?