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Original poster

Stop balloon releases

44 replies

Whisky2014 · 14/06/2019 19:54

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.

OP posts:

Biancadelrioisback · 15/06/2019 08:19

www.beebombs.com/

Hand made in Dorset, Beebombs are a mix of 18 British wildflower seeds, fine, sifted soil and locally sourced clay. Our seeds are native species and designated by the Royal Horticultural Society as "Perfect for Pollinators"

Beebombs just need to be scattered onto cleared ground to create a wildflower meadow that will #bringthebeesback

Biancadelrioisback · 15/06/2019 08:20

Sorry, that didn't really work. So bee bomb do the wild flower thing.
I 100% agree that this could be used in place of balloon releases. It adds beauty to the world where a balloon release removes some.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 15/06/2019 08:20

Agree.

Is there s petition going on or something?

AlwaysCheddar · 15/06/2019 08:31

And stop Chinese lanterns too....

BillywilliamV · 15/06/2019 08:34

Barnaby, Helium is an element, there is only one Helium. The medical stuff is cleaner, they will take out any impurities, but it is the same stuff.

LolaSmiles · 15/06/2019 08:37

They're a waste of resources and are litter by any other name. Same for Chinese lanterns.

I dont even understand it as a memory thing either. Would you drive and leave a single use carrier bag in a farmer's field as a sign of respect? Probably not so why is a balloon any different?

The problem is that without a ban these things often come up at a point where someone is driving and it would be insensitive to butt in and point out how wasteful and ridiculous it is.However a ban would remove that situation as it becomes socially not an ok thing to do.

Al203 · 15/06/2019 09:12

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

Oh, that's interesting. I wonder what form of the chemical element with the symbol He and atomic number 2 it is then?

captainprincess · 15/06/2019 10:45

I could not agree more. When balloons are released in memory of someone, it is obviously a hard time for all involved, but you are turning your grief into someone else's grief if one of those balloons comes down in a field with animals in and causes an injury or illness. It is just completely unnecessary and there are better ways to remember someone than release a ton of balloons.

DonkeyHohtay · 15/06/2019 10:57

Totally agree, they are pointless litter. Comparisons with cars is silly - at present there isn't an alternative and most of us need to go places. Nobody "needs" a balloon release.

There are so many alternatives - the local rotary club runs a "rubber duck race" here every year, you choose a numbered duck and the first one down the river to a certain point wins. All ducks are removed from the river after the race. They've been using the same batch of ducks forever - at least 25 years. Just the same idea as a balloon race, raises a lot for charity and no environmental impact.

EdWinchester · 15/06/2019 11:01

I completely agree. And Chinese lanterns.

Fallofrain · 15/06/2019 11:06

Im part of a fb bereavement group for babies and there are so many balloon releases on it.
I never comment when they are arranging it (as i figure its too raw then), but tried to do a general post. I got completely torn apart

Sadly i used to work in an animal resuce and we found a deceased bird with a balloon/ name attached and i had hoped that people had just never realised that their loved ones name might end up there.

However that group taught me they do and that they dont care

Original poster

Whisky2014 · 15/06/2019 11:10

Oh I have beebombs! We did one and the front of our garden us like a meadow! We have another 2 to do.

Oh, that's interesting. I wonder what form of the chemical element with the symbol He and atomic number 2 it is then? quite. Its a different grade but its still the same resource!!

Opened fb to be treated by a car dealership having a golden event on. Obviously required golden helium balloons. Ffs

OP posts:

iklboo · 15/06/2019 11:13

When DS left primary school they were all given a packet of wild flower seeds to scatter in a plot in the school garden. It has a little plaque with School Leavers X year. Lovely idea.

Original poster

Whisky2014 · 15/06/2019 11:21

@Barnabyboy im just tagging you so you see the comments and know in the future the helium used in balloons is from the same resource, it's just a different grade. When it runs out, there's no mri coolant or helium balloons...

OP posts:

mydogisthebest · 15/06/2019 11:24

I too hate balloon releases and Chinese lanterns and fireworks. I wish they would all get banned.

I posted on the Charlie Gard facebook page when his followers were going to do a mass balloon release about the dangers to wildlife and was met with the most abusive and nasty replies. When I asked if none of them cared about wildlife I got a "I don't give a fuck about wildlife dying" reply which was liked by loads!

Not surprisingly I then came to the conclusion that maybe a lot of the people who think it is ok to release balloons are pretty moronic

Original poster

Whisky2014 · 15/06/2019 11:27

God that's crazy. That case brought out the worst in people and they couldn't see the wood for the trees. Horrible nasty people they were.

OP posts:

captainprincess · 15/06/2019 11:28

@Fallofrain It's so hard, isn't it. I completely understand how raw it would be to mention anything, and can imagine you did get torn apart. I thought like you, and would like to think they just don't understand but sadly this isn't the case, they just don't care and think their grief trumps everything. But, like i said earlier, they are just turning their grief into someone else's grief, which is really sad.

Cwenthryth · 15/06/2019 11:31

I agree with you OP, I was very surprised yesterday hearing that to commemorate 2 years after Grenfell, scores of green helium balloons and white doves were released. I thought that the environmental damage balloons do were so well known I am astounded they were chosen for such a high profile event as the Grenfell memorial - but other posters are right, if you object at the time it is just taken as disrespectful. And white doves even worse - there are terrible welfare implications for the birds.

Samcro · 15/06/2019 11:35

i would love them to be banned and the lanterns.
the only time I have been involved in one (years ago) the balloons were getting stuck in the nearest tree, it was actually at the crematorium! I am sure other bereaved people loved that.
it was a childs funeral so obviously nothing was said.
hopefully now so much is in the public eye about plastic people will start to think of other things to do.

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