Disappointed about a balloon release

[Twospaniels]

Tragically a young mum and her 3 year old son were killed when their car broke down on a road with no hard shoulder, and a lorry ran up the back of it. This is truly tragic, I understand that.

But today they reported on the news that friends and family released balloons to remember the young mum and her son. I despair. The film showed what looked to me like about 100 balloons being released. I thought that we had moved beyond this. I thought that people understood how dreadful these balloons are for animals and the environment in general. It’s nothing more than littering really.
By all means remember loved ones who have passed, but in some other way - plant a shrub or a tree, lay flowers (without cellophane), but not balloons please.

I hear you. It’s nothing more than littering.

I feel the same and I hate it when I hear of one happening. I really don’t understand why people can’t see that it’s littering.

unfortunately when it comes to grief it’s very difficult to speak up. And those that do it think their grief overrides any objections.

the imagery of “going up to heaven” is too strong a pull, planting trees/flowers don’t have such a strong emotional effect. Even if the releases aren’t religious and don’t believe in heaven.

the only way to stop these is for them to be outright banned by LA’s.

There was a Chinese lantern in our area recently that very nearly burned a stable down. Someone posted on Facebook. Comments were all how terrible should be banned, until the releaser posted that she does it every year in memory of a miscarriage, then it all turned to how lovely, sorry for your loss…

Completely agree with you, OP.

I had a bit of a run in with a lady in a shop in our local town a couple of months ago. I was behind her in the queue and heard her ask the lady serving for a foil balloon, not too expensive as she was going to release it later that day. I had to say something, asked whether she hates wildlife or farm animals who could die as a result of her releasing the balloon. She just said that she does it every year. I suggested bubbles instead but her response was that grandchild likes it. I asked if the grandchild also hates animals.

When she left I said to the lady serving that I thought she also had some responsibility for allowing people to purchase balloons purely for this purpose.

Sadly it’s still happening.