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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To support a ban on Chinese Lanterns

150 replies

Myleetlepony · 21/09/2010 19:02

www.nfuonline.com/Regions/East-Anglia/News/Fight-continues-against-lantern-menace/
They have got to be one of the most stupid ideas around at the moment. I've written to two popular local wedding venues that allows them to be set off, highlighting the NFU campaign and asking them to consider banning them. Waiting for replies. However, I think they need to be banned from sale completely.
If this wire got around an animal's leg it wouldn't break, it would sever skin, flesh and tendon. So it was terrifying to find one in my ponies' field last weekend. Not to mention the impact if parts of the lantern were eaten. Or if they get into hay or feed. Or if they landed while still alight... Or imagine a cat or dog getting tangled in the debris...
So, could the Bridezillas on here bear this in mind when they make plans for their happy day please?

OP posts:
Original poster
Myleetlepony · 22/09/2010 08:06

Trinity, I don't want anyone beating themselves up Grin. Just asking some to re-think.
Yes sickoftheholidays, if anyone had seen what happens to an animal that gets caught in wire I'm pretty sure they'd never consider using one of these lanterns. The wire in the lanterns is thinner than stock fencing, so the effects would be swifter and more severe. Sad

OP posts:
TrinityTheLonelyBrokenRhino · 22/09/2010 08:09

but mine do land in my garden or the sea....

Original poster
Myleetlepony · 22/09/2010 08:16

Eco lanterns use bamboo. They aren't really "much better" unfortunately, bamboo is very dangerous on the ground. And of course Eco lanterns can land in a tree or on a roof before the flame has gone out.
I know it takes time, but please could people look back on the thread at some of the links I've posted? They explain clearly why Eco lanterns are as much of a problem as the ones with wire in.

OP posts:
Original poster
Myleetlepony · 22/09/2010 08:18

I don't know about the environmental impact of them landing in the sea.

OP posts:
SassySusan · 22/09/2010 08:20

Oh well, had a wee google this morning - they do seem to be dangerous....

What about tethering them, so they don't float too far Hmm

So that's £30 down the drain... not the biggest of problems....

Original poster
Myleetlepony · 22/09/2010 08:32

Exactly. Define a safe space when you are launching something into the air, where it will be subject to thermals and breezes and you have no control over where it goes at all. None of the bloody things are safe.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 22/09/2010 09:04

Trinity when they're floating over the sea they do indeed resemble distress flares. And in Scotland alone, this is estimated to have cost search and rescue charities, and the taxpayer, hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Not to mention, as some pointed out, the lives of livestock or their livelihoods.

Grain for animal feed has risen to record prices due to wildfires in Russia destroying much of their crop.

How long before it's someone's home with their children inside? Or till search and rescue doesn't get to someone in danger fast enough due to answering one of these 'emergencies'? These charities are already stretched to the limit and last year, 3 men drowned in Loch Awe because the proper equipment wasn't available in time due to cutbacks.

Find another way to commemorate or celebrate.

Light a sparkler, a special candle or something.

sethstarkaddersmum · 22/09/2010 09:12

well I suppose the debris is going to be less of a problem over the sea and the fire risk pretty tiny but you are going to have the problem of the flames getting mistaken for flares - I heard somewhere you are meant to ring up the coastguard and let them know so they won't think it's a distress flare. You would check the wind direction beforehand I suppose.

sethstarkaddersmum · 22/09/2010 09:13

x-posted with Expat.

rubyrubyruby · 22/09/2010 09:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coraltoes · 22/09/2010 09:30

they are just tacky...and if dangerous too, well even more reason to not sell them.

ccpccp · 22/09/2010 09:31

If you want people to just nod and agree with you OP then perhaps AIBU is the wrong forum for your crusade?

BTW - attacking the poster rather than the post weakens your argument.

YABU to call for a ban. The risk to barns, ponies, livestock, festival tents, lifeboats and old peoples faces is acceptable given the joy they bring to the general public.

Tighten rules on manufacture if you want to reduce risk.

DomesticG0ddess · 22/09/2010 09:35

Now you really have given yourself away ccpccp!

SassySusan · 22/09/2010 10:00

Do be fair ccpccp may have a point. Lots of stuff is dangerous...

I bet candles cause more fires than chinese lanterns and they are generally purely decorative too..

StewieGriffinsMom · 22/09/2010 10:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sethstarkaddersmum · 22/09/2010 10:15

exactly SGM.
I don't in general like banning people from taking risk for themselves - that's their choice.
Taking risks with other people's property or lives is a completely different kettle of fish though.
And especially when (due to the fact that these things blow a long way) there is practically no chance at all that there will be any legal consequences for the person causing the accident. I mean, speeding is wrong, but more often than not if you kill someone you will be punished for it. Play silly buggers with lanterns and you have a good chance of getting away scot free - possibly you will never even find out about the harm done.

TiggyD · 22/09/2010 10:27

Maybe the name of them should be changed to "Floating Fire-snare Death Bombs"?

rubyrubyruby · 22/09/2010 10:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JaneS · 22/09/2010 10:39

If cows try to chew bamboo, it splinters in their mouths/stomachs, by the way. I don't know if it is meant to be all burnt up in the eco-lanterns, but I'd be concerned about that.

TrinityTheLonelyBrokenRhino · 22/09/2010 10:44

ok i'm a twat

throws away lanterns that were bought for her Sad

rubyrubyruby · 22/09/2010 10:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ccpccp · 22/09/2010 11:21

Trinity - the chance of your lanterns falling still lit onto a farmers head are very very very low. Go out and enjoy them!

I dont believe death-by-chinese-lantern has made the national stats yet.

'If cows try to chew bamboo, it splinters in their mouths/stomachs'

So dont make them out of bamboo.

LadyBiscuit · 22/09/2010 11:24

No it hasn't yet. But I'm sure Trinity doesn't want 'small child seriously injured in burning tent caused by Chinese lantern' on her conscience either.

They will eventually be banned once someone is killed or badly injured. Unfortunately livestock or property isn't considered important enough.

You really are a silly and irritating troll ccpccp. Run along back to your IT or motoring forum there's a dear.

sethstarkaddersmum · 22/09/2010 11:48

Trinity - I don't believe for a moment you would do anything twattish.
I don't believe you would let one off on a windy day after a period of dry weather over a campsite near a thatched cottage while drunk Confused
There are heaps of people out there playing silly buggers with these things but that doesn't mean that everyone who has them is irresponsible.

If you want to let some off by the sea why not ring up the coastguard?