to have sent this email to school/PTA?

[QueenOfF1amingEverything]

They want to have a balloon release for the Jubilee with a cash prize for the 'winner'...

"Having just read through the minutes of the PTA meeting, I'm afraid I have an objection to the proposed ballon launch. We are lucky enough to live in an AONB, on the banks of a beautiful and relatively unpolluted river, and near more than one SSSI, and therefore I think it would be particularly irresponsible to release balloons. Balloons do not biodegrade and are extremely dangerous to animals who may ingest them, which will often be fatal.

The environmental impact of releasing balloons needs to be considered as effectively it is no different to throwing litter, and I really disagree with the idea of a £50 cash prize for the person whose litter travels the furthest.
Please see this link for further information - www.ukrivers.net/balloon_fact.html

Thanks, QOFE"

Not at all. I don't normally "do" environmental angst but in this case I can see completely where you're coming from and why you're right. Good luck, I hope you get the right response.

I had always wondered whether this was littering or whether special biodegradable balloons were used.

Assuming the ecological impact is as bad as you fear then YANBU

As an aside I have no idea what SSSI means. Probably a good idea not to assume they will either?

SSSI = Site of Special Scientific Interest (first use of my GCSE in Geography for 20 years )

I don't understand your abbreviations but I agree it's not environmentally friendly.

They will know what an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) is as the school makes a big deal about being so near to one!

I agree with you, and it is such a pointless thing to be doing anwyay.

Oh sorry, AONB = Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

AONB - Area of outstanding natural beauty. :)

A round of applause for you

I hate those mass balloon releases for all the reasons you mentioned above.

Also, Chinese lanterns pose a big health risk to animals and crops. here

As you say, it's akin to dropping litter all over the countryside and pses serious risk to wildlife.

Totally agree with you, our PTFA decided not to do this last year after objections from myself and another couple of mums.

Ooh, I started a thread about this on Friday.

DS has created a little 'anti-balloon release' project, and made a poster to try to make others think about the potential for damage. I know they'll all laugh in the staffroom at the rabble-rousing infant, but I wasn't going to stop him raising some very valid concerns.

They are going to love me at school pick up time... I should really go to the PTA meetings but they are always straight after school and I would have to take my noisy 1 yr old with me.

Well done you. I hate it when balloons are released.

Loving your DS, Shatners

YANBU at all

YANBU - I totally agree and think it's a good point to raise with the school.

One excuse is to call balloons 'biodegradable' which is ridiculous.
Yes, the rubber will degrade over a period of months or years but not before they have polluted the environment and been a risk to animals.

I agree with you.

Could they not have a rubber duck race down the river, and raise awareness at the same time. And just have a net across the river to catch them all.

Everybody takes home a rubber duck, but the winning duck a price?

They pay for duck entry, each duck has a number written on, so that each person is paired up with correct rubber duck?

QS - the river is a bit too big for that, I think!

The school have now forwarded my objecting email to every parent [eek]

• oh dear - did they keep your name on email? cue lots of parents tutting about spoilsports

I agree with you by the way - rubbish idea (literally)

Releasing balloons is a terrible (and very easy way out) fund raiser.

More ammunition for you from the Marine Conservation Society, and the RSPB also supports the campaign against balloon releases.

You are definitely not being unreasonable, btw, but I expect some parents will see you as a spoilsport. Hope you can hold your ground.

That's a really stupid thing to do. I assume they've done that so if the event is called off, the school/PTA can blame the spoilsport parent who complained.