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"

YANBU - they are terrible things to do environmentally.

I do agree though with Runoutofideas, that now you have thrown your hat in the ring and objected, you might want to go to a few meetings (yes, with your 1 YO, that's what I used to do - it was tricky, but not impossible and at least it shows willing) and think of a few things that are nicer ways of raising money.

Personally, I think the letter is a good, but I would have at least written a couple of alternatives in there, like a butterfly release etc, just so you didn't end up feeling quite so killjoyish.

you can get bio degradable balloons for release if you google.

YANBU - what goes up must come down!

I hate flying litter.

skybluepearl - all natural latex balloons are biodegradable, but they take time to biodegrade (weeks at least), and before they do that they can easily choke wildlife.

Has there been any come back? I would be furious if they'd forwarded an email I sent with my details on it.
They should have written their own with "It has come to our attention" on it.

Have you spoken to anyone at school?

Massive massive round of applause,it's pointless and most importantly hugely damaging to the environment.

Hope they listen to you!

YANBU, I dislike Chinese lanterns for the same reason.

And quoteunquote you have just made me feel guilty about inhaling the helium from DS's birthday balloon

They forwarded it with the words 'Please see attached email' added to the top and with my name and email address still on it. No idea what the other parents think yet - I sent DP to get DD as it is my birthday so I am very busy sitting in a hammock with a G&T

I'll see if I can think of a viable alternative to suggest, though quite frankly I couldn't care less what they do to celebrate the Jubilee so long as it doesn't involve chucking hundreds of balloons all over the countryside.

I had a similar objection a couple of years ago for our schools 80th celebrations.

That made out like I was a madwoman and a killjoy. YANBU.

Queen, I would complain to the school. Have they made a decision to cancel it? Very poor of the headteacher to allow your email to be forwarded. Smacks of cowardice.

My son's project was viewed and dismissed by the Head. He just promised not to do one next year WHEN THERE'S NOTHING TO BLOODY CELEBRATE.

I'd say it but in a far more succint and less snooty way

YANBU to voice your concern, but YABU to send an email like that. I would hope that you included your polite recognition of the amount the PTA does for the school along with your thanks.

I also think you should have suggested an alternative and offered to help with the organising of the alternative event, because unless you are prepared to do that, you should have kept your opinion to yourself. You have a point about the environmental effects, but you could have refused to allow your child to take part instead of expecting other people to work harder to suit you.

I would go apeshite if my details were given out like that, its really unprofessional!

Freddos, just not letting your child take part isn't really going to benefit the environment though is it? - if you are objecting to something on the grounds that you strongly believe it is harmful, just not letting your child do it is a massive cop out.

and they don't actually have to do anything to celebrate the Jubilee, surely?

I would be tempted to complain to ICO about the unauthorised breach of my personal data. But then again, it's not published in the PTA directory. If yours is published in a parents' directory, then it is perhaps not a breach.

YANBU in the slightest. Well done. :)

just not letting your child take part isn't really going to benefit the environment though is it?

Neither is sitting on your arse writing snooty emails, whereas making alternative suggestions and helping to put them into practice could help the environment as well as prevent peopel who already give up a lot of time and effort from feeling dumped upon and as if they can never keep everyone happy.

valid points but oh what a snooty way of raising them.

I don't think the email was snooty at all, it was assertive and articulate. It wasn't a personal objection as such, it was pointing out guidelines given by the UK rivers website.

god yes

I wasn't trying to be snooty. But I have zero enthusiasm for coming up with alternatives for how to celebrate the Jubi-sodding-lee and tbh I couldn't care less if they organise anything or not. Its meaningless bollocks as far as I'm concerned [shrug]

If you have zero enthusiasm for coming up with alternatives, why do you think the PTA should come up with alternatives? They were happy with what they were doing until you got involved.