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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think ''Chinese Lanterns'' should be banned?

135 replies

ThatGingerOne · 28/10/2016 00:19

Seen several posts now of horses being horrifically injured from the lanterns landing on them. Other stories of course about them starting fires too. Does anyone else agree they're too dangerous to be used?

OP posts:
fabulousfun · 28/10/2016 00:21

Agree totally - we have loads of sheep and I'm scared that they will be injured or terrified by these!

helpimitchy · 28/10/2016 00:21

Probably should if they're causing harm to animals and causing damage to property Sad

shadowfax07 · 28/10/2016 00:23

YADNBU - horrible things!

Lexilooo · 28/10/2016 00:23

Not in the slightest bit unreasonable, they are pointless and dangerous. I have been sharing anti Chinese lantern stuff for years.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 28/10/2016 00:25

They do seem unnecessarily risky.

HappyCamel · 28/10/2016 00:27

YANBU - I went to a wedding where we all had to let them go at the same time. I hid in the loo...for 40 minutes...while they faffed about lighting them, taking photos and letting them go!

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 28/10/2016 00:27

We were at a party once where they were lit and two got caught in trees and burned for ages. They are so dangerous.

EveryDayIsASchoolDay · 28/10/2016 00:29

I think they look pretty floating on water or whatever but definitely not causing harm to animals / trees etc. I could definitely live without them. YADNBU

Original poster
ThatGingerOne · 28/10/2016 00:30

Brought this up as these articles caught my eye today about another horse who had been burned very badly:

www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/can-life-threatening-event-horse-burned-chinese-lantern-602247

www.essexlive.news/chinese-lantern-leaves-brentwood-horse-with-horrific-burns/story-29843562-detail/story.html

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 28/10/2016 00:31

I think Worcestershire has banned them.

Cherrysoup · 28/10/2016 00:31

Hate them, I can't believe they're allowed. You have no control once they're released. A stables near us pretty much burnt down, probably due to lanterns landing. Farmer lost his entire hay crop-about £70, 000. A friend did an event recently where hundreds were released. I was horrified. Google the pics, lots of burns recently to a young event horse, older pics show a dead barn owl caught in one.

PutDownThatLaptop · 28/10/2016 00:38

One of these set fire to a tree in my garden and had only travelled over the fence from next door.

WiltingTulip · 28/10/2016 00:42

I agree. And balloons. Sad

WorraLiberty · 28/10/2016 00:45

YANBU

There are 2 trees on my street and they're only a couple of feet from my front gate.

Last NYE my neighbour one on fire with a Chinese lantern. Thank goodness it burned out quickly.

WorraLiberty · 28/10/2016 00:45

*Set one on fire

Sparklesilverglitter · 28/10/2016 00:46

The council here have imposed fines for anyone caught/reported for using them

I can see why people use them and they are pretty but not good for the environment

Original poster
ThatGingerOne · 28/10/2016 01:00

PutDownThatLaptop Shock What did the neighbours say? Did they offer to pay for any damage?

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unlucky83 · 28/10/2016 01:07

I agree - and also with wilting - and balloon releases. I cringe when I hear of eg a charity balloon release...where do they think most of them end up?

WeArePregnant11 · 28/10/2016 01:08

I didn't know that... I have very special and fond memories of letting go Chinese lanterns. (I'm kind of sad these memories were just spoiled)

However, if they're dangerous... well, then that's it. No more Chinese lanterns...

madamginger · 28/10/2016 01:19

Not only are they a fire risk, they also cause litter with bits of wire landing all over the place for animals to get caught in.
One landed on my neighbours roof, luckily it was raining or Christ knows what would have happened

PutDownThatLaptop · 28/10/2016 01:21

ThatGingerOne they were the ones who had to put the fire out as I was not in at the time!

Original poster
ThatGingerOne · 28/10/2016 01:22

madamginger I totally agree about it not just being a fire risk, a horse was also injured when it was eating foliage and some of the wire from a lantern was caught up in it was ingested and tore up the poor things stomach. Surgery had to be perform so you can imagine the damage to the poor animal and not to mention the cost to the owners!

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Original poster
ThatGingerOne · 28/10/2016 01:23

PutDownThatLaptop Bloody awful that! I would have been fuming.

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GiddyOnZackHunt · 28/10/2016 01:30

I'd be careful of dragging balloons into this. Lots of bereaved parents release a balloon on an anniversary (and that one balloon probably has far less impact than the adult that wish their child has been) and conflating the two upsets a lot of people :(
Stick to Chinese Lanterns with flames and iit' a lot simpler!

Original poster
ThatGingerOne · 28/10/2016 01:36

Actually there are lots of reports of balloons causing damage to the environment especially with wildlife eating them Sad
I understand they want to do it for bereavement but, I'm sorry, surely there is a safer way to acknowledge something like this tbh

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