To think mass balloon releases are selfish and should be banned?

[QuestionableMouse]

I've just heard about a mass balloon release in memory of some teens who were killed in a car accident. I hate them and think they're selfish; they're so damaging to the environment (ingesting balloons or the string can lead to a horrible death for both farm and wild animals, including marine life.)

The emoting behind them is lovely, but I hate the fact that they're essentially delayed littering. Releasing bubbles or seeds can do the same thing but without killing wildlife!

I don’t think they’re selfish as such- misguided maybe.

Maybe write to your MP about them being banned?

Totally agree. Ditto Chinese Lanterns.

Yes you are BU. Let them release their balloons in memory of their friends. So selfish to grieve for a lost loved one...

Why are you even posting this on here. Get a grip.

I think you're not unreasonable to think that at all.

I agree, there are many far less harmful ways to acknowledge people and events.

I think it's pointless and destructive to wild life. Why not plant a tree or something?

They look lovely going up but far less lovely when they end up as litter.

Lantern releases should be stopped too.

There’s bound to be a huge amount of grief by those who knew those lads.

Where I work released a few in memory of a 10 year old pupil who passed away in the new year. The balloons were environmentally friendly and were filled with wild flower seeds. A beautiful way for the rest of the pupils to engage with saying goodbye to a friend. Nothing damaging the environment. Maybe these balloons released for the deaths you mentioned were the same. Most people wish to help and care for the environment in anyway they can.

They aren’t thinking about the environmental implications, rightly so.

I wouldn't tell a family in mourning 24 hours after a tragedy, but you are not wrong to want to educate people about the awful effect they have on the environment.

Shops have started to ban plastic straws because of the damage they do. Chinese Lanterns have badly injured wild and domestic animals.

I think a thread stating the negative would be better than one linking to a specific tragedy. poor taste, and you are distracting from the very valid message you want to share

Oh and no ribbons or string were used as where we released them is on a flight path. Hope you're doing your bit to protect the planet

Maybe the fault lies with manufacturers of non environmentally friendly balloons?
I like the seed filled idea.

*Yes you are BU. Let them release their balloons in memory of their friends. So selfish to grieve for a lost loved one...

Why are you even posting this on here. Get a grip.*

Have you done any research on this?

Balloons cause a shit load of damage. It is littering. Animals die.

My dd’s friend had a pony who was killed by eating a balloon which landed in it’s field. So grief causing more grief. Should that child get a grip? Her own feeling don’t matter because it was only an animal and being able to release a fucking balloon because a person died is more important?

Wildlife dies. Sea creatures die. I walk dd to school and there are two balloons in the hedge and one in a tree which have been there for at least 2 years.

It is fucking selfish. It is about feeling entitled to do what the fuck you want no matter the consequences, because you lost someone. I lost someone, most people i know have lost someone, but i don’t feel the need to litter the planet and cause more death because my feelings.

Oh, the seed filled ones sound lovely!

They are very damaging, so I would like to see them banned.

There are other ways, plant a tree or something.

I did read recently that the use of Chinese lanterns has declined, after people realised how bad they are for world life and the environment, so there is some hope.

They aren’t thinking about the environmental implications, rightly so.

What do you mean, "highly so"?

Surely one thing doesn't preclude the other?

really the lads in question were all declared dead at the scene of a terrible road accident.

I can’t begin to imagine the torture those families are going through, I doubt they are thinking straight.

As said above environmentally friendly us the way forward but to berate the sentiment behind the balloon release is pretty insensitive to say gbd least.

Bumblebee- i have done a fair bit of research on this and so far nothing marketed as “environmentally friendly” actually is.

Even if they are they are they are filled with helium- a finite resource needed for medical equipmemt..

I don’t think it’s selfish as I think a lot of people don’t realise the environmental impact. Yanbu to dislike them.

No one berates the sentiment, it's the expression of it that's been questioned.

Chardonnay they’re grieving and in terrible shock, I doubt anyone would pull the environmental card out at such a time.

No one is pulling a card.

I'm saying that there has to be a wider campaign so people realise how damaging balloon releases and lanterns are, and they need to be banned.

It was just the one release that made me think about them, rather than that specific one being wrong iyswim?

The seed filled idea is lovely.

I'm as envoromentally friendly as I can be; I only use the car once or twice a week, use public transport where I can and have been reducing my use of plastics where I can.

@Scuzzlet, there are any number of sources out there to show how bad these releases are. You'd be happy to go on a morning to find your foal in agony because he's eaten a balloon? (He couldn't be saved, btw and his owner was devastated.) www.mcsuk.org/downloads/pollution/dont%20let%20go.pdf