to have felt sick to my stomach seeing the Sydney fireworks...

[XXJingledNerves]

I wish so much they had cancelled.

I don't think you should cancel fireworks becuse of somethig devastating happening. No. Doesn't make much sense to me, won't solve the problem.

But there is comfort in not surrendering to the hopelessness. By that I mean that keeping people's spirits buoyed and not stopping living is important. Resilience. Defiance.

Totally agree.

As an Australian, I'm bemused by people in the UK who think we should cancel everything. That to me shows a complete lack of understanding of the Aussie spirit. When things get tough, we stay the course and don't sacrifice anything. Strength, resilience in adversity and the show must go on. Firefighters themselves have said we should go ahead with them. People need things like that to lift spirits. I don't agree it is in poor taste. Actually I think not going ahead would have been in poor taste and a sign of weakness. I am glad it went ahead, it raised a couple of million for firefighters and for those affected, which wouldn't have happened if it didn't go ahead. It was done in respect for the victims. In the end the fireworks were done in the name of those suffering from the fires, and raised money for them. Win-win imo.

I have to agree. However, you do have to understand that MN doesn't represent the UK as a whole. Any mention of fireworks on MN, in any context, inevitably results in a few members baying for them to be banned completely.

I'm in WA and, as far as I am aware, not single firework display was cancelled. The one I attended was packed.

Well just to say, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I saw an outcry from Aussies on twitter calling for fireworks to be cancelled - it's not just Brits!

I must admit to being one of those Brits increasingly sick of fireworks though - I am... increasingly sick of fireworks being set off for everything. But there you go - I saw the reams of smoke in London last night from the firework display and just thought - is it worth it? When the air pollution in London is a massive talking point. But I'm probably just an old bore.

I must admit to being one of those Brits increasingly sick of fireworks though - I am... increasingly sick of fireworks being set off for everything.

But you are looking at it from a British perspective. Here, fireworks are strictly controlled and only available to licensed pyrotechnicians.

I do agree that stricter controls should be reintroduced to the UK. Fireworks used to be a lot harder to get hold off. If I remember correctly, they were only allowed to be sold to the public in the week leading up to November 5th. I'm not sure why that changed.

hold of!

It's good that fireworks aren't for general sale in Aus - I do wish the UK would follow suit - but that wasn't my point - I saw Australians calling for the Sydney fireworks to be cancelled - it's not just Brits.

True, but they could be a small, but vocal, minority of Australians.

Some Australians were calling for it to be cancelled, many were not though. Twitter isn't a good barometer to judge the average person. It's usually used by noisy people on both ends of the spectrum. The reality is somewhere in between.

They could be- but we don't know that.

But this - "As an Australian, I'm bemused by people in the UK who think we should cancel everything. That to me shows a complete lack of understanding of the Aussie spirit." - I was just making the point that it's not just brits thinking they should be cancelled - it's Aussies too.

I've just scanned the papers and the news channels. I didn't see anything related to New Year fireworks.

It only seems to be an issue on MN.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-50934149

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7839129/Australians-demand-Sydneys-NYE-fireworks-called-devastating-bushfires.html

Both UK papers!

I scanned Australian papers and TV news.

And not only that, they are days old.

Well, it's the 2nd jan now, of course they are days old! And it specifically talks about Australians demanded the fireworks don't go ahead. Australians started the petitions. May not be the majority view - but it is the view of some Australians, not just Brits, which was my point.

Perhaps Murdoch didn't report on it....

@HoppingPavlova, No I do not live in Sydney, though I do visit and think it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
I am definitely on the other side of the continent, so I rely for my information on ABC radio/TV, said thousands $ involved when it obviously is much much more.
Many different opinions have been expressed, all valid and to be encouraged.
Can I suggest we all take a few minutes out to make a financial contribution, however small, to Red Cross, the Rural Fire Service, or save a Koala, (link in a previous thread).
Discussion is interesting/informative, but not really helpful to the volunteer firies.
From your post I would guess you are a local businessman or, god forbid, a frustrated politician. No offence intended.
best wishes

No, I’m not a local businessman or indeed politician. Medico. However, I do have childhood friends who have had a parent head the cities Chamber of Business and another who had a pool lie as a parent and have learnt a few things in my many decades and recognise it’s not as simple as can some fireworks and that will sort it. Yes, put many out of business both in Sydney and up the east coast that rely on this as a huge chunk of income for the year to stay afloat. Sure, that’ll show everyone and somehow make life fair .

As someone pointed out up thread, the vast majority of the people in drought and bushfire prone areas don’t vote people who give a shit about those into government. Looking at the numbers in parliament Sydney bolsters the numbers of pollies willing to take this on, it’s the people affected by this who vote in the others as their reps and they become the overwhelming majority. So ......... But, hey the simple fix is up can the Sydney fireworks as they make people on the other side of the world sick yo their stomachs. The fact the vast majority of the people actually affected want to be represented by people who won’t do anything about this is all happy clappy and never mentioned though isn’t it. But yeah, can the fireworks, donate to the Red Cross, because that will put a really short term band-aid on it.

You know when RBS was bailed out? My ex (in events) had been booked for their Xmas party. This included 2 nights over night and travel. The party would have likely been upward of £100k. Anyway, they cancelled the party the day before for appearances sake. Everyone still had to be paid.

And that's what would have happened if the fireworks had been cancelled. It would have still cost what ever because the fireworks will have been made to order for the event (let's be reasonable, they're not stock items). Waste not want not.

But yes. Probably in bad taste.

@SaphfireRose - well said! Sending prayers and thoughts to our Aussie cousins from "across the ditch"

Stopping the fireworks would be typical ‘woke’ hypocrisy whilst you celebrate your own new year.

If you believe that the bush fires are a major event, then you should have cancelled your own NYE plans (especially if they involved fireworks which, judging by the continuous noise in London, many did). Then you could have given the money saved to a charity for those affected by the bush fires.

But, hey, far easier to post how distasteful Sydney’s decision was, which has zero effect on your own life.

Life goes on, it always has. The bush fires are, on a National or global scale, annoying. It would be like London cancelling its NYE plans as many had died in an unusual cold snap. I have always admired the optimism and ‘can do’ attitude of the Australians I know. I am sure they will have a great decade ahead and I hope they enjoyed celebrating it’s beginning.

Well just to say, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I saw an outcry from Aussies on twitter calling for fireworks to be cancelled - it's not just Brits!

Every year we have calls to cancel them though, so this year isn't really different. It's just that those who wanted to see them cancelled had a bigger "excuse" as to why and believed it would work!

It didn't. But they will try again this yr.

@theflushedzebra And I really am heartbroken at the news coming out of Australia at the moment - honestly I am. It's devastating - and my words came out of anger from that

I get it. The UK doesn't have the onus on being heartbroken though. And stopping fireworks, when this country so needs something good to celebrate, to cheer for is not going to work. They raised $1m. Other cities who didn't cancel also made efforts to raise money.

Life cannot stop.

Stopping the fireworks would be typical ‘woke’ hypocrisy whilst you celebrate your own new year

I celebrated Nee Year with my daughter watching movies. Spent absolutely zero. We haven’t had fireworks for 9 years because I disagree with the environmental impact and the effect it has on other people.

JanesKettle

I was going to pipe up and say that Clover Moore would be one politician I see as working hard to strike a balance on environmental impact for the city. Just like the majority of Australian’s are becoming very conscious of their own environmental impact. (My child practically gave a water and energy conservation lesson in their class here in London when the teacher flippantly asked who turns the water off while brushing teeth!! )

However, I don’t believe any political party has got it all right regarding coming up with a plan that deals with all the nuances. And I am talking from the local government up.

So Yes! to all those wanting to go full blast at the PM. Because the more pressure the better locally and internationally. To do as much as humanly possible for the climate, to encourage an economy that is not so heavily reliant on minerals and energy . Direct your anger, frustration and sadness where it is deserved not at an event.