Being fined for releasing balloons

[Marmitecrackers]

I've just seen another thing on TV where people were releasing tonnes of balloons to mark some sort of anniversary. I'm sure it seems sentimental but I can't quite believe anyone still thinks it's ok to release loads of little pieces of rubber to be scattered all over the place.

If I popped 100 balloons and just left them in the street as I popped them people would be appalled. Yet where the heck do they think the released balloons are going to end up??

Am I being unreasonable fir thinking you should be fined for littering if you do one of these mass releases of balloons?

[ErrolTheDragon]

Maybe something to do is write to the local papers, and ask them not to cover any event which includes a balloon release?

Not a bad idea; they could then start with running a piece on why they're not gong to do anything to promote or popularise these events.

[Clymene]

@boarboar

Our local hospital did a balloon release for their annual baby loss remembrance ceremony. Obviously no one will publicly object but what on earth are they thinking?

But that's the problem. They're quite often memorials for children who have died and obviously no one wants to intrude on someone's grief but we need to get the message out there that littering and polluting is a terrible way to remember a loss

[DonttouchthatLarry]

I caught my friend's horse about to put part of a balloon with ribbon attached into his mouth. The parents had released it in memory of a deceased child - I know they were grieving but someone else losing a beloved animal isn't going to help that.

Balloons, lanterns, fireworks - too many animals suffer, they should all be banned.

[LindaEllen]

@user102740264923

I don't think people do think about where the balloons go after they drift up into the sky. It's a nice moment that makes them feel good and the thought process ends there.

When I was a young child I saw a balloon release and imagined them all floating off and literally disappearing up into the heavens which seemed wonderful.

Adults don't quite have that excuse but I do wonder if people who feel the need to do these things in memory of a loved one have that kind of mental image? I can see how it might be a comforting feeling.

Whereas the image of limp, half deflated balloons landing in people's gardens or killing wildlife is not super inspiring. I can only imagine that never crosses their mind.

It is sad it still happens and the variety of foolish things humans manage to find to do.

Exactly this. My friend's son died at the age of 17 a few years ago and his friends organised a balloon release for him. I will admit that I did go, and I did take a balloon - but it's not something I would do now, as I now know how damaging they can be. It's true that emotion takes over common sense, and watching the balloons rising up and up towards 'heaven' and out of sight was really moving.

As I say, it's not something I would be involved with anymore, but I think when you're hurting when you've lost someone you try to cope in whatever way you can, and by marking it somehow, and it's still quite a common thing to see.

It was definitely done because of the feeling that heaven is in the sky, so we're sending these balloons up to him. The time was so tough, with him passing away from cancer at the age of 17, and that's the only excuse I can give for those who organised it and those (including myself) who attended.

[FredaFox]

I can’t understand why Chinese lanterns, Balloon releases and Fireworks are not banned, they all litter the environment, injure or scare animals and just aren’t necessary in this day and age

[smalalalalalala]

We were supposed to get married this year (thanks covid), and I loved the ideas of Chinese lanterns, but after 3 clicks I found out how much damage they can cause and gave up in the idea.

I tried to convince people on a wedding forum, but I was quickly shut down that it wasn't my business, that it was THEIR day and they could do whatever they wanted. Some try to alleviate their guilty conscious by saying they will go around to pick up the litter the day after, like if it was your priority the day after your wedding.

[Nottherealslimshady]

I feel sick everytime I see people letting balloons go. It's a big thing with gender reveals now aswell and it's just so wasteful and destructive

[Gingernaut]

[quote cortex10]Just last week [[https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/dudley/kingswinford/2020/10/17/balloons-set-to-be-released-today-in-memory-of-kingswinford-crash-victims/]][/quote]
This appeared in the paper's Facebook page.

The release was roundly condemned, but defended by friends of the dead kids.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe]

I have no time for roadside shrines either. They do not serve a purpose of making people slow down, they are a hazard in their own right. One nearby one is on a dangerous stretch of road and the family/friends think it appropriate to dart across from where they've dangerously parked to add more stuff. Ridiculous and puts others in peril as well.

The council takes a stance of not rocking the boat but if you have a functioning brain it ought to be obvious that a 'danger spot' needs to be kept clear, without distractions and without fools putting others at risk in their selfish 'tending' of it. They should be cleared and another thing to put on the 'don't do it' list.

[lovehorror199ii]

Erm pretty sure it's illegal already and has been for years

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe]

I agree with RoseandRose, not giving these events time and attention is the way forward.

We will all lose somebody we love; putting animals and the environment in danger isn't the way to go and it's just selfish. What is wrong with planting a bush in your garden that you can see and use for remembrance if you want that? Why does it have to be in public? It's madness - and dangerous. It's also teaching the next generation to go 'bigger and better' as that's what human nature seems to be like. Enough already and we need to fast backtrack now.

[longtompot]

Totally agree. Balloons and sky lanterns should both be banned. This is much nicer, and kinder to the wildlife bubblebus.com/contact-us/

[CounsellorTroi]

Spent fireworks also create litter. Don't think people who set them off in their gardens think about that.

[MarieIVanArkleStinks]

I have no time for roadside shrines either. They do not serve a purpose of making people slow down, they are a hazard in their own right.

I agree with this, always bearing in mind the country code of 'leave no trace' (this also goes for the cairns of stones being piled up everywhere). In a general sense I'm all for people dealing with with the anguish of bereavement in any way which comforts them. I'm very uncomfortable with the idea of trying to dictate that in any way. But we are in a state now where their remembrance has a negative impact on other people and their surroundings, and this (as well as their feelings) deserves some consideration.

Those roadside shrines with saturated, muddy teddy bears and dead flowers still in their (non-biodegradable) cellophane are a hazard, a distraction and an eyesore as well as being an environmental issue. And from a very self-centred personal perspective I've had enough grief of my own and do not want to be made a present of other people's every which way I turn. There are cemeteries for permanent memorials and less intrusive means elsewhere. Scatter ashes on a beach and throw the odd nosegay of wild flowers into the water, fine. The kind of 'shrine' mentioned above isn't fine. It's basically litter.

It comes down to consideration and not putting your own feelings front, centre and ahead of whatever gets in the way and happens to conflict. I guess that's the reason we now have a problem.

[BackforGood]

I totally agree @Sewrainbow

[Sewrainbow]

Hadn't seen the balloon release last week, interesting that it was condemned on Facebook though. I get the victims friends defending the decision, they're just kids. Until fairly recently our local school did balloon release at the end of term and looking back I can't believe they did, but those kids are likely to be the teens now affected by the recent crash, so to them it is normalised. The media should put out more information about the environmental impact certainly.

I know for one that I would never support such a thing now and wouldn't endorse anyone wanting to it on behalf of my family. All the money spent doing that could have gone to such better use as a memorial to those kids

[Defenbaker]

I have signed the petition which currently has over 11,000 signatures - link attached.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/310556

Please sign and share the link - it will be debated if 100,000 signatures are reached.

[OfaFrenchmind2]

Ballon releases are tacky, self serving and utterly damaging to the environment. I cannot believe that anybody would still think they are a good idea, the public has been majorly educated on this.

The thread from 5 years ago has aged like milk, regarding the comments. Yes, we can acknowledge the pain of the bereaved parents, but that does not make it right for them to just fuck up some more the environment. In the end, if we are to do an actual difference, and it may sound callous, their feelings do not trump the duty to do less damage to the environment.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe]

@Defenbaker

I have signed the petition which currently has over 11,000 signatures - link attached.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/310556

Please sign and share the link - it will be debated if 100,000 signatures are reached.

Thanks for this, Defenbaker, I've signed. This just has to stop.

[Yogawithmydog]

Also signed.

[Yogawithmydog]

@lovehorror199ii erm pretty sure it's not been made illegal yet as why else would it still be very common to have balloon releases and there to be a Parliamentary petition asking for a ban?

[contrmary]

If I popped 100 balloons and just left them in the street as I popped them people would be appalled

If there was no particular reason for releasing the balloons in this way I can see people being appalled because it's creating waste for the sake of it. Mass balloon releases are usually done for a reason, a charity event or some kind of memorial. It's a bit like with plastic straws, using them to drink out of and binning them is different to just buying a pack, chopping them up into little pieces and chucking them down the drain.

[CareerFuckerUpper]

Are there any petitions circulating? Should we start one?
I agree about balloons being dangerous and so bad for the environment. Not sure many would sign one advocating that theyre totally banned,but I believe it would be feasible to expect a lot of people to be against releasing them for events.

[ErrolTheDragon]

@contrmary

If I popped 100 balloons and just left them in the street as I popped them people would be appalled

If there was no particular reason for releasing the balloons in this way I can see people being appalled because it's creating waste for the sake of it. Mass balloon releases are usually done for a reason, a charity event or some kind of memorial. It's a bit like with plastic straws, using them to drink out of and binning them is different to just buying a pack, chopping them up into little pieces and chucking them down the drain.

But even if there's a 'reason', there's absolutely no necessity for these events. There are plenty of alternatives which aren't likely to kill animals and (in the case of fire lanterns) destroy property.

There are many things we might want to do for some reason or another, but once it's been pointed out that they're antisocial or dangerous, only the most entitled inconsiderate idiots persist in doing them.

[Sexnotgender]

YANBU, I can’t believe people still do this.