To ask everyone to stop releasing balloons

[Nixandwotsit]

Why - just why - are crowds of people still thinking that it's a good idea to mourn a death or celebrate an occasion by releasing 100's of fucking balloons into the sky? They land, animals get tangled in them, sometimes they eat them or the ribbons, then some of them die. The balloons don't just vanish like magic fairy dust, they lay around for years littering the countryside.
Am I being unreasonable to ask everyone to just think for a few minutes and stop doing this? And don't even get me started on those lethal bloody chinese lanterns.

This is weird. Again not a thing round here. Do get football shirts flowers etc where people get killed on the road or murdered sometimes.

Went to where my gran lived by the sea recently. All the benches along the front only 8 or so there. Had at least one bunch of flowers.

As not seen it before was confused what about and wondered for a moment if it meant we shouldn't use them!

I think people may not know. I am only aware as a company released biodegradable balloons linking my workplace (PR photo for them). The amount of abuse received on social media and emailed in to us was something else. It was vitriolic and demonstrated compassion to the environment but not to those who were genuinely not aware. There is a way of sharing message, without being abusive and, in this case, threatening to innocent people in the photo. It felt like a militant movement and was horrible.

I think balloons should be banned full stop, in any form they are damaging to the environment and end up littering or in landfill.
I don't know why they are increasing in popularity given so many other single use plastics are being fazed out.

YES, deflated balloons that fall around all over the place, kill,choke many animals birds and fish all the time. I know a person who's dog ingested a deflated balloon, after walking in a field somewhere, and a vets hefty bill was needed, to get it removed from the dogs stomach.

YANBU op. Waste of materials and harmful to wildlife. I think bubble blowing is the way to go. Very pretty and as far as I know, no harm done.

I am unashamedly insensitive when it comes to these balloons and their attached plastic ribbons (now replacing plastic shopping bags in our hedges and trees let alone animal welfare considerations) and especially these poor-mans incendiaries particularly in dry periods.
If it’s important to make an overtly sentimental gesture ( look at us! look at us! See how much we care! ) I suppose there are butterflies, or doves.

I think people may not know. I am only aware as a company released biodegradable balloons linking my workplace (PR photo for them)

How can you not know? And a business doing it for PR- they must know the controversy, including the fact “biodegradeable” balloons aren’t- or they’re shit PR.

If you’re organising something like that, especially as PR, a 20s google would have informed it’s a bad idea.

@FullMoonInsomnia

My pet hate is people who leave flowers , balloons and other detritus to mark a loved ones bench or grave. There are multiple benches near me with plaques to loved ones and they are unusable because of all the plastic crap left on them or tied to them ALL YEAR ROUND!

There is a busy road near me that has a massive banner of someone's face, and two huge flags (I assume their favourite football team). I guess the family have permission from the council to have it there (it has been there for over a decade).

@clickychicky

I don't know if any one does this anymore?

It happens a lot unfortunately.

@crosstalk

Another one for banning fireworks, or making them silent. And making sure there's nothing in them that can land on fields (sticks, plastic, smouldering remnants) to damage animals and fields

that's a common misconception, that fireworks can be silent..the golden rain/catherine wheel/sparkler types can be but for anything that is designed to be aerial (as most are nowadays) to get the required lift an approximately 95db explosion is required which is the same as being stood on the edge of the pavement and having a big motorbike roar past . " There is no such thing as silent fireworks. This is copied from the government report. Steve Raper, Vice Chairman of the British Fireworks Association, emphasised there were technical limitations on reducing noise from fireworks. He told us that: "You cannot have an absolutely quiet firework. The lifting charge on a firework for a shot tube is about 95 decibels, and that is just the cartridge being ejected into the air." If you don’t believe the British Fireworks Association then click on this fact checker. www.snopes.com/fact-check/silent-fireworks/ There are quieter fireworks and we are not being pedantic in splitting these two words. IF people believe there are SILENT fireworks they will believe they are the solution. Obviously they are NOT. For many reasons, not just the bang, although it would be great if that was removed, but they would not satisfy the ardent firework lovers. It would still be impossible to police the use of them and 365 days a year would still be legal. PS. Quieter fireworks have been available for many years. "

I have expect there will be a huge balloon release where I live soon due to a recent drowning of a 13 year old. It sickens me. Should be banned. Does nothing but harm wildlife and cause litter.

@OldGeezer

I am unashamedly insensitive when it comes to these balloons and their attached plastic ribbons (now replacing plastic shopping bags in our hedges and trees let alone animal welfare considerations) and especially these poor-mans incendiaries particularly in dry periods. If it’s important to make an overtly sentimental gesture ( look at us! look at us! See how much we care! ) I suppose there are butterflies, or doves.

I am not sure that butterfies or doves are a good idea either...not kind.

@OldGeezer

I am unashamedly insensitive when it comes to these balloons and their attached plastic ribbons (now replacing plastic shopping bags in our hedges and trees let alone animal welfare considerations) and especially these poor-mans incendiaries particularly in dry periods. If it’s important to make an overtly sentimental gesture ( look at us! look at us! See how much we care! ) I suppose there are butterflies, or doves.

Doves are bred for ceremonial release. They have no idea how to look for food or find water. They die a horrible death. Another pointless release that shows what exactly???

Was quite "interesting" out riding when we came across this next to a bridleway. Luckily the loose horse heading for home didn't get hit by any cars.

@Reallyreallyborednow

I think people may not know. I am only aware as a company released biodegradable balloons linking my workplace (PR photo for them)

How can you not know? And a business doing it for PR- they must know the controversy, including the fact “biodegradeable” balloons aren’t- or they’re shit PR.

If you’re organising something like that, especially as PR, a 20s google would have informed it’s a bad idea.

Not everyone is aware and not everyone would google. I’m only aware as ‘we’ got awful abuse via social media. I then googled to find out the facts as the facts where not shared amongst the vitriolic comments. Feedback for us was not in a ‘can I help you understand way’ but in a threatening way and damning way. The company genuinely believed ok as ‘biodegradable’. It’s clear not everyone is aware of the controversy.

How can I not know? You only know what you know. People then rely on wider education to deepen understanding. I’d be aware of ring pulls (80s) and can plastic (90s) from seeing publicised (albeit some photoshopped) photos of sea life. I know of plastic bags from supermarket actions. I know of recycling from council and charity initiatives.

I know now about balloons and personally would not repeat it linked to my organisation. However, the message received to ‘educate’ could have been done differently- ‘did you know?’, with a factual link, instead of abuse.

@DaphneDeloresMoorhead

Police not interested because not banned by our county council. I could have cried.

What did you expect the police to do if it is perfectly legal to do so ? We aren't there to lecture people about environmental issues

Some county councils in the UK have banned Chinese lantern releases and I was told that by the duty officer if ours had the police would have attended.

@NiceGerbil

This is weird. Again not a thing round here. Do get football shirts flowers etc where people get killed on the road or murdered sometimes.

Went to where my gran lived by the sea recently. All the benches along the front only 8 or so there. Had at least one bunch of flowers.

As not seen it before was confused what about and wondered for a moment if it meant we shouldn't use them!

You're lucky, it's common in the London-ish area where I live. Mostly balloon releases for weddings and people who have died. Chinese lanterns less common. However pre-Covid the council approved a festival where a massive chinese lantern release was part of the entertainment. Massive petition got it stopped.

Unfortunately there seems to be a lot of ignorance around the subject with people totally unaware of the damage and hazard flying gallons cause.

If this thread raises awareness and stops anyone, even just one person, from doing a balloon or lantern release it will have been worth it.

@XenoBitch

There is a busy road near me that has a massive banner of someone's face, and two huge flags (I assume their favourite football team). I guess the family have permission from the council to have it there (it has been there for over a decade).

I wonder if you live near me. Is it by a roundabout and next to a train line?

@Nixandwotsit

I read threads like this and everyone seems to be unanimous that it's wrong. So where are the people who still do these stupid things? Some of them must be on MN.

They'll mainly be on Netmums...

[quote BeingATwatItsABingThing]@XenoBitch

There is a busy road near me that has a massive banner of someone's face, and two huge flags (I assume their favourite football team). I guess the family have permission from the council to have it there (it has been there for over a decade).

I wonder if you live near me. Is it by a roundabout and next to a train line?[/quote]
Yes, it is!

@ichundich

Unfortunately there seems to be a lot of ignorance around the subject with people totally unaware of the damage and hazard flying gallons cause.

Or balloons even 😂!

www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/campaigns/dontletgo/dontletgo-councils/

Councils that have rightfully banned them

I posted about this a few years ago and got absolutely flamed 🤣🤣

It’s encouraging to see attitudes have changed.