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.

We've release butterflies in the past. Get the caterpillars from insectlore and release the butterflies once they're ready. Do it once a year in memory of loved ones.
AFAIK this isn't harmful! We also use bee bombs and sort of make a wish for our loved ones when we use them

@Biancadelrioisback

We've release butterflies in the past. Get the caterpillars from insectlore and release the butterflies once they're ready. Do it once a year in memory of loved ones. AFAIK this isn't harmful! We also use bee bombs and sort of make a wish for our loved ones when we use them

I was curious, so had a look at that website. I then did a bit of Googling.

prime.peta.org/2010/02/the-truth-about-butterfly-and-dove-releases/

butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/releasing-butterflies-at-weddings

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-41331682

I know very little about butterflies, but the above makes me feel wary about the idea.

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!

Agree.
Some benches you can't even sit in because of the decaying flowers. I've seen people tie stuff into other peoples front garden fence and the poor owners are too fearful to object.
We really don't need our streets and parks turned into cemeteries.
Can't these fools not think to plant bulbs, trees, flowers that will flourish every year (in their own garden or open space) - a much more attractive memorial that tacky dead flowers and plastic wrapping.

But if it brings someone a scrap of comfort at a shit time in their lives, it's not so black and white

People need educating on this - more publicity needs to be given to how best to remember loved ones that doesn't involve causing environmental problems or problems for others. Sadly some think a 'public spectacle' is the only way to go.

YANBU.

For those wanting to remember loved ones: Surely your loved ones didn't approve of littering?

A barn belonging to a local farmer near me burned to the ground because of a Chinese lantern. Took some of his livestock with it. They should be outright banned

@TableDesk

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

Councils that have rightfully banned them

My area is on there. Although, back in 2011, they were fine with hundreds of chinese lanterns being released following the murder of a local woman. Seeing the photos of it now is just crazy. All those little fires going up into the air.

But if it brings someone a scrap of comfort at a shit time in their lives, it's not so black and white
Then there is a question about why people feel littering is bringing them comfort

We wouldn't say throw your takeaway boxes in a river and watch them float downstream to is fine as long as it brings comfort, so why does sending litter into their sky seem to have a get out of jail free card?

But if it brings someone a scrap of comfort at a shit time in their lives, it's not so black and white.

Grief doesn't give you a free pass to do what you like. Sorry. Releasing things into the sky is awful for the environment, whatever the meaning behind it. The days of pandering to feelings are well and truly over when the planet is in the mess it's in.

YANBU. A couple of years ago we were waiting for the Southend pier train next to a large group of people who had pre-booked. All smartly dressed with boxes and bags, there were several small children carrying balloons as if they were attending a party.
Shortly afterwards we sat outside the cafe and watched in horror whilst the whole group swiftly opened their bags/boxes and released over 50 balloons. Staff are apparently powerless to stop them.

You can buy or hire massive bubble kits for memorial events that are environmentally friendly. These for example (a large kit so expensive but gives an idea) drzigs.com/products/balloon-memorial-celebration-kit-large

@Teaandakitkat Can I ask, if there’s no helium in them, how are they floating up into the sky? I’d love to be able to have balloons float (NOT for release!) without helium, but didn’t know this was easily possible. I know nitrogen just isn’t quite light enough and hydrogen is incredibly flammable. I haven’t done much other research, though. Are you using one of the other gases?

@TableDesk

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

Councils that have rightfully banned them

Hampshire, Dorset and Sussex, all farming and coastal counties, are not on this list which is shocking!

Nope, bringing comfort is not a good enough reason for dangerous littering! Find something else to do.

I can’t believe Brighton Council aren’t on that list. I thought the MP there was from the Green Party?

@Teaandakitkat you shouldn’t have started it in the first place. Someone will have given the children the idea and when they asked for it you should have explained and suggested an alternative. I’m not sure how you can still defend it when so many people have given examples of the horrible impact it has on the environment and wildlife. Please stop doing this altogether, it achieves nothing. Think of something else to do. If everyone did this and justified it with bereavement where would we be.

@Teaandakitkat

God only thickos do this. Twats

Or a young family who have just lost their mum and are trying to cope as best they can.

Yes there are better ways and letting off balloons for virtual strangers or to just be a part of an event is rubbish.

But if it brings someone a scrap of comfort at a shit time in their lives, it's not so black and white.

But that scrap of comfort could lead to a tragedy for someone else. It's not rocket science either.

www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/people-caught-releasing-balloons-in-victoria-to-be-slapped-with-whopping-fines/newsstory/1a509641440c40daa5fd00986c7291fc

They have been banned in lots of places due to letter writing campaigns and petitions.

They do need to be banned, balloon releases and Chinese lanterns both. I don’t care if people use these to commemorate loved ones, they are dangerous to people, animals and property. Find another way. That zoo that burned down because of Chinese lanterns, those poor animals… and it wasn’t an accident, it was the fault of selfish ignorant fuckers

But if it brings someone a scrap of comfort at a shit time in their lives, it's not so black and white.

It's very black and white. A "scrap of comfort" is not worth endangering people and animals who are still alive. Not even a very big comfort is justification.

The council list is interesting. None of the areas I’ve lived in are on it! I know one area gave local press warning on fire lanterns.

Would you then say to ban:
Balloons;
Wrapping on flowers (left on graves);
Fire lanterns- agree as I have seen videos of these burning in peoples’ gardens after they’ve fallen from the sky;
Confetti- heard sequin style is bad for environment and animals;
Fireworks- noise to animals and the debris.

What would be good alternatives for those feeling the need to commemorate? I’ve seen bubbles in the trail. Flowers without cellophane and ribbon would work.

You wouldn’t want to replace something damaging to wildlife with something equally so?

Would butterfly or bird into the sky releases be seen as cruel as they’d be bred for this purpose? Or is this ok as they’d be released into nature?

I think people are more likely to modify behaviours if they see suitable alternatives. ‘You shouldn’t do this, but you could do this’ as opposed to ‘don’t’ (plus comment on being inconsiderate).

Things like flower bombs are the best alternative as far as I’m concerned. Let everyone remember the person by adding some beauty and encouraging wildlife rather than littering and killing wildlife

Everyone is aware. People who do it don't care. Is your thread supposed to be educational?

@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!

You don't like flowers etc left on a grave??

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Part of the problem is you can't object to a commemorative event without looking like an insensitive arse.

Maybe balloons should have to be sold with a warning like on cigarettes. Harmful to wildlife.

Warnings on packets is actually a very good idea. And maybe make it against the law to focus the mind.

Why are Chinese lanterns even allowed to be sold?

Yes when people criticise they get demonised as being insensitive. I've seen it a few times on our local FB group.

@Birminghambloke

The council list is interesting. None of the areas I’ve lived in are on it! I know one area gave local press warning on fire lanterns.

Would you then say to ban:
Balloons;
Wrapping on flowers (left on graves);
Fire lanterns- agree as I have seen videos of these burning in peoples’ gardens after they’ve fallen from the sky;
Confetti- heard sequin style is bad for environment and animals;
Fireworks- noise to animals and the debris.

What would be good alternatives for those feeling the need to commemorate? I’ve seen bubbles in the trail. Flowers without cellophane and ribbon would work.

You wouldn’t want to replace something damaging to wildlife with something equally so?

Would butterfly or bird into the sky releases be seen as cruel as they’d be bred for this purpose? Or is this ok as they’d be released into nature?

I think people are more likely to modify behaviours if they see suitable alternatives. ‘You shouldn’t do this, but you could do this’ as opposed to ‘don’t’ (plus comment on being inconsiderate).

@lavieengris has posted some links above your post explaining why butterfly and bird releases are cruel.

Suggestions of things people could do:

• plant flowers that will bloom around their birthday/different significant date in your garden
• plant a tree somewhere (with permission)
• have a memories book to write things down in when you think about them
• have a celebration of their life with loved ones

I’m sure other people have much better ideas.