To think fireworks and firework displays should become a thing of the past?

[Spockynocky]

I love fireworks but if we are all being asked to do our part regarding the climate crisis I think councils should stop putting on displays and fireworks shouldn’t be sold for home use.

They’re wasteful in terms of cost when councils struggle to remain solvent. They’re a hazard both physically and psychologically for wildlife and pets.

They look pretty but so do a lot of things that are damaging the environment. I think councils should use the fact that for the last few years covid restrictions have meant displays have been cancelled to make this permanent. The bonfires at these displays are also damaging to the air quality and wildlife. I think we need to change how 5th November is remembered. I also think that Light Nights also are so wasteful. Especially with the cost of electricity. Our council have just put one on with the theme of Back To Nature. It seemed rather incongruous to celebrate the natural world which is under threat from mans use of fuel to light up the city.

I love 5th November and light night. They brighten a miserable time of year but think they’re no longer viable or responsible.

Oh FFS. Bet you don't leave out mince pies for Santa incase he has a gluten allergy.

Yeah - I'd be up for seeing the back of them. Just use drones or holograms instead. They're a nightmare for dogs.

Of course they shouldn't be banned. The sale of fireworks has been greatly restricted over recent years, but every year we get the same moaning.

Fireworks are colourful, joyous and FUN.

If you apply that sort of logic, everything would be cancelled.

I personally think they're outdated for both environmental and disruption reasons. But I'm not sure you'll get many agreeing with you.

Maybe since Brexit is affecting firework imports there'll be fewer this year anyway.

They should be limited to bonfire night & a couple of nights either side between say 5pm - 10pm only

I do rage every time I see those massive fireworks displays in London , Sydney etc at New years. What a waste of millions of pounds when it could be put to much better use and yes it is not good for the environment either.

In tackling the climate crisis, fireworks wouldn't be the place I'd start no.

No idea what light night is, but I can list several thousand things that will have more impact on the climate crisis than cancelling Bonfire Night. If everyone put their energy to the actual problems we might get somewhere. Instead on MN in the past few weeks we’ve had: cancel fireworks, change paracetamol packaging, my recycling bin is full of Pepsi bottles, something must be done! I take it you’ve divested your pension and investments from fossil fuels?

YANBU. I can’t believe that anyone over a certain age can still walk into a shop and buy fireworks. They are banned from public sale in a lot of European countries and Australia to. Should be the same here, keep them for organised displays only.

I do think we should only use silent ones as a start. I also think they shouldn't be in sale to the general public as there are too many idiots who use them as weapons. Maybe just sparklers allowed at home?

I think bonfire night, Diwali, new year and Chinese New year would be plenty of dates to enjoy fireworks

Yabu they are important culturally and used responsibly bring a lot of joy.

Yes there are downsides- but it’s a balance and the hysteria about them is unwarranted.

I’m so sick of this growing movement that think they have the right to restrict what other people do. This is just one example of that. Next it will be banning people from eating meat etc

I'd be much happier if it was just organised displays. The amount of accidents that happen when people have home displays is staggering.

Not to mention organised displays helps solve other problems like the unpredictability for animals, and would stop them going off every other day from September to January.

FlorenceWintle. If you apply that sort of logic everything would be cancelled. That’s a lazy argument and I disagree.

Fireworks are colourful, joyous and FUN. I completely agree. So are balloons that can be launched into the air and Chinese lanterns. Does that justify the damage they cause though?

ssd. We leave mince pies and carrots and for Santa and his reindeers. What’s that got to do with fireworks?

I bet a lot the people who preach about the environmental crisis travel abroad by plane at least once a year…

YANBU they’re cruel for animals. If dogs get scared indoors where it’s warm and they have humans and other background noise to comfort them, I can’t help but think how petrified all the wildlife must get. Last year I saw 3 or 4 dead pigeons the day after fireworks night on my dog walk - not sure if because of the fireworks but never seen that before it since. I don’t go to displays anymore.

I dont think that they should be on sale to the general public, but selfishly I enjoy fireworks. If there were just organised ones, they could set strict criteria which would lead to a shift in the market- if they said silent, below x emissions etc manufacturers would be keen for business and try to push to be better.

Boo. No.

I disagree. But I do think they should be banned from public sale.

@KingsleyShacklebolt

Of course they shouldn't be banned. The sale of fireworks has been greatly restricted over recent years, but every year we get the same moaning.

Fireworks are colourful, joyous and FUN.

they arent fun for the hundreds of terrified pets cowering indoors though are they ? or the worried owners

In tackling the climate crisis, fireworks wouldn't be the place I'd start no.. It’s not about where to start but everyone doing something. Well that’s the message that I keep hearing/reading .

I take it you’ve divested your pension and Investments from fossil fuels.. That’s a strawman argument.

I don’t really get the appeal of fireworks, you’re just standing around in the cold to look at some flashes. But I appreciate that’s not everyone’s view and isn’t a reason to ban them (maybe when I am supreme ruler of the world I will) - I’d prefer them to be limited more to organised events though.

(I'm a dog owner, so clearly biased) I appreciate that a ban would seem unfair, but I think we are long past the time when they should have been strictly limited to licensed public displays only and the permitted noise levels vastly reduced.

Every bloody year you have people setting off things that sound like bombs in their tiny back gardens - what could possibly go wrong ... ?

I agree with banning fireworks purely for the distress they cause to animals. Also its bloody gunpowder in them yet you can walk into Asda's and stick them in the trolley