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.

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

Im not preaching. A lot of what we are being asked to do is like baling out the ocean with a spoon while superpowers burn fuel like there’s no problem but huge firework displays costing god knows what while councils say they can’t fund basic services and we are being asked to buy electric cars, walk and cycle when we can and to recycle etc, seem a luxury we can’t afford.

I love fireworks and bonfire night- so it's a no from me.
(But I am the first to complain about how wasteful Christmas is- so am a complete hypocrite!)

I think we need to change how 5th November is remembered.

What do you suggest would be an appropriate way to commemorate religious discrimination and hatred, out of interest?

I'd be up for seeing the back of them also. Always hated them really (too loud for me and watching them get lit makes me anxious) I can't remember which big supermarket but one of them has banned the selling of them.

I fully agree op.

I'm not so keen on them being available for public sale but organised displays are exactly how we should enjoy them. We need to be able to have some joy in our lives. Not sure why some people's choice to have pets should override that. As for the environmental argument, it is pretty thin tbh.

I hate them. They are dangerous, disruptive and wasteful. during the 60s there were loads of campaigns about using them safely and the message was mainly 'go to an organised display'. I would mind less if individuals couldn't buy them in shops.

YANBU. And they seem to get louder each year. I still cannot believe that it's legal to buy these explosives. If they are used sensibly, fine, but there is so much anti social behaviour around them.

Fireworks are a joy in the gloom of November.

YABVU.

@Pugmumm

I'd be up for seeing the back of them also. Always hated them really (too loud for me and watching them get lit makes me anxious) I can't remember which big supermarket but one of them has banned the selling of them.

Sainsbury’s has said they won’t be selling them.

I remember lovely garden bonfire nights in my pyjamas and coat worrying about my Dad setting off a rocket. This was before Halloween became a thing and we just had the neighbours round and made a guy etc.

Now displays are enormous and I am personally not a fan.

I am also hugely sensitive to the wildlife issue and feel deeply uncomfortable about it.

Not sure banning them would work though. It would just end up unregulated.

I agree with some of your points, fireworks and bonfires should be for organised displays only for safety reasons. Silent/quieter fireworks show be used as a compromise for those, people and animals who are triggered by the noise.

But, as shown by the first reply to the thread, some people can't think beyond themselves or compromise. In a community close to us last week, there has been an explosion (probably gas) destroying several houses and damaging 30+ others. Many residents in the immediate area are still not back in their homes. Everyone is on edge and some in the community have requested no fireworks in the area near the explosion as they are finding the noise upsetting and triggering. Facebook is full of selfish twats saying they will have their fireworks as normal and if they find it upsetting to go elsewhere for the night? Where?

Any child of the 70s/80s remember the public service announcement where the girl burns her hand on a sparkler? That traumatised me into basically being petrified of them!

Not banned, no. Banned from public sale, yes. Organised displays? Fine. These tend to be well publicised and so people with sensitive kids and pets can mitigate for them. Ticketed displays tend to generate revenue so I’m not sure I agree that they are a waste of public funds.

However, we live in a large multicultural city and mid October through to mid November usually sounds like a war zone around here. Constant loud bangs for weeks on end as everyone celebrates the many events at this time of year. They are harder to buy than they were before but I noticed a sizeable display in Lidl yesterday.

@AnkleDeep

Fireworks are a joy in the gloom of November.

YABVU.

And September, October, December, and January...

It wouldn't be so bad if it was just organised displays and specific times, but they go off for months and at random times. We had somone setting them off during the middle of the day last weekend. People and pets really don't do well with the unpredictability of random explosions.

I think it's better to have occasional displays and ban home use, that way it's safe, controlled and avoidable. I live near a seaside town that does them a few nights a year for free, (off a barge so away from houses and pets) they're not paid for by the council but local businesses as it brings a large amount of people to what would otherwise be a deserted seafront.

I just want to say I love fireworks. I love anything that brightens up a dismal time of year. I love the traditions, the food and seeing kids little faces when they see fireworks. I love anything that brings a bit of magic and wonder into life. I can still feel that fireworks are increasingly hard to justify though.

Same here. Fireworks randomly all year round where I live.

No! I love firework night. It’s something joyous to look forward to.

Should be organised displays only. Sick of not being able to have my windows open from 4pm for a month

I agree with you OP. They are such a nuisance. I hate going out on days like bonfire night and NYE, the air quality is just so horrific areound where I live. I mean it's bad anyway with all the wood burners going in during the winter months, but add fireworks for 5-6 nights in a row and it's a disaster for many of us who suffer from asthma. I also have dogs who are a shaking mess these days and for a while afterwards. I hate seeing them suffer.

@Hopeisallineed

No! I love firework night. It’s something joyous to look forward to.

I'm aware i'm starting to sound like a broken record, but it's not firework / bonfire night. It's bloody months of explosions, at all hours of the day, randomly set off without warning.

If it was one night / weekend then that would be more tolerable, but it's from September to January here. By the time November 5th rolls round anyone looking forward to it has already had several months of the bloody things.

Nothing wrong with the pretty ones.

Everything wrong with the banging ones.

There’s no need for bomb like noises. It’s upsetting for many animals and some kids (and adults) are fearful too.

Stop allowing the noisy ones and sell the quiet pretty ones to organised displays only.

I’m sure councils could get a lot of money back if they just charged £1 a head. That way it would remain affordable for the majority of families and those who couldn’t afford could instead watch from a distance away for free.

I hadn’t thought of it from an environmental POV.

However I would be very much in favour of organised displays only. There are so many reasons that selling them to the public is a bad idea

@Whinge where on earth do you live?