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.

Fireworks do real harm. Anyone who can't see that is spectacularly lacking in imagination. Not just pets and livestock for which owners have to face the consequences, but wildlife too.

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

Yes, not liking the impact of fireworks is exactly the same as not leaving mince-pies out for a fictional character.

I love fireworks displays. I'd prefer if there were only organised displays though for safety reasons.

These traditions and celebrations are part of being human. I look forward to each one; Easter, Halloween, Guy Fawkes, Christmas. Joined celebration is important for society.

These traditions and celebrations are part of being human.

I only celebrate Christmas, and I do enjoy it, but I fundamentally disagree that these traditional celebrations are part of being human. You can be a human without it.

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

The amount of people on Mumsnet whinging about Halloween just now too is ridiculous. Real joy sponges some people.

I would restrict them to licenced events only, I would put rules in place to limit the impact the noise makes upon PTSD sufferers and animals, and I would look at making them more sustainable. But no, I wouldn't ban them entirely.

I'd be quite happy with a restriction to organised displays only. From a pet / livestock perspective, advertised displays are easier to adjust for - keeping pets inside / moving stock to safer areas - but random idiots setting fireworks off in their back gardens weeks before or after fireworks night are difficult to predict. Not to mention the safety aspects of letting fools play with explosives in residential areas...

Asda are selling quiet fireworks this year. I enjoy the spectacle but hate the bangs. Used to be back garden BBQ cinder toffee and a few fireworks. Now it has to be a huge spectacle worldwide on NYE that I wouldn't enjoy

Many people (usually women and children) are killed in explosions every year working in fireworks factories while handling toxic chemicals. Of course, these are women, children, low caste - if it’s in India. Those that aren’t killed may suffer horrendous injuries. And even if they aren’t killed or injured, they are working for a pittance as virtual slaves in appalling conditions. There’s not much fun for these children. Here’s an “accident” just this year: www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/02/18/indi-f18.html

@ssd

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

I don't know about a gluten allergy, but he could certainly do with losing a few stone and all those mince pies aren't helping.

I have rabbits & they could die from hearing a firework go off. I think quiet ones could be the way to go.

I agree that they should be banned for households but the displays are fine IMO.
It seems people want to cancel everything and it makes me sad.
For what it's worth, I think your argument about councils struggling is not valid really as all the displays I visit bring in lots of people and lots of money!

I think having domestic pets is probably worse for the environment. But I don’t tell pet owners that. Each to their own.

There is always a balance with these things.

You say that firework displays are wasteful in terms of cost to councils, but actually something that brings the community together to celebrate is very good for morale. It is very important especially in the times we're living in at the moment that people are able to have fun and enjoy something as a community.

In terms of environmental impact, you may have a point, but you can't just barge in and ban all fireworks. It's just not feasible.

Limits on the sale of fireworks are getting stricter and stricter, and I feel we will eventually reach a point where it becomes organised displays only, which is a good compromise.

But people take time to get used to these things and you can't just rush in like a bull in a china shop and ban people from having fun. Fireworks night is important to a lot of people.

I do think the sale of display type fireworks should be stopped. They make the Black Cat type in Asda/other Supermarkets look and sound like sparkly farts, and if they're released in domestic gardens they sound like cannon fire.

I don't see at all why "we should ban" Guy Fawkes/November 5th specifically, but it's interesting that this should be banned and not Diwali or CNY. Diwali in particular is fireworktastic (which I really enjoy).

@MenimeMay

These traditions and celebrations are part of being human.

I only celebrate Christmas, and I do enjoy it, but I fundamentally disagree that these traditional celebrations are part of being human. You can be a human without it.

Of course you can. You can be a human surviving in a cellar on bread and water, but that doesn't mean you are experiencing life as a human in all its glory.

The act of coming together as a community to celebrate and enjoy ourselves, is something that is inherently human. It has been part of human culture and society for thousands of years.

Fireworks night is a bit like this - it gives us connection and reinforces our feeling of community and belonging, and a shared experience.

That is why anyone trying to take it away is going to have a huge battle on their hands.

I don't disagree with controlling fireworks and their impact on the environment, but there will have to be alternatives, and a recognition that it is important to many people. You can't simply take it away.

@MenimeMay of course you can be human without festivals but they're part of the human condition. We've been doing it since the dawn of time. Mutual celebration brings communities together. Humans are tribal and are meant to live in tight knit communities. We've lost our way a bit obviously but people still crave that way of life hence these festivals still enduring.

@onelittlefrog you said exactly what I meant by 'being human'. I don't think I explained it well in my first post

@Spockynocky

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.

We only live once but people take life far too seriously sometimes. I’ve had an amazing time at organised firework displays and hope that they continue long into the future. The way things are going life will be an absolute misery. I don’t like that dog walkers outside my house continuously let their dogs mess on the public path behind my house and don’t pick it up but I’m not asking for dog ownership to be banned. People will do things that annoy you sometimes. It’s a fact of life. You can’t just ban everything,

By this logic we should cancel Christmas too.
All the consumerism, packaging, over indulgence, travelling.
Terrible for the environment.

As we have alternatives to noisy, environmentally unsound fireworks then yes, it's time to withdraw them. We've accepted that chinese lanterns are hideous to the environment, fireworks are just as bad.

@olivehater

I think having domestic pets is probably worse for the environment. But I don’t tell pet owners that. Each to their own.

I was just thinking this.

I don't like people having dogs - i am allergic and they cause asthma flare ups. Dog attacks and dog poo everywhere are concerns so should we ban people having dogs as pets?

No - because the world doesn't revolve around me and they bring enjoyment for others.

Diwali in particular is fireworktastic

Fireworks were banned last year and again this year in several states in India.

It’s been said before but it’s a bit rich wanting no fireworks for environmental reasons and also because they negatively affect pets… if we were being truly environmental, pets would have to go. Think about how much technically unnecessary energy is expended on them!

@FlorenceWintle

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

I know you've said you disagree OP but the poster has a point. You've already said you want to ban fireworks, light displays, Chinese lanterns and big balloons - what about christmas lights and trees? They come out of a councils budget, have environmental impact and there are probably better things to spend money on. Pumpkin picking and carving is a waste of good food (as its rare people use the insides). Halloween costumes are cheap plastic made in sweatshops. Christmas is unnecessarily commercialised, can lead to debt, often food waste, overpackaged presents and millions of delivery trucks, not to mention the increase in animals bred for slaughter. And really none of us should be travelling abroad, ever, or buying new clothes more than the absolute bare essentials once a year, or eating meat, or replacing our electronics.

Really, where would it end? If your point is "money could be spent better elsewhere" you're not wrong but the same would apply to pretty much every non essential! In fairness we have a very small amount of national celebrations compared to other countries, so a relatively small amount (when compared to the vast amounts spent - and wasted! on other functions) spent by councils on fireworks which bring joy to a large amount of people, once a year, is pretty good value to me.

Saying that I fully agree if there are environmentally better alternatives available those should be used (supported by tax/laws if needed), should be limited to set days, and wouldn't be against household fireworks being banned either.