To ask everyone to stop balloon releases

[Poscapen]

It's always difficult to comment, because people let this rubbish into the air at times of grief. But as I see a load of black balloons released in their 100's, would it be OK to ask that everyone - every single MN'er - pledge to never organise a balloon (or Chinese lantern) release and never take part in one?
We know that the balloons and the threads tied on take a varied amount of time to biodegrade (even the biodegradable ones). We know that helium is a finite resource. We know that these stupid releases kill livestock, pets and wild animals on a frighteningly regular basis. So why is it still happening? Why are we humans so stupid? Don't get me started on sending naked flames and sharp bamboo frames off into the countryside!
If we want to commemorate a lost one surely we can think about things like bee bombs instead? Would the loved one who has passed away want their legacy to be a young foal, just for example, dead because of the balloon and cord tangled in it's throat? Takes the edge off the "Fly free Grandad" label attached doesn't it?

I don’t like them and would never, ever Organise one. But if my friend, for example, who was grieving asked me to attend one I would. And I wouldn’t say anything

No idea how it isn’t already covered by littering laws. But rather than expecting grieving people to think differently the government ought to just ban the sale of helium/helium balloons, Chinese lanterns and other pointless litter in the same way they have plastic straws etc.

I know how much environmental damage they cause and would never organize one myself but I find some of the comments on this thread so callous. All the ones I know of have been by a family grieving for the death of a child or a young person. It's a grief that thankfully I haven't known myself, but I know that no one facing that should be called 'stupid' or 'performative'. And the absolute irony of saying that it's grieving parents who 'don't care about anything outside their little world'...

That's awful. I agree that they should be made to take part in and litter pick to help clear up as much of it as possible.

Then someone should take the bits of balloon into school assembly and explain to the children, and to the stupid staff members who organised the release that these bits of litter are from their own balloon release and have already harmed wildlife.

Then they might think twice about doing anything so shitty again.

I agree OP. There's a balloon caught in the tree outside of my office. I've been in my job 8 years and it hasn't degraded at all, it still has the plastic string stuff attached.

YANBU. Balloon and lantern releases should be completely banned then the onus isn't on grieving families to consider the impact of the damage those releases cause.

I agree, I would like to see them banned. Pointlessly releasing rubbish that doesn't degrade for a hell of a long time doesn't serve any purpose.

There are a million ways to celebrate someone's life that don't endanger animals and blight the landscape.

Even if a balloon release doesn’t kill any livestock/wildlife/pets it’s still littering on a large scale and should be illegal.

Go to Facebook and search for 'balloon release'. So many ridiculous and ignorant posts. Lost a precious person? LITTER!!!! Usually accompanied by #angel #precioisbaby #hevangainedanangel #fam

The government and councils should be doing much more about litter generally too. Littering needs to be taken much more seriously than it currently is.

The problem is that the natural prompt to get annoyed about this is when they're in the news/all over your vicinity.

And that's exactly the time when it might be tasteless to attack them.

Set a reminder for one month's time and then do a campaign, not attached to any particular event.

I went for a walk in the countryside last week and there are deflated balloons stuck in hedgerows and on the fields. It's just wrong. I live by a forest and last year when we had the worst drought in decades people were letting those poxy Chinese lanterns go up and land in the forest still burning. You'd think at least some people might have a brain really...

YANBU. I don't understand why they're not banned.

lets do our part on saving the planet by being silly & sending up bits of plastic, mind boggling

I was at a balloon release for a deceased family member a few years back. It was a full day memorial and I had no idea of the plans until I got there. I'm not all that close to that side of my family and didn't feel able to say anything for fear of sparking yet another family dispute, so I kept quiet and allowed them to hand my children their helium filled balloons. They were young enough not to remember and I have since explained to them how bad balloons are for the environment and wildlife, but I hate that I felt emotionally blackmailed into taking part. I would imagine a lot of people have felt the same

'Grieving' is absolutely no excuse for this. Grief doesn't stop you being able to understand the damage that these releases do. It's pure selfishness. Why not plant a wildflower garden patch, or a sapling as a way to remember? Do some good instead of just thinking about how it'll look on Farcebook.

They're been plenty of publicity about how awful they are. Balloon releases and Chinese lanterns should be made illegal. I'd also ban selling helium balloons full stop. It's a finite resource.

There are plenty of other ways to show grief than letting off balloons that will litter the countryside and kill animals.

I hate it, On a par with fireworks

Absolutely agree. Balloons should be banned altogether.

The difficulty is that telling a grieving family that this is wrong won‘t work. They’re caught up in their grief, the environmental damage is just not on their radar at that time. Previous posters have already said they witnessed these releases and weren’t happy but felt they couldn’t say anything.

A campaign to end this is needed. And a ban on balloon releases.

When they are being released usually isn't the right time to say anything as it is often tied to grief. Apart from that lady that was saying about the school releasing them for pride, I would have said something about that!

But I hate them, my DSIS died young and in tragic circumstances, we didn't feel the need to release balloons.

I've shared a few times on FB about not releasing them, it doesn't get much attention.

These idiots are probably the same types who use 'outdoor heaters' too, and drive giant SUVs they don't need in their suburban area. If something is a trend and seen on SM then this type will do and not give the slightest thought about the larger picture.

I agree with this.

Also think of a decent alternative. Is bubbles OK?

I just don't think chucking a bee bomb is going to provide the emotional release the balloons are.

I have attended some tree planting ceremonies - they are nice and moving but I think the balloons are used as everyone can think of a memory and send their own personal thoughts in a visual way.

So I'm thinking bubbles or a memorial book of some kind - perhaps like those wedding books - There are alsorts of visual versions of those.

That's exactly what I mean. It's not going to change if people put forward such strong negative views about the grieving people who do them. It needs to be a gentler approach - a "I know you're hurting but how about this idea instead?" Approach

A few years ago I briefly worked at a hipster party shop that specialised in helium balloons. They also did things like ‘gender reveal’ balloons which were filled with plastic sequins and glitter, all of which is terrible for the environment. I absolutely hated contributing to the sale of such tat and plastic waste and using up a finite resource like helium for a bloody birthday party or some stupid ‘gender reveal’ American import. The sea is full of glitter and sequins which eventually forms a big disgusting mass. I didn’t work there long and haven’t touched a balloon since, not that I’d touched them much before. Ridiculous things that I agree should be banned, along with sequins, tinsel and plastic confetti.