AIBU to beg for no more balloon releases

[Newspeaker]

Why is it that at the times of the worst tragedy so many people still think it is OK to release dangerous litter into the sky? Surely in every group who plan these events there will be at least one person who understands the implications and can push for an alternative?
That's it really. Don't tell me people need to grieve - there are plenty of other ways to signal your grief, if you feel the need to do that. Does anyone want the memorial to their loved one be tainted by - just one real life example - a dead donkey foal with a balloon and the string in her gut? It seems particularly ironic that our young people can be so vocal about environmental issues, and yet they still flock to buy the balloons and take part in these releases.
It just breaks my heart to see this, knowing that the odds are some animals will suffer or die from our thoughtlessness, and yet again the land will be littered.

Any time someone posts about this they get accused of bad timing and insensitivity. Caring about our environment and feeling deep sadness for tragic losses aren't mutually exclusive. We have to find some time to speak up, because however much we do, it still happens.

I say this every time there's some tragedy on the news. I know the Tories don't want a nanny state but sometimes banning something is the only way to solve a problem because people are generally too stupid and selfish to make the best decision for everyone. Honestly breaks my heart every time I see a release online. I've found those bloody balloons and ribbons in the middle of nowhere up the mountains where clearly sheep has nibbled on them :(

You ban the sale of helium balloons and you ban the sale of helium for recreational purposes - job done.

If you can't buy and you can't fill them, you can't release the damn things!

No you can't release them. But it won't stop people buying foil balloons and releasing those to the wind, or just buying balloons and blowing them up to release. It's really windy in Scotland today, you wouldn't need helium for a balloon release.

I agree-i saw the pixtures from cardiff and im sorry its awful about the boys but theres other ways to pay respects

I wouldn't be surprised if balloons themselves are banned within the next few years, similar to how plastic straws have been.

They have no functional use. They are just decorative. Yet unlike other single use items we seem to be increasing them rather than reducing them... balloon arches and bouquets for example.

Also plastic bats and the like that people use to decorate their houses at Halloween.
Lots of those blow away and end up in the hedges and fields where I walk.

It might get at least one ignorant person to rethink...

I agree balloon releases and butterfly releases are awful and I wince any time I see one.

But what is wrong with the little kits where you get a tiny amount of caterpillars, and release the adult butterflies when they are hatched? There are only about 5 butterflies and they are native species. Which is what the poster above was referring to

I doubt this will get read cos it's way in from the beginning, but I view it as sentimental clap trap. Virtue signalling at it's worst - I am so sorry for your loss (or what ever) and this is me showing how much I care...by releasing a balloon.....now I'm off to protest about something.

But what is wrong with the little kits where you get a tiny amount of caterpillars, and release the adult butterflies when they are hatched? There are only about 5 butterflies and they are native species. Which is what the poster above was referring to

i already covered that by posting a quote from the article earlier .

"Even if you were to use native species, if they are captively bred, you are potentially affecting the gene pool and you are also releasing diseases and pathogens into the wild population."

It is very much about the signalling, @bornintheuk2 . People don't want to simply say to someone "i'm sorry for your loss". They want to do something visible so they can be seen doing it, and get the warm fuzzy feeling that brings. Same reason as people want to donate sacks of unwanted and unsuitable clothing to Ukraine or after the Turkish earthquake rather than just giving the DEC a tenner.

Because they want to make it all about THEM.

They did it in my village when a lady had a stillborn little girl. Hundreds of pink balloons were released including a lot of those large mini mouse character balloons.

I don't understand why people do it. It's selfish and should be made illegal

Are you familiar with the concept of how to eat an elephant - a bite at a time?
Anyway, I'm talking about balloon releases, you've got no idea if I am involved in other activities to try to protect the environment.
The thing about balloon releases is that the impact is obvious and so easy to prevent, if people just used a tiny bit of common sense.

You can get white homing pigeons (alternative to doves) which would look amazing, and obviously would return themselves home safely too afterwards.

You can get white homing pigeons (alternative to doves) which would look amazing, and obviously would return themselves home safely too afterwards.

No. Can we please stop involving animals in these events. Many pigeons do not return or return injured.

www.pigeonrescue.org/faqs-2/why-dove-releases-are-cruel/

Please no. Have a Google, they have a terrible time being packed and usually die. We don't need to involve living creatures in our public displays of... whatever it was meant to be displaying at a nursery. Wouldn't the kinds have loved bubbles? Or to see flowers they planted growing?

It's certain type that do it. Even knowing the horrendous damage and suffering they cause. Thick as fucking mince and highly unlikely to change unfortunately as @SunnySaturdayMorning has displayed.

No birds, no butterflies.

We need a whole shift away from the "releasing something into the sky" idea.

I agree!!! Every time I see someone do this I always want to say but because it’s a situation of loss I feel like I never can without being insensitive.

I agree with others too about Chinese lanterns!!!

I agree although understand the impulse to do it (especially if it's ignorance rather than deliberate ignoring). Knowing what I know about them, it makes me really sad that I'd essentially be commemorating a really sad event (baby loss in my case) by causing more suffering and harm. So we light candles instead. But I do get why people do it if they are grieving and aren't aware of the harm it can cause.

Vile person

I'm actually not surprised

Most intelligent people can recognise the harm that balloon releases cause

The type of people who think it's their right are the same type of people who riot and live on the fringes of society

Very Facebook post decrying balloon releases attracts the "hun" brigade

Recently managed to talk my family out of doing it for my dearly loved relative. He would’ve hated the idea of littering being a way to commemorate his life.
We did do Chinese lanterns instead but I bought the most eco friendly ones available. At least they disintegrate unlike balloons.

These issues are always a mix of ignorance and apathy. You can try to educate people, but you can't force people to care about issues that they don't care about, or they don't think the issue is more important than their reason for why they are doing this.

We did do Chinese lanterns instead but I bought the most eco friendly ones available. At least they disintegrate unlike balloons.

"Chinese" lanterns are a flying fire hazard as well as litter and often involve sharp parts that animals may accidentally ingest. They are not an appropriate or better alternative to balloons.