The penalty for mass balloon release should be the same as for fly tipping

[Serencwtch]

Yet another mass balloon release local to us.
This time dozens of blue metallic balloons with plastic ribbon.
We are farmers & spent yesterday morning trying to save a calf who was found with the metallic plastic in her mouth. She choked to death slowly & painfully. We have likely lost dozens of unborn lambs as the ewes were running terrified all night by the shiny metallic litter in their field.
We are in a area of outstanding national beauty & the wildlife there won't have a farmer to save them from suffering.
It gets caught up in our crop fields, damages machinery & contaminates food crops.
Theres balloons stuck in trees from a release 2 years ago - this rubbish does not break down.

YABU - if you lose a loved one you have the right to litter the countryside, cause suffering to animals & damage farmers livelihoods

YANBU - It's the same if not worse than any other rubbish dumping & should be prosecuted

Could you take the organiser to the small claims court for compensation for the loss of livestock. Organisers being sued for the damage they cause might put others off.

If the balloon can be identified to a specific release I would have thought you would have a case.

There seems to be an issue with where the balloon release takes place so if Janet and John decide to release 100 balloons for little John’s 18th birthday from the privacy of their back garden that’s “OK”. Even if they live in an area where the council have banned them from being released on council land it’s still “OK” because it’s not council land (or indeed airspace). Ridiculous as the problem isn’t where the balloons start from but where they end up. If only the Government had not decided this was an insignificant problem then it wouldn’t be left to individual councils to bring in bans which can’t really cover the problem.

As for fireworks @Cappie73 there is always very aggressive pushback if anyone comments negatively about fireworks where I live. Anyone who has sat with a terrified child or pet or, in my case, ex-forces personel with PTSD will know the terror and high cost of ever louder fireworks set off increasingly randomly (before we even consider the litter spread far and wide). My friend’s horse died after panicking and being severely injured when one July night some wedding party had a full loud display with no warning to anyone. There was child injured by a firework in my village a couple of years ago, not during the display but the morning after when they toddled up to a brightly coloured casing on the ground that was somehow still live and unspent and went bang as soon as it was touched. But apparently not likely any of these things and saying so makes me the selfish one

I hope you're not comparing the death of a child to death of an animal

It does seem to be becoming more common as it looks good on tik Tok/insta that all the youngsters are on.

They have no idea of the devastation it causes

Bridget Jones does it in the most recent film. Made me really angry!

But both are mammals? So why is it ok if an animal mammal chokes to death in agony because of someone’s unthinking actions but not a human mammal? Why do we place human suffering above that of an animal?

Totally agree. And I speak as a mother whose ds died a year ago.

Totally should 100% be banned. Not sure how you'd catch people though.

Yanbu. I hate thick scum who release balloon litter. It would be a custodial offence if I was in charge.

It's been pretty well publicised how bad balloon littering is for years, there's no excuse for it these days.

They should be illegal along with fireworks and Chinese lanterns. Although our local wedding venue did ban the lanterns after I turned up on a Sunday morning with 3 of them that had landed in one of my fields with livestock in during a hot summer. I did give them merry hell.

I’d like to know who the 1% is that think OP is being unreasonable for not wanting to watch her calves choke to death. At least have the balls to reveal yourself.

@BotterMon never understood the let's set a naked flame into the big blue yonder with no thought to as where it may end up.

Balloon releases seem to be popular with a specific demographic that maybe aren't as educated on the negative effect to the environment. Or maybe they just don't care.

There's so many ways to remember lost ones or to celebrate occasions without releasing bloody balloons.

I agree. Not only mass balloon releases, but any balloon release. They are for idiots and an absolutely shit way to remember someone.

So sorry OP for what happened; that must have been harrowing to witness.
Recently a local lady died and a Facebook post went up advising there was going to be a balloon release. Lots of people commented offering their condolences but also stating she could be remembered in a better way than to harm wildlife. The organiser actually took the comments on board and arranged an alternative memorial which was lovely to see. I wish others would stop and think in the same way.

That’s impressive. I wish people would stop and think more too. Most people are too selfish, or thoughtless.

I am so sorry to read about your animals, OP. This makes me so angry too.

It's about education, I suppose. I agree that you should go to the papers or your local BBC area news, to raise awareness.

While we’re all giving out another thing that should be banned are fireworks and bangers! Just heard a banger going off outside.

Wow. I take it you've never lost a child

I can't believe people still do this

If I held a balloon release for the death of my dog and a baby choked to death on the balloon there would be absolute national uproar. Of course they aren't comparable. But unless you think animal sacrifice is an acceptable way to mourn the death of a child, balloon releases should be banned.

I live in an area of natural beauty too, I get quite annoyed by people letting balloons go too!
I’ve found several entangled in trees during my dog walks and I’ve always collected up those I can reach, cut them into smaller pieces and disposed of at home.
I’d be inclined to say mass release is worse than flytipping. At least flytipping is in one spot and reasonably easy to clear, Balloons spread out and end up everywhere, making clear up practically impossible! The fines for this should be huge!

100% agree OP. These things should really be banned from being on sale.

I haven't said balloon releases are ok I actually said I agreed with op. What i will not agree with is someone comparing a child's death to the death of an animal

@youalright
You said you would attend one if someone ‘lost there baby’