AIBU to object to balloon and lantern memorial releases for environmental reasons ?

[Ihsk]

I do wish people would stop releasing balloons in tribute to lost loved ones.

Balloons don’t up to heaven. They travel a few miles and usually land in a farmer’s field. Where animals eat the balloon and get very ill or die.

This method is a cruel and other creatures can die.

Also still can get Chinese lanterns online. Anyone setting these off now are idiots. Forest fires

The mind boggles at people’s stupidity

tou wouldn’t throw a carrier bag of rubbish up in the air to honour a relative but a balloon is ok. What the hell.

mind you I was recently shocked to see a horsey person I know (I’m horsey) releasing a foil balloon AT A HORSE SHOW to honour her recently dead horse.

So people want to remember the dead by killing wildlife and setting moor / grassland on fire
great idea NOT
plant seeds , a tree have a torch light meeting a ballon is not a memory taker it does not reach heaven

It’s a stupid thing to do. 🤷‍♀️

Maybe the ones who release them should eat a few and see how they get on without medical help

Ooh good idea.

The morons that set the moors on fire and now planning a balloon release.

They wouid do better spending the money on educations resource for schools, telling young people not to trespass in reservoirs.. especially with an air-bed as a raft

I think it’s very telling that @BeSunnyLemonSheep used inverted commas to refer to the environment. She clearly cares more about her dead relatives than those who will inherit the consequences of their, and her own behaviours.

I like this idea.

Whilst on the subject of stupid idiots. Think anyone who leaves dogs in cars and/or take them for walks in hot weather, Their punishment should be sitting in a car with no windows open, no air con, no access to water whilst wearing a thick winter coat. For those who take their dogs for walks - punishment walking bare foot wearing a thick winter coat

My choice of venue for such a release would be the edge of a very high cliff !!

You are right. People are aware enough now of what it does to animals, and what ends up in the sea ends up in the stomachs of the animals there. Even birds have fed their young bits of plastic rubbish. It does kill them and whoever thinks otherwise, well, natural selection needs to do a better job. For the 4%, we are killing everything else on earth with our pollution and rubbish.

Completely agree!!! But based on the amount of rubbish thrown in the streets these days, people really don’t care!

we need a national campaign to educate people about pollution and rubbish. Makes my blood boil every time I go out for a walk!

I think this balloon thing is really out of control. And quite expensive tbh. Are these balloons the same sort as you can buy for Children's birthdays in card shop!

The ones that are made from man made fibres and flashy coloured plastics which take forever to decompose probably pollute landfill
sites

Planting a few bulbs or small shrub in the garden in loving memory or a small water feature. Used to be fairly common back in the day and was considered to be really respectful and very cherished

We don't 'need' an alternative, it's a new trend that's been invented in the past few years for people who want to put their grief on social media

Absolutely agree! It's moronic and people who do it are stupid. In no way does it pay tribute to anyone, it's just a danger to wildlife and it's been well advertised as such.

However those groups will see it as the only way and tell anyone who questions it to f##k off.

There are so many alternatives!

Balloon release etc have only become popular since Social Media became a thing .. so people can show his much sadder they are than you.

It’s all a rather tawdry performance.

I'm so sorry that you are mourning @BeSunnyLemonSheep. Losing someone you have loved is horrible. I miss my mother terribly and my wonderful mother and father in law and some very close friends as well. Like everyone, I've learned that grief is a raw and terrible thing, but those we love who have died will always be with us in some way. For me, as a Christian, I take comfort knowing I'll see those I have loved when I get to heaven. For you? Perhaps the same, or perhaps going to a stream and watching paper boats float away down the water. Perhaps encouraging butterflies into your garden and watching them fly away. How we deal with loss is a very personal thing, but what would your loved one have wanted you to do? Would your family member have wanted animals to suffer and die to help people remember them? If you have or they had pets, would they have wanted someone's balloon to end up in their stomachs? Mourning is healthy. Grief is natural. Deliberately dealing with this with balloons is not.

They're not 'with you ', though. You may think about them from time to time, but death isn't an abstract concept.

Even though some of those heirs will be related to @BeSunnyLemonSheep(children/nieces/nephews/grandchildren) that she presumably does care about. I just can’t imagine being so cavalier about the planet and then passing it on to the next generation. I’m really embarrassed for @BeSunnyLemonSheep for not managing any joined-up thinking.

Of course there are; plant a tree, sponsor woodland, make a donation to The Woodland Trust, join Lend With Care in deceased one's name, throw a party to remember deceased one, give friends a superb bottle of wine to toast deceased.....and again; plant a tree.

A lovely way to honour your dead; destroy nature and aggressively override other's objections.

I think I voted you are being unreasonable by mistake!!! You are definitely NOT being unreasonable. My daughters primary planned a balloon release for some celebration (can't remember what) and a few of us parents complained citing the environmental impact, littering and harm to wildlife. The school said it was fine because the balloons were biodegradable. We pointed out that these biodegradable balloons actually took years to degrade and didn't solve our concerns. They gave up the idea and got the kids to make and fly kites instead. People power.

Agree. Not portable though; disposable......use once, smoke everywhere, leave dangerously hot, then landfill.

Such a chavy thing to do. Same as doves at a wedding. Bred to be released at weddings and have no idea how to feed themselves. After the release they fly away and die of dehydration or starvation.

Sadly, so is selfishness, stupidity and callousness.