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

Releasing doves and butterflies are cruel and not a suitable alternative, Releasing butterflies can also harm the native population.

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

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-41331682

They're settled travellers.

I agree, but I think the way people sometimes share this opinion with people who are recently bereaved and grieving is pretty shitty.

What a stupid reply. There are loads of ways you can pay respect to loved ones without causing harm

And they are too stupid to realise the majority of people seeing their Insta-bbz-xoxo-with-the-angles-now posts are thinking "what a right load of bell-ends"

An alternative to littering and killing wildlife. Oh come on.

And can I be utterly clear that this is not a disparaging comment on the culture. We have a few settled families in the village and they're predominantly lovely. The only two bones of contention are some clashes over education and the choices made by the previously mentioned family (which I wouldn't have related to their culture myself but they do use it as a defence).

Even in China Chinese lanterns are banned in many places - and purposely doing things that harms animals in this way is moronic, chavvy and cunty.

We don’t post it on social media.

It doesn’t matter that you don’t like it, there’s nothing you can do about it. It happens multiple times a year regardless.

Every year, on her birthday and on the anniversary of her death, I drink a cocktail and remember a dear friend, lost tragically young. Remembering a loved one doesn’t need to be performative or damaging to the environment.

As has been so clearly illustrated on this thread, you can't fix stupid.

Therefore, I propose we all push our MPs to fight for legislation banning the sale of helium balloons, chinese lanterns, fireworks, disposable bbqs et al.

You think the presence of a balloon brings your deceased family member to you?
It is self serving and going by your attitude selfish

You can't argue with stupid.

I can’t really get worked up about this vs all the other things us humans do that damage wildlife/environment

Thank you, I wondered if that might be the case but it’s disappointing.

Would the people who want to release balloons consider releasing butterflies? You can get inexpensive kits to raise them from larvae, watch them become caterpillars before eventually going through metamorphosis and then you release them. It's seasonal (March to September) but it's a really lovely way to commemorate someone and more pollinators are always beneficial. I'm sure your loved ones would rather you remembered them with something that improves the natural world.

ETA: Sorry, just seen earlier posts about this. I skimmed the thread but didn't read thoroughly enough. I'll go read the links.

They had me until "...Halloween, summer festival etc?".

Littering is a criminal offence but for some reason the loons that throwing plastic into the sky get away with it.

The fines should be much, much higher.

In England, under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, dropping, throwing, or leaving litter anywhere in public (including private land and waterways) is a criminal offense. Councils can issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) up to £500 for offenses, including litter thrown from vehicles. 1, 2, 3]

@FookFookFookI agree with you. I’ve enjoyed fireworks, flying abroad & have a cat plus dc. Not sure I can lecture someone else for releasing a balloon!

And I wish my office had air con!

There's only one thing that happens to such things - they end up as litter on the ground. It is illegal to drop litter and is subject to a fine, so surely you should be fined for setting these things off up into the sky as what goes up must come down.
I never understand the need to do this and I say that as someone who has lost a daughter. She has a grave that we visit. We place plants or flowers there. We visit places that we went to with DD and talk about memories there. I light a candle when visiting cathedrals even though I'm not particularly religious. It has never occurred to me to let off a balloon or lantern.
I think leaving flowers wrapped in cellophane at the spot where someone died should also be classed as littering and fined accordingly. Only today I saw multiple plastic wrapped bunches of dead flowers next to a river where a young man drowned a few weeks ago. Who's going to clear those up? At least take the plastic off before leaving them then they will at least rot and break down.

Littering is against the law.

From now on we should all report any balloon release events to the police. Take photos of the people doing it and flood the police with complaints.

Whether a large event or a single person doing it.

Let's report and get this madness stopped.

I used to transport injured wildlife to rehabbers, picking up a tiny, broken, barely alive white "wedding release" pigeon will stick with me forever. The poor thing had been scalped and plucked bald on its back, blood everywhere. Even though it would have been in agony it was so calm and cuddled into me the entire way to the rehabber. Luckily it survived but couldn't be released.

Please dont anyone consider pigeon releasing as an alternative. The poor little things often dont get home 😔

Just do something normal like light a candle. Its not as insta-tastic though admittedly.