Banning balloon releases

[Quackpot]

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/599983

There has been another tragedy local to us. The default reaction seems to always be balloon release. So harmful. They're sad their loved one died, so they're gonna inflict death elsewhere to make them feel better.
I really don't understand the mentality.
So bloody selfish.

Signed. I’ve come to hate balloons full stop.

Such a waste. And then there is the whole helium issue.

@Peridot1

Signed. I’ve come to hate balloons full stop.

Such a waste. And then there is the whole helium issue.

Same. Especially ostentatious arches and filling them with any seasonal product.

We have a balloon Banksy here. Every occasion is marked by a display over the town sign. "Everyone" loves it and anyone who dares to suggest it's not the best idea is soundly thrashed (metaphorically speaking).

Signed.

This bullshit of releasing balloons makes me furious. I know people must be grieving but to think sending a harmful piece of plastic into the sky somehow helps is un fathomable to me.

It's very selfish & very stupid & very harmful to wildlife. I just don't know why people do it ?!

I had to bite my tongue a few days ago. I was in Liverpool and hundreds of people had gathered to celebrate Ava whites birthday (12yo that recently got stabbed to death). They decided the best way to honour her was to let off dozens of smoke bombs and hundreds of balloons. There’s absolutely no way that you can ask people to reconsider what they’re doing in those circumstances though.

@SomethingSuss

Signed and shared. I hate these things and just as bad are Paper Lantern releases. It is drilled into us all our lives never to leave a candle unattended. It's an extremely well known rule. And yet people who would never leave a candle lit at home think that lighting a firefighter (that doesn't go out easily) and sending it off somewhere to set fire to whatever it lands on, is perfectly reasonable???

Don't honour lost loved ones by littering, causing death and injury to livestock and wildlife and burning down buildings. That's stupid.

Not sure lighting a firefighter is ever a good idea!

But I agree that balloons and plastic wrappers from flowers cause so much damage to the environment it should be illegal. Flowers don't need any wrapping at all (tied with biodegradable twine) or they could easily have a biodegradable wrapping.

Signed and shared. I really hope something can be done about this they are so damaging to wildlife.

I’ve signed and shared too. It’s a very delicate protest to be honest

You will get those who think you shouldn’t protest about this because it’s usually at children’s funerals the balloons are released, and if it helps the parents, why should be disagree.

@Soubriquet

I’ve signed and shared too. It’s a very delicate protest to be honest

You will get those who think you shouldn’t protest about this because it’s usually at children’s funerals the balloons are released, and if it helps the parents, why should be disagree.

This is why I'm sharing this petition about. I can't bring myself to bring it up with the grieving parents, but hopefully raising awareness in general will make people think twice in future.

Thank you for signing and sharing everyone

Signed!

Signed and shared

💖

Good one. Balloons with messages on infuriate me too. Who thinks it's a good idea to release plastic into the sky and then add a twee message to whoever finds your intentional litter.

Signed. I can't believe people release them. What do they think is going to happen to all these balloons ? Even when people buy them to take home the has to be disposed of at some point !

Not sure lighting a firefighter is ever a good idea!

Ha ha! Apologies to all the firefighters out there. I mean you no harm. Autocorrect seemingly doesn't like fire-lighters.

BEE BOMBS

I've also had a tree planted in dad's memory. Every Sunday when I was little he'd take me out while mum & nana prepared dinner. We'd go to the park, local woods, fields etc and he'd point all the flowers and trees out to me. I think planting new life is far better than setting off a balloon.

Bumping, it's a shame this can't be on chat for more traffic.

@Somanysocks

Bumping, it's a shame this can't be on chat for more traffic.

Thank you. I need to keep remembering to bump it too, to at least keep it in active

Signed and shared to a few groups too. I hate balloon releases, and cannot understand in this day why it’s thought to be ok to intentionally litter. I regularly litterpick and run a small group and collect helium balloons from fields and ditches weekly. Would love to see them banned.

Signed, I agree with points made.

Thank you 😊

Signed and shared.

Grief isn't reason enough to do something that kills and maims wildlife.
Helium is also a finite natural resource which is needed for medical procedures so I would ban balloons altogether...

Bump