Jump to content

Recommended Posts

As I hear displays starting for what will no doubt last for days it is worth reading this link, bearing in mind that is just one animal species.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/03/bonfire-night-fireworks-cause-major-distress-to-wild-geese-study-finds

 

I'd happily see a ban on fireworks sold to the public and strictly limited / regulated professional displays for dates such as Bonfire Night / NYE / Diwali.


There was a much older Guardian article that cropped up on Twitter earlier about the pollution too:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/15/fireworks-bonfire-night-diwali-pollution


It's a bit rich on the one hand to be going on about climate change, air pollution etc and then go "hey everyone, let's burn the crap out of everything for a few nights!"

As a kid we could buy fireworks at our corner shop. They sold them everwhere. Thousands got injured each bonfire night. Government clamped down banning some (eg jumping jacks and catherine wheels), increased the legal age for buying fireworks, and there seemed to be a move to organised events and a reduction in accidents.


I'm not even sure where you buy them nowadays, supermarkets no longer. Yet for some reason there has been a rise in fireworks outside the organised events.


Every year when I was young there would be public information campaigns about safe use - secure storage, responsible adult, light the blue touch paper and retire, don't go back to a firework when you think it has gone out. But that is nannying and governments don't tell us what to do anymore.


Sadly it is more difficult to hold communuty events now due to insurance requirements.


Not sure what the answer is.

Just home from the superb Dulwich Sports Club firework event. £12 for me and the boy, which is his treat for the month. The staff and crowd there were wonderful - a credit to the area and a real community spirit.


Carbon footprint of a typical display is 20kg, shared between around 3,000 people. In context, this is 1% of the carbon footprint of a flight to Australia, which would have around 300 people on it. Or the equivalent of those 300 people each making a 1 minute mobile phone call. So I don't think that it's anything to mess our pants over.

More loud banging noises locally from incessant loft conversions. And children make noises., Are children to be banned? Noisy dogs and dog s..t on the roads. They consume resources and aren't suitable for such a built up area, but obviously everyone must follow the wants of dog owners.

Ed 26, glad you enjoyed the fireworks and good that you posted some positive views.


Not saying there aren't adult conversations to be had, but (a) for a discussion forum you need both sides of the story, and (b) sometimes some views can appear a little reactionary.


I'm trying to use soft terms as no value in winding people up (I'd normally use humour in this case).


Usually worth hearing both sides of the argument

In summary,


This is not just about carbon footprints. Animal welfare should also be considered and that includes wildlife.


Nonetheless, that said, I do not begrudge a few organised events every year on specific dates, preferably with low noise fireworks now available. Again, if pet owners know then they can avoid.


The poor wildlife just has to cope but, unlike pets, they can within reason escape and/or hide.


It is the impromptu, without warning, back garden extravaganzas that are the real problem, invariably the most gratuitously noisy and 'bangy'.

  • 1 month later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • I think it's connected with the totem pole renovation celebrations They have passed now, but the notice has been there since then (at least that's when I first saw it - I passed it on the 484 and also took a photo!)
    • Labour was damned, no matter what it did, when it came to the budget. It loves go on about the black hole, but if Labour had had its way, we'd have been in lockdown for longer and the black hole would be even bigger.  Am I only the one who thinks it's time the NHS became revenue-generating? Not private, but charging small fees for GP appts, x-rays etc? People who don't turn up for GP and out-patient appointments should definitely be charged a cancellation fee. When I lived in Norway I got incredible medical treatment, including follow up appointments, drugs, x-rays, all for £200. I was more than happy to pay it and could afford to. For fairness, make it somehow means-tested.  I am sure there's a model in there somewhere that would be fair to everyone. It's time we stopped fetishising something that no longer works for patient or doctor.  As for major growth, it's a thing of the past, no matter where in the world you live, unless it's China. Or unless you want a Truss-style, totally de-regulated economy and love capitalism with a large C. 
    • If you read my post I expect a compromise with the raising of the cap on agricultural property so that far less 'ordinary' farmers do not get caught  Clarkson is simply a high profile land owner who is not in the business as a conventional farmer.  Here's a nice article that seems to explain things well  https://www.sustainweb.org/blogs/nov24-farming-budget-inheritance-tax-apr/ It's too early to speculate on 2029.  I expect that most of us who were pleased that Labour got in were not expecting anything radical. Whilst floating the idea of hitting those looking to minimise inheritance tax, including gifting, like fuel duty they also chickened put. I'm surprised that anyone could start touting for the Tories after 14 years of financial mismanagement and general incompetence. Surly not.  A very low bar for Labour but they must be well aware that there doesn't need to be much of a swing form Reform to overturn Labour's artificially large majority.  But even with a generally rabid right wing press, now was the opportunity to be much braver.
    • And I worry this Labour government with all of it's own goals and the tax increases is playing into Farage's hands. With Trump winning in the US, his BFF Farage is likely to benefit from strained relations between the US administration and the UK one. As Alastair Campbell said on a recent episode of The Rest is Politics who would not have wanted to be a fly on the wall of the first call between Angela Rayner and JD Vance....those two really are oil and water. Scary, scary times right now and there seems to be a lack of leadership and political nous within the government at a time when we really need it - there aren't many in the cabinet who you think will play well on the global stage.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...