I think the noise adds to the visual effect. - its for a few days a year, around Nov 5th and NYE. No harm in that. As Alan says, why are we so quick to want to ban things that give enjoyment to others.
Yes..I see what Alan has written. I'm surpised because most times his posts on serious matters are sound but now and then he comes out with something that leaves me scratching my head..like this post .
If we ground private jets for just one day, 5th November, and allow public fireworks displays I'm sure the net pollution figures will drop and dramatically so. Even more so if we can gag the usual mouthy hypocritical elites from pontificating on the day too.
A lot of people like fireworks and maybe that's a big part of the move to ban them as happiness and joy seem to be being squeezed out of us in these joyless "it offends someone or harms the plant" days.
Ground the private jets and allow the fireworks.
Who exactly the 'mouthy hypocritical elites' are who 'pontificate,' I don't know. 'Harms the 'plant' ? You've got me on that one, too. What does that mean ? Maybe you could enlighten us, Alan ? Also, you'll find that most people don't want to
ban them as you claim but want them restricted to public displays as, infact, you've said so yourself in lieu of private jet flights for that one day, November 5th, you say.
Cambsno...I set out some of the reasons why we should ban, at least the explosive aspect, of fireworks Contrary to your claim that it's just for a few days around November 5th and NYE . Well, fireworks are often a feature of birthday parties and Halloween too not forgetting that Indian people have them as part of their five-day Diwali celebrations..November 4th this year. They call it the 'Festival of Light' .There's also the Chinese New Year celebrations which will come on February 1st.
Regarding November 5th and New Years Eve you say there's "no harm in that". As I've already mentioned some of the harm done [post #34] I take it that you don't recognise any of those issues as causing harm. That, by the way, was a statement not a question. Many would disagree .There's plenty of harm. I can tell you one figure as a fact, about how many disagree. Recently, 300,000 people signed a petition to have them banned from private use..ie peoples' back gardens and local events and have only events that are licensed by the council . That number of respondents now requires Parliament to have a debate on the issue and,as far as I know they will be considering dramatically reducing the availability of fireworks although the government have pre-emptively said there'll be no change. Having angered most of the nation recently that might change. Of course, not everyone who wants to see restrictions on fireworks or even an end to them have signed that petition. The Manchester Evening news carried out a poll, along with a survey, in which people could express an opinion in relation to this bonfire night and 91% of people surveyed felt that fireworks should not be publicly available, with 91% also feeling that unofficial firework displays should be banned.
Some comments:
“Ban them...only professional firework displays should be allowed by licensed and regulated industry professionals.”
“They are a waste of money and should be used by trained professionals only. The bigger units you can buy for £100 would do massive damage if used wrongly!”
“I'm not a kill joy but I do think they should be used for organised displays only,”
“Fireworks.... inflicting suffering on innocent animals and polluting the environment for no reason whatsoever.”
One of the main reasons those surveyed gave against fireworks was due to safety, with 81% of people feeling that fireworks are too dangerous and 36% of people saying they had experienced personal threat or harm from fireworks. 76% of people said they’d had or have a pet which has been upset by fireworks. 86% of people surveyed also felt that more should be done for animal welfare on Bonfire Night such as encouraging the use of low noise fireworks only.
Just prior to this year's celebration a plea from Professor Simon Kenny, paediatric surgeon and the NHS’s national clinical director for children and young people, was urging the public to be extra careful when handling fireworks or sparklers this especially if children or young people are nearby. Latest data shows that in 2020/21, there were more than 100 hospital admissions of people injured by fireworks. 21 of the 116 admissions involved children aged 14 or under, with nine aged between one and four.
Common injuries from fireworks or bonfires include burns and scalds to the head and hands, shock and eye injuries.. Covid put a stop to most gatherings last year so here's a number for 2018/19 Figures from NHS Digital have revealed that there were almost 2,000 occasions of people going to A&E linked to fireworks in 2018-19. The majority of firework-related injuries happen at family or private parties.
RSPCA: This year they've set up a reporting page for people to let them know how the fireworks have affected their pets.By November 3rd they'd had 3,118 responses – far more than expected considering there were two days to go. 98% said their animals felt fear after neighbours let off private fireworks with no prior warning. 87% responses related to dogs, 22% to cats and 5% to horses. It's not only domestic animals that suffer.Farm animals are easily frightened by loud noises and sudden flashes of bright light, which can startle and cause them to injure themselves on fencing and farm equipment. Wildlife, like hedgehogs, are also at risk of being burnt alive after making their homes in bonfires.Fireworks are also highly disturbing to some birds and have caused the abandonment of nests or even whole colonies.
Fire Service: On average, 127 fires in homes and buildings in the UK are started by fireworks every year.
Often, children are given sparklers to hold. They can reach temperatures more than 15 times hotter than boiling water. Rockets can and do cause fires.I've heard of barns full of hay being ignited by a rocket.
Looking back at my original post I see I omitted the distress the explosions cause to the elderly, the frail and no doubt, very young children and babies.
I think all of the above counters your statement....quote '
I think the noise adds to the visual effect. - its for a few days a year, around Nov 5th and NYE. No harm in that. [my bold]
news.sky.com
It's certainly an irony. The plot was brought to the attention of the authorities because details of the assassination attempt were allegedly known by the principal Jesuit of England, Father Henry Garnet. As he was told about the plot through confession he was prevented from informing the authorities by the absolute confidentiality of the confessional but I heard a on a Radio4 programme that he informed someone else in the church who then informed the authorities by way of an anonymous letter to William Parker 4th Baron Monteagle.
