I don't think even you, Toni, as someone who enjoys explosions, would have enjoyed the ones near to us. They sounded like air bombs.I was surprised fireworks with such loud explosions were even legal. To set them off in an urban environment is having total disregard for the vulnerable. As you say, they cause stress to animals but also the,frail,the vulnerable, the elderly, small children, babies. It's why there are laws designed to protect a peaceful and safe environment rather than allow people the freedom to disrupt those desirable aspects.
Yes..having them in one location is the best way and, as you also say, more people are attending public displays than home displays.I checked the stats. In one survey covering a three-year period, 41% of people had attended a public firework display. In a more recent, single-year survey, 25% of people attended a public display. In contrast, only 17% of those surveyed had attended a private home display over a three-year period
If we are to have them atall, that's the best way ..public displays but they will still cause stress to wildlife, especially in more rural settings. It would also address the safety aspect,too. I've checked the stats for that,too. In the UK , approximately 2000 people a year are treated in A&E for firework-related injuries.They mainly occur re November 5th and Diwali, for Indians. No need to go into that side of the issue because my gripe was about the explosions but that side of it needs to be taken into consideration,too Over the years there's been talk of banning home-displays.
I read this,too.
A study, using GPS trackers, conducted in three European countries, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, shows the’ effects of fireworks on Arctic migratory geese during the New Year’s Eve celebration. The research revealed that the geese flew away from their sleeping sites in response to the fireworks. They never returned. The University of Amsterdam’s Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics used weather radars to detect how birds, mainly waterfowl, react to New Year’s Eve fireworks. The radars showed that thousands of birds flew up to altitudes of 500 metres in the air after the explosions.
There's hope and the point here is that authorities recognise the spectrum of environmental damage that firework displays ,in their current form, cause. Canadian cities located in the province of Alberta, like Banff and Canmore have replaced fireworks with special-effects pyrotechnic displays which are quieter and have a lower altitude in order to protect wildlife. The town of Collecchio, in Italy, also switched from standard fireworks to silent fireworks to help reduce stress on local wild animals. Although these fireworks do not have the traditional loud bang, they still have their colourful and illuminated displays, making them a great and more environmentally friendly alternative.
It's the right way forward and just needs the will of government/LAs. ..and, of course, people putting pressure on authorities to act.
