Call to end Balloon and Chinese lantern releases

Mothman

The number of balloon & Chinese lantern releases in Ireland appears to be on the increase. These visual displays can have long-lasting and far-reaching effects on our environment. The Irish Wildlife Trust, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Irish Seal Sanctuary and BirdWatch Ireland would like to remind those considering balloon & lantern releases that these frequently have direct negative consequences for wildlife and the environment.

Full article from From Irish Wildlife Trust website

Also a pdf with full details, or for a list of alternatives to balloons and lanterns

Could be regarded as a bit of a killjoy, but no!
I found balloon remains this year that had been released from a Dublin national school. I was thankful it didn't land among my cattle.

Reading up on their balloon release, it was a public event to raise funds and its quite likely the environmental consequences never crossed the minds of anyone involved with this city centre school.

Maudi

Mothman wrote: »

Full article from From Irish Wildlife Trust website

Also a pdf with full details, or for a list of alternatives to balloons and lanterns

Could be regarded as a bit of a killjoy, but no!
I found balloon remains this year that had been released from a Dublin national school. I was thankful it didn't land among my cattle.

Reading up on their balloon release, it was a public event to raise funds and its quite likely the environmental consequences never crossed the minds of anyone involved with this city centre school.

i understand the new lanterns are completely biodegradable .no?

Bsal

With halloween next week expect alot of lanterns released, I remember reading a story on here about a Barn Owl found dead caught in a Chinese lantern

Half-cocked

Keep finding these littered around a friends farm near Bray. It is littering and should be banned.

gozunda

Permission from the Irish Aviation Authority is required for their use as they pose a danger to aircraft especially in areas near or close to airports.

Not of course the idiots selling / buying these things give a fiddlers...

A big problem is fire - the airport in Donegal had a close shave when a released Chinese lantern landed in the fuel depot for aviation fuel....

Woodland, barns etc are at risk as well.

littlebug

One of these narrowly missed us this evening when the burning bit plunged to the road beside us. It didn't hit a wire or anything... just seemed to come apart. how dangerous is that?!
The balloon bit drifted into the next field where cattle graze.

Anyhow...:mad::mad::mad::mad:

loveisdivine

I think they should definitely be banned. How people dont see it as pure litterng is beyond me. If I ever drop so much as a sweet wrapper I go running off after it, the thought of lighting a big lantern and just letting it go floating off is ridiculous!