topic Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife in Community Chat

Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

occasionalrain — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 23:21:58 GMT

I understand it's meant as some sort of tribute for those who have died but killing birds, turtles, sea creatures and destroying our environment is no tribute. It's quite the opposite.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

webbgarner1 — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 23:27:34 GMT

@occasionalrain I totally agree with you. Much of the things we do to pay tribute to special causes, only is for the people that are still here on this earth. It means nothing to the person who is already gone. It does however cause problems for the environment. Good for you for posting.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

SXMGirl — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 23:31:09 GMT

@occasionalrain, I agree with you. We don't purchase them. I don't know if soda is still sold with the plastic holding all 6 cans, but whenever I see them, I cut the plastic up. I am always concerned about what wildlife ingests from our trash and how harmful so many things are.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

threecees — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 23:54:21 GMT

I hate seeing countless number of balloons going up and going everywhere else.

No one thinks about where they will eventually end up.

To me it is useless and irresponsible and doesn't serve any purpose.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

Kalli — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 00:25:27 GMT

I agree and would like to add Chinese lanterns to your ban list.

I’ve seen pictures, one of a horse that got burned by a lantern that landed in his pasture, and another picture that showed a horse who had ingested a wire from a lantern and required emergency surgery.

Just seems like common sense to this animal lover and horse owner.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

GingerPeach — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 00:31:20 GMT

@occasionalrainwrote:
I understand it's meant as some sort of tribute for those who have died but killing birds, turtles, sea creatures and destroying our environment is no tribute. It's quite the opposite.

I completely agree with this. There is enough plastic debris in the world (including oceans). There are other ways to honor those who merit tributes.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

Carmie — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 01:50:28 GMT

@SXMGirlwrote:
@occasionalrain, I agree with you. We don't purchase them. I don't know if soda is still sold with the plastic holding all 6 cans, but whenever I see them, I cut the plastic up. I am always concerned about what wildlife ingests from our trash and how harmful so many things are.

My DH and I were horrified when we were boating and came across a mother duck with 10 babies. One baby had a plastic ring from a small 16oz. water bottle stuck on his beak. It was that small ring on the neck of the bottle that you snap the cap open from.

We, as well as others tried to catch that duckling to remove the plastic ring and were not successful. It still haunts me. That poor duckling suffered needlessly.

i always remove the whole cap including the small ring and cut it before I recycle.

We all need to quit junking up our planet.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

Noel7 — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 01:55:37 GMT

The balloons are a serious threat to wildlife, sea creatures and the environment, as are those who shoot guns into the air at holidays and other celebrations.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

SXMGirl — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 01:56:21 GMT

@Carmie, this has been a serious problem for many years. I remember back in the 70's when I started cutting the plastic rings. I cannot believe we still have these issues, but I know that even though businesses mark items that can be recycled, most trash companies do not really care about it. It seems that they lose money when they recycle while our trash bill keeps increasing.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

Carmie — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 02:05:10 GMT

@SXMGirl ;when we go boating, we always take our trash home with us. There are some boaters who do not.

They are usually only there on the weekends and throw all of their trash into the water or leave it on the shore. We pick it up when we find it and when I see someone throwing it, I scream at them to pick it up and carry it out.

I have been cursed at many times. Many of these boaters are from our neighboring state, so they don’t even live here.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

riley1 — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 02:12:58 GMT

I'm totally against the release of balloons. It causes so many injuries to the sealife and other wildlife. The plastic piece that holds a 6-pk together drives me crazy. I sit there and cut it up into small pieces. The ring on a plastic bottle and even the cap is detrimental.

Some wildlife, especially birds, swallow these things and can't pass them and can't eat - a terrible ending.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

GingerPeach — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 03:20:14 GMT

I, too, cut up all sorts of plastic. I also do my best not to buy it in the first place. I cut up rubber bands, too. And I take care to clean out cans and things that a wild creature could get its head stuck in. It's completely worth it to me, not to mention to any and all creatures who might not have to suffer because of something I neglected.

I am just thrilled to read that so many of you do the same!

@riley1 @Carmie @Noel7 @occasionalrain @SXMGirl @Kalli

@webbgarner1

If I missed anyone, it was just an oversight. You are all exemplary citizens!

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

on the bay — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 03:28:19 GMT

@occasionalrain-

I was thinking that too when I saw the balloons being released and the pink and white ones taken to the school.

I was surprised that people are still doing this and maybe not everyone is aware of how many problems they are for our wildlife.

I was sad about this too.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

GingerPeach — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 03:51:22 GMT

@on the baywrote:
@occasionalrain-
I was thinking that too when I saw the balloons being released and the pink and white ones taken to the school.
I was surprised that people are still doing this and maybe not everyone is aware of how many problems they are for our wildlife.
I was sad about this too.

Hi @occasionalrain

I don't know if this was on tv, or locally, but if locally and you know the name of the school or whichever group is releasing them, you could contact them to let them know. No doubt you've thought of that already.

Edited to add: Back when my daughter was in elementary school, her school had a couple of balloon launches. We were all clueless back then - it was the 80s. But it wasn't long before someone saw the light and the launches were nevermore.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

on the bay — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 04:37:15 GMT

@GingerPeach-

The balloon releases were shown in several different places in Florida to honor the 17 victims.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

hennypenny — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 16:24:01 GMT

I would like to add that the mylar balloons can spark fires if they hit power lines. They are extremely dangerous.

We too, cut up plastic rings and we recycle everthing allowed.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

SXMGirl — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 18:03:18 GMT

@Carmie, I was a boater for a long time and always took my trash and others home with me. I took the Coast Guard courses and I do not remember them covering basic manners of the water. I get really angry when I see trash just dumped on our river.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

GingerPeach — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 19:08:36 GMT

Thanks, @on the bay I haven't been watching all the news lately.

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

Drythe — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 04:33:49 GMT

Hello fellow snip - ers.

We try try not to purchase any of those products, and snip any that we find.

What kind of thinking allows people to use the world as a personal trash can?

Re: Ban Balloon Launches Save Wildlife

ScarletDove — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 06:44:06 GMT

Yes I agree, it is dangerous to ALL wildlife......and totally unnecessary!