topic Re: Balloon Releases in Community Chat

Balloon Releases

occasionalrain — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 22:58:59 GMT

Why do people gather to release balloons to honor or celebrate or call attention when they harm wildlife and litter the environment. The strings get tangled around birds and fish killing them. Some honor that.

Re: Balloon Releases

Mominohio — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:06:29 GMT

I tend to agree with you OP. While it can be a beautiful moment, and be so meaningful to those doing it, I really don't like the environmental impact either. It can be so deadly to wildlife, to get caught up in the strings or ingest the balloons when the pop.

Are there perhaps new balloons and strings that decompose very quickly out now for just this type of event?

Re: Balloon Releases

tends2dogs — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:11:06 GMT

I don't have an answer as to why people are still doing this. I just know that when I see it happening, I cringe.

I wish someone would come up with an alternative type of release that would benefit the environoment and wildlife.

Re: Balloon Releases

NoelSeven — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:14:25 GMT

It's done to send love and wishes to the heavens. Sometimes a note is included.

It is not only dangerous to birds, but to other animals, especially when it falls into the sea.

The balloons also hit power lines sometimes.

Re: Balloon Releases

foundinlv — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:25:39 GMT

Mass balloon releases are illegal in several states, cities, and countries. Releasing balloons and sky lanterns should be illegal everywhere, because after all, it is simply littering.

States that have laws: California, Connecticut, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia.

Cities that have laws: Ocean City, Maryland; Louisville, Kentucky; Huntsville, Alabama; San Francisco, California; Nantucket, Massachusetts, and Baltimore, Maryland.

http://balloonsblow.org/laws-concerning-balloons/

Re: Balloon Releases

Lucky Charm — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:26:03 GMT

I can't walk the beach without picking up trash.

Empty water bottles, dog poo bags (filled usually--idiots) and spent (mylar) balloons with the ribbon attached are the most common things I find.

I can't believe they are that common to be the third most likely thing to find as you'd never see blown up balloons on the beach.

I've been on beaches where they send off the paper balloons that look like mini hot air balloons. I don't think they're a good idea either.

Re: Balloon Releases

Kalli — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 00:11:56 GMT

Last summer my friend and I brought home from a trail ride, a balloon from Valentines Day (not sure which year). It was the kind that had had helium in it. Who knows how long it had been in the woods? If we hadn't picked it up, it would still be there.

I agree with what has already been posted here. I wish people would consider what happens to those stupid things once the holiday is over. I wish they'd consider the fact that helium balloons often excape their owner's grasp and wind up in trees, tangled up and ugly. Or worse, they get tangled around a living creature who suffers and dies because it.

Re: Balloon Releases

esmeraldagooch — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 00:11:58 GMT

Well, if you don't like balloons or lanterns don't use them.

Re: Balloon Releases

proudlyfromNJ — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 00:40:06 GMT

Just seeing a few of your posts, I am glad I don't know you in real life Esmeralda

Re: Balloon Releases

Desertdi — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 01:06:27 GMT

Birthday balloon floated up to the electric transformer behind my house and knocked out the electricity in the whole neighborhood for hours........

Re: Balloon Releases

colliegirls — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 01:13:55 GMT

Here are some facts:

http://www.balloonrelease.com/faqs.htm

Re: Balloon Releases

esmeraldagooch — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 02:27:28 GMT

It's curious why this group is so quick to make rules for everyone to follow. What to eat, what do do for fun and now balloons? Do you enjoy bossing everyone around and setting all rules for every conceivable situation?

Re: Balloon Releases

esmeraldagooch — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 02:56:14 GMT

ProudlyinNJ, I have many friends with many points of view. I don't tell them what to believe and they don't either. This is a public forum, if you don't want to read any view but your own this is not the place for you.

Re: Balloon Releases

Mominohio — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:37:01 GMT

@esmeraldagooch wrote:
It's curious why this group is so quick to make rules for everyone to follow. What to eat, what do do for fun and now balloons? Do you enjoy bossing everyone around and setting all rules for every conceivable situation?

@esmeraldagooch

I think the point of this post was to point out just how dangerous it is to wildlife to have these balloons released. It is rather selfish to have a few minutes of pleasure watching balloons float off into the air, when you could be affecting at least two animals lives or health for each one sent up (assuming the string finds one animal and the balloon finds another).

Then there are the other complications that occur. Power interruptions, litter that could clog drains etc.

I guess what we have come to as a society is that people are stupid, and yes, have to often times be told what to do, because they aren't smart enough (or too selfish) to think ahead to the consequences of their actions.

Re: Balloon Releases

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:59:34 GMT

@esmeraldagooch wrote:
ProudlyinNJ, I have many friends with many points of view. I don't tell them what to believe and they don't either. This is a public forum, if you don't want to read any view but your own this is not the place for you.

Nobody is telling you what to believe. The fact of the matter is, releasing these balloons is dangerous to wildlife, etc. That's what is being pointed out here.

If you plain and simply don't care about that, then just admit it. Ignorance of the fact that it's harmful doesn't change the facts.

Re: Balloon Releases

esmerelda — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 14:16:14 GMT

Love finding them, especially with a note attached and follow up if I can. But agree their release is environmentally irresponsible.

Re: Balloon Releases

occasionalrain — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 14:27:52 GMT

I like to think that many are unaware of the impact balloon releases have on wildlife and the environment. Hopfully, informing them will cause some of them to stop but a law would stop most. It's unfortunate that people need laws, threats of fines, to behave responsibility.

Re: Balloon Releases

colliegirls — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 15:12:28 GMT

Are latex balloons biodegradable?
Yes, 100%. Latex is a natural product of rubber tree sap, it breaks down when exposed to the elements of nature.

How long does it take for a balloon to biodegrade?
Oxidation is the first step in the breakdown of a latex balloon and it begins within approximately one hour of inflation. Oxidation is
visible in some types of balloons as a cloudy appearance. This is most evident when the balloon is exposed to direct sunlight, heat or normal outdoor conditions.
Research was carried out in July 1989 with a variety of balloons under various conditions to accurately gauge the time needed for the latex to degrade. Results from this study indicate that the decomposition time for balloons is about the same rate as an oak leaf (6 months).

What happens when a balloon is released?
A scientific survey carried out in 1989 revealed that on release a balloon will float up to a height of approximately 5 miles and then it becomes brittle and shatters into miniscule pieces falling back to earth at a rate of circa one piece every 5 square miles. Problems can usually only arise if a balloon is not inflated properly or fully or is carrying too much weight and therefore does not reach the height at which shattering occurs.

Re: Balloon Releases

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 15:18:09 GMT

@esmeraldagooch wrote:
Well, if you don't like balloons or lanterns don't use them.

That attitude doesn't really help the people who lost power because the balloons hit a power line or the countless animals injured or killed by these balloons. You seem to have absolutely missed the point.

Re: Balloon Releases

Pearlee — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 15:27:56 GMT

It's for the benefit of the people releasing the balloons - to provide comfort to them for someone who has passed. It's the same reason people lay stuffed animals or other memorials at a crash site, or at someone's doorstep, or at the Gates of Kensington Palace (when Diana died). It has to be of some comfort to the person leaving whatever it is, or releasing the balloons.

I totally agree that they should find some more eco-friendly way of finding comfort than releasing balloons.