Community Chat

[GingerPeach]

My child's school used to do this until they realized it was harmful.  This was back in the 80s that the school stopped.  Kudos to the school.  Too bad the word hasn't spread farther since then.

It's also kind of like throwing rice at weddings.  Now people use birdseed (if they are aware).

[Mominohio]

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@esmerelda wrote:

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

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I had a friend that used to send a balloon up on her son's birthday with his name and address (when he was little) and he got a card back a couple of time from people. He was thrilled and it was amazing how far the balloon had traveled. 

[hennypenny]

The idea itself is lovely. Releasing good thought to the "heavens". 

However------

It is extremely dangerous. Mylar baloons especially. They don't mix with electricity and can start fires.

Some cultures have prayer flags and wheels , a safer way to accomplish the same idea.

[ChynnaBlue]

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@colliegirls wrote:

Here are some facts:

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

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That's a site that is invested in the idea that releasing ballons is a safe thing for grieving families to do. Their "facts" are questionable because they are clearly biased in favor of balloon release based on emotions and not evidence.

Here's a newspaper article that refutes those "facts": http://thetandd.com/news/opinion/blogs/environmentally_challenged/balloon-releases-pose-risk-to-wild...

Here's some information from the EPA about trash and pollution, which ranks balloons as one of the most common types of debris: http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/coast/debris.htm

And here's a pamphlet from the Marine Conservation Society: http://www.mcsuk.org/downloads/pollution/dont%20let%20go.pdf

That one includes pictures of injured or dead animals tied up in strings from balloons, which the "facts" from the other website did not even mention.

[Nataliesgramma]

I don't think ballons are even allowed in Hospitals around here anymore.

Our neighbor's dog ate a piece of a rubber ballon and had to have surgery to remove it.

[colliegirls]

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@ChynnaBlue wrote:

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@colliegirls wrote:

Here are some facts:

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

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That's a site that is invested in the idea that releasing ballons is a safe thing for grieving families to do. Their "facts" are questionable because they are clearly biased in favor of balloon release based on emotions and not evidence.

Here's a newspaper article that refutes those "facts": http://thetandd.com/news/opinion/blogs/environmentally_challenged/balloon-releases-pose-risk-to-wild...

Here's some information from the EPA about trash and pollution, which ranks balloons as one of the most common types of debris: http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/coast/debris.htm

And here's a pamphlet from the Marine Conservation Society: http://www.mcsuk.org/downloads/pollution/dont%20let%20go.pdf

That one includes pictures of injured or dead animals tied up in strings from balloons, which the "facts" from the other website did not even mention.

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If you read the entire article, you would read that they recommend printing a message on the balloon, so no attached notes, and not using string.

The plastic holders around small soda bottles are much more common and dangerous to wildlife than the amount of balloons released.

[occasionalrain]

That something is worse is irrelevant and dosen't change the fact that balloon releases are bad. Bad for wildlife and bad for the environment. 

The are not necessary, just light a candle and sing Amazing Grace or say a prayer, or contribute to an animal shelter...

[colliegirls]

Feel free to tell the bereaved what to do.

[occasionalrain]

All of us have been bereaved at some time in our lives, it doesn't give us a pass to foul the planet or kill innocent creatures.

Some people want to use their loss to get attention, a public show. To me that is tasteless.

[Irshgrl31201]

http://balloonsblow.org/latex-balloons-still-kill

Sorry, latex balloons stay around for years and absolutely ARE dangerous to wildlife.