Mass Balloon release proposed ban in Portsmouth

[ashby_1963]

Great news that the councils are starting to use their power to achieve some good.
I think that as neither political party has a huge majority in the opinion polls at the moment, it forces the local MP's to take more notice of public opinion.

If the charities don't like the ban, despite being aware of the unquestionable environmental damage being caused, I would question their moral viewpoint!

Is there such a thing as a biodegradable balloon?

[solus]

I was absolutely horrified today on entering the Barnwood, Gloucester, branch of Sainsbury's to be confronted by a member of staff selling tickets for a Balloon Race for Comic Relief.
When we pointed out these things are a danger to the environment she handed us a piece of photocopied paper to read (she had been told to show it to "People like us" who objected!) which basically said that the balloons were latex, therefore natural and biodegradable! No mention of the fact that before they biodegrade marine life, farm animals and wildlife may have ingested them and suffer or die as a result.

I will be trying to contact the Comic Relief organisation to find out if they are aware of and approve of such methods of fund-raising - surely they cannot with one hand help to fund sustainable projects in one part of the World while, perhaps inadvertantly, helping to destroy other life nearer home?

[BloomingMarvellous]

Years ago none of us would of given this a second thought, but as one gets older and wiser we learn that all is not good. Can we now Ban Fireworks, can't even begin to imagine what the Wild Life go through on the 5th November.

[solus]

Don't start me on fireworks too! If it WAS just 5th November like in the old days when I was a child it wouldn't be so bad but now it can be any excuse, any day - in fact someone just down the road was letting the noisy things off yesterday evening: frightened me half to death!

I have now e-mailed Sainsbury's Head Office, the local branch (but had to guess at the e-mail address for that so it may not have got through), Comic Relief, the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and the Marine Conservation people. Of course, I'll just be labelled as an uncharitable, tree-hugging, grumpy, green loony and maybe I am, but I've been here long enough to see what our selfish, greedy and thoughtless society is busy doing to destroy the planet and its wonders as fast and effectively as possible. At least I will have tried to make a difference, even if no-body takes any notice.

If I receive any satisfactory responses, I'll let you know.... but don't hold your breath!

Signed: a PROUD tree-hugging, grumpy, green loony!