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AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP has welcomed the cancellation of a planned balloon release by an autism charity.
Cork Autism Society had planned to release balloons into the air this Sunday, but have now cancelled the release – if not the event – after protests from the Friends of the Irish Environment.
The FIE said that balloons released into the environment burst and become lethal ‘marine debris’, creating a hazard for sea turtles, dolphins, whales, fish, and seabirds who mistake them for jellyfish or other prey.
Marian Courtney of Cork Autism Society told TheJournal.ie she has written to the FIE saying that event has been “slightly altered”.
Instead of a release, the balloons, which are tied to participant’s wrist during this Sunday’s 6km ‘fun run’ and walk, will instead be taken home by the participants.
“We’re delighted with the prompt response from Cork Autism Society,” FIE Director Tony Lowes told TheJournal.ie.
It’s very good of them, and they were very quick. I’m sure if people knew about the effects of these balloons, they wouldn’t plan releases.
“We find that important people don’t realise there’s an adverse side to it.”
No-brainer
“The balloons travel and rise across long distances, and they generally land in the ocean, and they break up into fragments which can last in the ocean for up to a year,” he added.
They look like a prey of some kind to turtles and to seabirds. Their stomachs fill up with plastic, and they feel like they’re fill, they don’t eat, and they starve to death.
“Plastic is a worldwide problem, but we still see balloon releases planned for events, and it’s a no-brainer.”
The FIE also called on the Government to define balloons as litter, making their outdoor releases illegal.
A previous protest by the FIE caused a balloon release planned for the January 2013 opening of the Irish EU Presidency to be re-arranged from a general balloon release to a ‘secure balloon release’.
Participants in this Sunday’s run can register online at www.corkautism.ie. The walk will start at the old Railway Line near Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork City, and travel along the River Lee estuary to Blackrock Castle.
Entry is €15 for adults, €5 for children and free with a sponsorship card via c.walsh@corkautism.ie
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Why is lethal in inverted commas?! These balloons are lethal too many animals and sea creatures.
It’s in inverted commas because it is an assertion made by one side of the argument and it doesn’t have to be blindly accepted as fact, because we don’t live in North Korea and we are allowed to challenge attached.
*to challenge assertions.
@Nael: But the environmentalists made their opinion known and you shouldn’t question it. The safety of animals > the joy of autistic people.
Why do you think that there are too many animals and sea creatures. Are you proposing a cull?
Surely the point is that you can bring joy to autistic people in another way that doesn’t involve potentially harming wildlife?
If releasing balloons was the only thing that made autistic children happy, you might have a point, but it isn’t.
These things have a bad history of going very wrong, not just for animals.. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balloonfest_%2786
some people find balloons erotic.
A real shame for the kids who were probably so looking forward to it. But as long as the environmentalists are happy I suppose that’s the main thing.
So long as their enjoyment doesn’t kill animals is really the main thing.
Oh yeah, a real shame that a huge risk to wildlife has been averted.
A risk to wildlife my hole. Believe that and I’ll tell you another.
Explain the sea turtles found with them in their stomachs. Explain the birds found with the strings wrapped so tightly around their beaks that they end up starving to death.
What goes up must come down.
It’s mass littering, plain and simple.
I’m sure the kids would be delighted to find out that their brief 5 mis of enjoyment could result in the deaths of birds and marine animals. If there is one thing all children love it’s killing animals.
Or, you know, it could be explained to them that litter is detrimental to the environment and not to do it.
Watson and his ilk are so brain washed that it has, in their minds, become a bad thing to give a shit about wildlife, and any curtailment of even the most unnecessary pollution is deemed to be some kind of left wing lunacy.
Says the dope that believes in sky fairies.
What do you do Watson, pray away your litter?
Well I’ve seen it all now!
get out more, john…
Says the guy hiding behind a poor ‘humorous’ name and a picture of a remote control!
poor? i’ve loads of money, m8…
You ain’t no m8 of mine
Which debating society do you gentlemen attend?
john is in the ‘all round nice guy’ society – his words, m8
Allegedly*
Anyone else humming 99 Red Balloons…..
I reckon a balloon tax is the only solution
It’s great there’s an event to highlight autism… Now.. Whats the relevance of young girls posing like models? Why are there no boys in the photo?- (Autism affects boys 4 to 1)
I would imagine baloons represent a very tiny fraction of all the hazardous materials humans dump into the sea so while we are at it lets ban everything which cpuld concievably end up in the sea….
But represent a large fraction of hazards to marine mammals & marine reptiles.
Releasing rubbish into the air to land in the sea & countryside later serves no useful purpose.
Ah, the old we-should-do-nothing-because-we-cant-do-everything argument. Illogic 101.
Thy should use balloon chains instead, that way everyone’s happy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5EhJa5PZQs
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