CHESHIRE WI RESOLUTION 2011THE ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 2011 Capenhurst & Ledsham WI THE HAZARDS OF CHINESE LANTERNS This meeting urges HM Government to ban the practice of releasing airborne 'Chinese Lanterns', in view of the hazard they pose to humans, animals and the environment. Chinese lanterns have been around since the 13th century, symbolising hope and good wishes in Chinese culture. Their profile was raised after the Bali bombings, when hundreds were released - as a memorial to those who were killed. Since then, their popularity in the West has risen. They are often released at weddings, parties - and even at funerals. The lanterns are made of a bamboo hoop with a thin paper bag attached, plus two diagonal wires, to which a candle/wax cell is attached. When the candle or wax cell is lit, the hot air rises and inflates the bag and then the lantern is released - to drift up into the sky. When released at night, they make a dramatic display! From the moment they are released, the problems begin. A burning candle, drifting in the air, can set fire to houses, trees, vegetation and standing crops. The summer of 2010 has seen them cause fires in fields of corn all over the country. When they are released near the coast, they can drift out over the sea. They are then often mistaken for distress flares, resulting in the emergency services being called out. After the candles have burnt out, the lanterns then make their indiscriminate descent to earth. Not only do they cause a major litter problem, but they are also a great danger to livestock. If a farmer fails to find all the lanterns that may land on his farm, they can get chopped up when silaging, resulting in short lengths of wire in winter livestock feed. There have been cases of cattle eating parts of the lanterns, which puncture their stomach, causing loss of the animal. Concern is growing in many quarters about this issue. In July 2009, the problems of Chinese lanterns were discussed on the 'Jeremy Vine Show' on Radio 2 and, in February 2010, Radio 4's 'Farming Today' covered the issue. The latter resulted in the matter being raised in both The House of Commons and in The House of Lords. National newspapers have also regularly featured articles, detailing some of the havoc that Chinese lanterns have caused all over the country, including house fires, crop fires and animal deaths. Last year, in 2009, the NFU called for a voluntary ban, which has evidently had little support. As the use of lanterns continues to increase, the NFU, together with the Women's Farming Union, are now calling for an outright ban. Chinese lanterns, or sky lanterns as they are sometimes called, are already banned in Australia and in some German states. The question has to be asked - 'Is the releasing of Chinese lanterns, just for a few minutes' spectacle, really worth it? The chaos, that they have the potential to create, surely outweighs the brief visual delight! For further information you may find the following websites useful: |
|
 |
 |
