Tradition and Respect: Wading into the Fireworks Debate for New Year’s Eve

Some things in life are unavoidable… death, taxes, and… the debate over fireworks.

The origins of pyrotechnics that light up the sky and make a fair bit of noise go back to China in the 2nd century B.C., though in the beginning they were little more than exploding pockets of gas inside bamboo sticks tossed on a fire. It took over 800 years, until the invention of gunpowder, when Chinese alchemists created the first versions of what we know today as fireworks, that shoot up into the sky and explode in colour and sound. It would be another 400 years before fireworks made their way to Europe, and the rest is history.

Fireworks are —for many— a fond memory of childhood and community gatherings, celebrating days of national independence and of course, the ringing in of the New Year. But like a lot of things from “the good old days,” for lots of other people, and animals, those days weren’t as good as we remember. As society evolved, we’ve come to recognize that what was good “back then” had repercussions that weren’t recognized or valued.

There is no question that some people are disturbed, some very deeply, from fireworks displays. By design, they are intended to be sky-filling events that can be seen from far and wide. This also means they’re not easy to escape, particularly their sound. Some municipalities explicitly ban fireworks displays in certain areas of town: near gas stations, seniors’ complexes, and farms.

Anyone who has experienced significant trauma, such as those who have experienced war (veterans, refugees, victims of violence), can have a reaction to fireworks that strikes terror into their being. In the 20th and 21st Centuries, the spread of warfare created untold numbers of traumatized persons. In the Great Wars, we can now look back and see how society treated soldiers suffering from “shell shock“, who were ostracized, called cowards, and who suffered enormously. Understanding and acceptance of their trauma took decades to be officially recognized, and even longer for society as a whole to come to terms with its own reaction to that knowledge.

Societies… groups of people who can act anonymously or who are buoyed by people who share their views, however wrong they may be, can be terribly cruel.

And so it is with the contemporary discussion around fireworks. The greater portion of society enjoys the spectacle, the sound, the shared community experience of viewing them together. So why are there growing calls for fireworks to just fade away?

Beyond the effects of these events on persons suffering psychological trauma, the most commonly mentioned victims of fireworks events are animals, both domestic, commercial and wild. In Nova Scotia, a group of people working to change the laws around these displays says animals are not given enough consideration:

Fireworks terrify wildlife, causing them to run blindly, often into traffic (creating a danger not only to themselves but also to drivers and passengers). Fireworks can frighten birds to death, and can cause such disorientation to animals that mothers will not return to their nests or dens, leaving their young defenceless to predators or starvation.

Animals suffer and die for our fifteen minutes of “entertainment”. You may be aware of many stories in the news following fireworks events regarding pets who have run off, not to be found for days (and some never to be found at all). You may also have heard about the horse, Navar, who had to be euthanized as a result of fireworks on New Year’s eve. This is the kind of fear and panic that all fireworks displays cause (Fireworks Hurt!)

In the UK, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers alternatives to fireworks displays as ways to celebrate while taking care of animals that might be affected:

• Light shows, using lasers / LED installations or Drone displays
• Music events – outdoor concerts
• Wildlife / nature events – night-time nature walks, stargazing parties
• Community gatherings – bonfires, games, storytelling
• Lantern parades (secured to poles, carried by participants)
• Virtual events to reach those who cannot leave their homes to attend in-person

The RSPCA also offers suggestions for pet owners to help mitigate the effects of nearby fireworks events.

The sudden loud noises and bright flashing lights are very frightening to some animals. Every year, the RSPCA receives hundreds of calls about animals distressed by fireworks. It’s estimated that 45 percent of dogs show signs of fear when they hear the explosions. Some animals, including horses and livestock, end up injured - or tragically even lose their life - from getting spooked by the fireworks.

Those who own horses and other commercial animals that may be affected by the sudden noises that accompany fireworks can take steps to help their animals cope, such as playing loud music and accompanying them for the duration of the event. But that only works for scheduled events… there’s no way to cope with neighbours who get into the spirit of the celebration and light fireworks nearby.

There’s another factor to consider when it comes to fireworks: the environmental impact. Beyond the potential (depending on circumstances) for fireworks to contribute to forest / property / house fires, the longer-term damage of chemical pollution is now being studied in-depth.

Chemicals from fireworks do not just disappear into thin air. When burned and exposed to oxygen, substances undergo a chemical reaction called combustion. This chemical reaction produces two results: Short-lived entertainment and toxic atmospheric pollutants. 

The temporary enjoyment of fireworks releases a host of contaminants that affect air quality and can contribute to climate change, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter. 

During the five-day celebration of Diwali in India – the world-famous festival of lights – about 50,000 tons, or 100 million pounds, of fireworks explode, causing a toxic haze to cover cities. 

Toxic hazes, also known as particle pollution, are created by particulate matter (PM), a combination of minuscule solid and liquid substances found in the air and considered the most hazardous air pollutant due to its ability to affect people’s lungs and heart, along with causing environmental damage. In the case of India, PM found in the country’s air increased up to 35 times on celebration days when fireworks were present compared to normal days (Earth.org)

So — all of this taken into consideration… what do we do about fireworks? There are compelling reasons to seek alternatives, but all have tradeoffs. There’s no denying the broad cultural appreciation for fireworks displays, particularly those organized by municipalities to celebrate particular holidays. Less strong is the support for the individual use of fireworks, even on private property, given that the effects of their use do not stop at the property border. Sound and pollution travel. Neither can owners of horses and other animals take any mitigating measures when fireworks are set off without warning.

Any discussion about whether fireworks should be cancelled / banned inevitably ends up in argument, particularly when the debate happens on social media. Whenever age-old traditions come up against people seeking change, or some kind of accommodation, hackles are raised and neither side tends to listen very much. It is precisely that listening, the willingness to hear the other side of the argument and seek a middle ground, that can make a community a good place to live…. or the opposite.

When you come across this issue on your social media feed, please consider the person who is expressing an opinion in contrary to your own. Don’t like fireworks? Help others understand why, constructively. Love fireworks? Take the time to understand why others don’t… and then talk about it. Nicely.

Happy New Year, everyone!

---

For those who are unable to attend Oxford’s 8:00pm fireworks display, or who prefer to view fireworks on the internet, the Amherst fireworks show will happen at 6:00pm — you can view it via their facebook page here.