Balloons.... There have been a number of posts....

[Bigmack]

on DU about banning balloons.

Here's an article about how damaging even the rubber balloons - let alone the mylar type - can be.

Yeah, I know... now they're coming after your balloons.

Gaddam right!
- - - - -
http://cawsf.org/Floating_Menace.pdf

Floating Menace

The impacts of latex balloons on wildlife-both terres-
trial and aquatic-appear profound, but fortunately they are also
preventable.

Researchers agree that ingested balloons and balloon frag-
ments can potentially harm any species of wildlife. But bighorn
sheep may be particularly at risk because of the way they eat
and digest food. Bighorn sheep have the same digestive system
as cows, goats, domestic sheep and other cud-chewing animals.
They eat only plants, and have a specialized four-chambered
stomach which extracts nutrients from indigestible plant materi-
als.

....a DFG associate wildlife biologist removed enough balloons from one of the chambers of a bighorn's stomach to fill a plastic bag. Next page: An investigation of
this deceased bighorn sheep showed the animal had swallowed plastic
balloon strings while their other ends remained entangled in the sheep's
mandible and teeth.

...Everyone can enjoy balloons without risk to wildlife by following some
simple suggestions:

• Consider filling balloons with air
instead of helium to reduce the
distance they travel.
• Do not release balloons outdoors.
• Attach weights to balloon strings or
secure them tightly to solid objects.
• Use natural biodegradable, cotton
string to tie balloons.
• Dispose of balloons after the celebra-
tion with a balloon-popping contest.
• Take the initiative and dispose of
balloons that have been discarded in
the environment.
• Some schools and businesses cel-
ebrate by displaying or releasing
scores of balloons. Make an effort to
discourage the practice and suggest
alternative decorations.
• Share this information whenever
possible.

[Warpy]

1. Please stop bringing them to people in the hospital

No matter what you tie them to in the person's room, the goddamned things are in the way of every single person who is trying to help the patient get better. We're constantly getting tangled up in the ties trying to get to the person. Cutting them in an emergency does little good since the helium generally migrates out enough to keep the stupid things at eye level after the first day or so.

Bring cards, we can tape those to the board we write our names on. Bring flowers, if you must, they can be stashed on a high shelf and out of the way, but where the patient can see them.

Just stop bringing those fucking balloons. Please. I don't care how festive you think they are. Being sick enough to be in the hospital is not a festive occasion. Leave the stupid balloons for his birthday party.

[progressoid]

4. They should stop selling them in hospital gift shops too.

[snagglepuss]

2. k & r nt

[GoCubsGo]

3. I'm all for it.

I have found balloons out in the middle of nowhere, miles away from any home, school or business. I have found many of them over the years, both mylar and latex/rubber, often with long lengths of curling ribbon attached to them. It's bad enough we dump our trash everywhere, but we don't need to be sending it airborne. I cringe every time I see people letting loose bunches of balloons, because I know what happens to them. Like that article points out, it ain't pretty.

[lonestarnot]

5. Why do we do anything that ruins the environment? Why?

[handmade34]

6. money

monied interests successfully market those things to us... we pay the external costs and the corporations, businesses, get a free ride

we need to wise up as citizens of this earth, as consumers, as community members

[lonestarnot]

7. I'm wised up. I see nothing changing.

[handmade34]

8. not you

I know you are wise! it is the others ;-)

[lonestarnot]

9. LOL

:hug: