100 signatures reached
To: UK Government
Ban Balloons and make the release of helium balloons illegal
In view of the huge call to release millions of helium balloons after the passing of Alfie Evan's, we call on the government to ban the sale of balloons and make it illegal to release helium balloons into the environment. There needs to be so much more awareness and action taken by the government on the use of single-use plastic in view of today's events.
Why is this important?
Balloons are hazards when they enter the environment. All released balloons, whether they are released intentionally or not, return to Earth as ugly litter – including those marketed as “biodegradable latex”. Balloons kill countless animals and cause dangerous power outages. They can travel thousands of miles and pollute the most remote and pristine places.
Balloons return to the land and sea where they can be mistaken for food and eaten by animals. Sea turtles, dolphins, whales, fish and birds have been reported with balloons in their stomachs and ribbons and strings can lead to entanglement, causing death.The long-term impact of the million ballons recently released worldwide will be devastating - please make such a practice illegal so it never happens again.
Balloons return to the land and sea where they can be mistaken for food and eaten by animals. Sea turtles, dolphins, whales, fish and birds have been reported with balloons in their stomachs and ribbons and strings can lead to entanglement, causing death.The long-term impact of the million ballons recently released worldwide will be devastating - please make such a practice illegal so it never happens again.
