Fireworks Polls Show People and Charities Want a Ban on the Sales of Fireworks to the Public – Countrywide.

We’ve looked into polls around the country and what the people want. On average, around 85% of us want a ban on sales of fireworks to the public. And have been saying so for at least 20 years! And many charities are also calling for it.

All across the nation, poll after poll, people are fed up of fireworks and want sales to the public to be banned. We know they’re cruel, are a nuisance and that they are harmful for people, animals and the environment. You can see below that veteran, PTSD and other charities, as well as animal charities are asking for change too. So why is the government so out of touch and not doing anything? And the question now is not if we want them banned but why, in a democracy, are they not doing what the people and charities want? What is the real issue here and what is going on?

Write to your MP, share this blog and ask them. And ask who will put forward a Private Member’s Bill to get this through. Or if you have an MP who is in the government (see list here), particularly the Department of Business and Trade, please ask that they do what the people want. Now! You can sign the latest petition too.

Here is just a list of some recent polls that have come up in the last few days (Nov 2023), up and down and across the country:

• The Mirror has polled readers. 87% want them banned
• Nottinghamshire Live asked the same question of should the sale of them be banned to the public. A resounding 87% said YES they want them banned.
• Leicestershire Live again, same questions. 88% said they want them banned in public sales

• Manchester Evening News says 90% want them banned
• Wales Online says 75% want the sales banned to the public
• Lancs Live, 91% want a ban in sales to the public
• Surrey Live, saying 78% want a ban in sales to the public
• The Martin Lewis poll we shared in a recent blog showed 73% of 56,000 polled
• MyLondon has 78% wanting a country wide ban
• LondonLovesBusiness reports on a poll done by RIFT, which shows that 78% want a ban
• Combat Stress and Help for Heroes did a poll of veterans and “74% of the veterans surveyed want to see the days and times when fireworks can be set off to be restricted further; whilst 67% want a reduction in the overall number of days fireworks can be sold to the public.”

Many people can feel concerned they would be ruining other peoples’ fun. Not so. The people are behind this, clearly. It is unambiguous. It’s outdated and inappropriate for any politician to say that banning fireworks ruins other’s fun, when clearly it is anything but fun for the majority. And it isn’t new. People have been polled over the years and have been saying the same thing as far back and further than 2006.

• In 2006, in the Bolton News, a poll said 77% wanted a ban.
• In 2016, Northumberland Gazette shows a 94% wanted a ban
• In 2019, North Wales Live polled 11,400 and 73% wanted a ban
• In 2020, Heart FM had done a poll and 72% of listeners wanted the same
• In 2021, The Mirror also did a poll and 90% wanted them banned
• In the 2021 parliamentary debate, when there were over 305,000 petition signatures, Elliot Colburn said he polled his constituents and out of 75,000, 89% wanted a ban on sales!

We seem so proud of our democracy, of our care for animals and people – and yet the people in parliament are not doing what we, the people are asking them to do. It’s time to ask, why is this not happening and how do we make this happen? To write to MPs, demand it of them. Complete every petition and keep writing. With recent reports of fireworks firing into crowds by accident and being used as weapons, some MPs are calling for change.

They may be concerned we’ll not want it. The opposite. The vast majority of us will be jumping for joy. So write to them and let them know so. And if they are worried about a black market, the polls indicate there won’t be much of a market wanting them anyway!

We wanted to call out quotes from some of the many charities demanding change. The Combat Stress and Help the Heroes article regarding their survey. It is wrong this goes on and isn’t stopped for the people that protect us, while the majority of the public are supportive of change. Out of respect for our service men and women as we approach 11th November, when sadly more fireworks will go off and cause distress.

“Ex-RAF serviceman Matt Neve, who has been diagnosed with PTSD, generalised anxiety disorder and depression, all attributable to his service, said: “One of my main roles was the loading and unloading of those that had been injured or killed in order to repatriate them. Unfortunately, PTSD developed from this, a trigger of which is sudden loud noise, flashes of light or explosions, as well as certain smells. So imagine what it’s like when these are combined in a small package set off by your neighbour. You physically shake with fear, sweat, and become so agitated that you don’t know what to do. Imagine what it’s like to get out your car just as a firework is set off and you grab your daughter and dive to the ground for cover because you thought you were back in a war zone. Imagine how embarrassing it is to accidentally wet yourself in front of your family, because that young idiot down the road launches fireworks at or near your house, or to be scared to leave your house in the evening in the weeks leading up to Bonfire Night and New Year. All of the above is what happens and has happened to me. It’s a reality of living with PTSD.”

James Needham, CEO of Help for Heroes, said: “Veterans tell us the sudden noises, flashes and smells caused by fireworks can leave them feeling nervous and fearful. Some can feel overwhelmed, others may be reminded of moments in combat and past traumatic events. That is why we are calling upon the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to commission an independent review of the current legislation, and to consider tighter restrictions on fireworks sales in England and Wales.”

Jacqui Suttie, Founder and CEO of PTSD UK says, “When you have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD or C-PTSD), any loud or sudden noise can be a trigger, leading to flashbacks, uncontrollable shaking, panic attacks, heart palpations and many other physical and emotional symptoms. That linked with the other symptoms of PTSD and C-PTSD such as exaggerated startle response, fear of sound (phonophobia), aversion to specific sounds (misophonia), and a difficulty in tolerance and volume of sounds that would not be considered loud by normal hearing individuals (hyperacusis) means firework ‘season’ in October and November or around festivals such as Diwali, New Year and Chinese New Year can be a hugely traumatic time for people with PTSD and C-PTSD.”

RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Battersea, British Veterinary Association, Cats Protection, Children’s Burns Trust, The Kennel Club, Combat Stress, PTSD UK, Dan’s Fund for Burns and Help for Heroes are all campaigning for change and spoke to MPs in November 2022. Still no change. 5 debates in parliament, with 6 petitions over 100,000 signatures. Why?

If you want change and would like to support our veterans among so many others, DON’T GIVE UP. The government will have to listen. If not this, then the next. This could be a vote influencer in the next election. If you want to bring about change, you aren’t the only one. Most of the population agree.

• Sign and share petitions. This is a the current one for 2023.
• Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year, reduce the sound and ban the sale to the public. Or you can use the RSPCA template. There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry, polls all confirming what the people want – and the Government, in particular the Department of Business and Trade, who reviews the petition, needs to listen. Kemi Badenoch is the head of that department and MP for Saffron Waldon
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. 
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to, at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read and share more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on pet owners, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, how even Christmas is no longer a time of peace and why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.

Martin Lewis did a poll a few days ago asking, “Should fireworks be allowed to be sold for private (non organised display) use? … Many supermarkets no longer sell fireworks over safety concerns but private individuals can buy them elsewhere.” This is a broad mix of people who follow him, so a good, generic mix. 56,409 people responded. The results?

73% voted to “ban sales”. Only 27% wanted to “allow sales”. Out of 56,409 people!

This is not surprising. We’ve seen it in many polls over the years. Fireworks are no longer occasional. They’re allowed every day of the year until 11pm and some days until 1am. And they do go off any day of the year. They’re noisy, disturb the peace for many and are detrimental, damaging and deadly for many others, as we’ve covered in so many of our fireworks blogs. Why we’re not surprised?

Because we’ve had a massive 5 debates in parliament because 6 petitions reached over 100,000 signatures. Also over 1 million people have signed the change.org petition. Elliot Colburn, MP, said at the last debate, that he polled his constituents. 75,000 answered and 89% supported a complete ban of sales to the public. This is the current government petition to sign. We’re going to look into this more. But the question is this:

Why – when so many issues can get swiftly put through by the government to change laws, with far fewer or any petitions from the people – are these continually ignored? And the usual patter that they think they are used responsibly. What is going on? Why are the people not listened to?

Why not email your MP and ask them. Share this blog and ask if they can help. We’d be delighted to hear their thoughts.

The trouble is, if you look at the law, they’re used according to it a lot of the time. That’s because the law is so incredibly loose – any day of the year until 11pm – and is not up-to-date with a society which can get hold of them easily and at low cost. No wonder the government can say they’re used accordingly! You can hear some close by, that wake you in the night. If it’s before 11pm (when most have gone to bed), but you’re still asleep, the law allows that. Huh? Don’t we always read of the health benefits of sleep? If they are after that time, are you able to get out of bed, in your jim jams (!), run round all the houses and identify which house in probably miles around you, let it off? Really…?

With so many debates, so many petitions, the government could be hoping the public will go quiet. And this is a challenge. Why, when you signed 6 petitions and they didn’t come to anything, would you keep doing so? It’s like children to a cruel parent. Like Oliver Twist asking for more porridge but being repeatedly turned down. Is that what they hope will happen? Don’t we talk proudly of our democratic system, around the world? What kind of democracy is this? What kind of society allows people, animals and the environment to be continually punished – and when clearly the majority want change?

If you want change, DON’T GIVE UP. The government will have to listen. If not this, then the next. This could be a vote influencer in the next election. You are not in a minority. The opposite. If you want to bring about change, you aren’t the only one. Most of the population agree.

• Sign and share petitions. This is a the current one for 2023.
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the Government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public. Or you can use the RSPCA template
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. 
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to, at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read and share more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on pet owners, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, how even Christmas is no longer a time of peace and why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.

The impact of fireworks going off randomly in this country has such a broad impact. We’ve tried to cover some of those impacted by fireworks in our blogs, including some with PTSD, war veterans, those with assistance dogs, as well as the devastating impact on wildlife and the environment. Fireworks – and their increasing and random use, along with an outdated and loose legislation that allows them every day of the year in the UK – are not inclusive and out of date in a modern society that respects the different needs of members of its society. What we’d like to highlight in this blog is the substantial impact on lifestyle and mental health for pet owners – while a few people who randomly set off fireworks ‘have fun’.

According to the RSPCA, fireworks are ‘bang out of order and frighten animals’ and they say that “Fireworks can be a source of fear and distress for many animals – in particular the sudden, loud noises. For example, it is estimated that 45 percent of dogs show signs of fear when they hear fireworks, and a New Zealand survey recorded 79 percent of horses as either anxious or very anxious around fireworks over the Guy Fawkes period. Animals affected not only suffer psychological distress but can also cause themselves injuries – sometimes very serious ones – as they attempt to run or hide from the noise.”

According to the PDSA, 53% of UK adults own a pet. So that’s over half the adult population – 10s of millions, who have pets and are likely impacted in some way. Even if one is lucky enough to have a pet that is not anxious, this can change swiftly if he/she is exposed to fireworks very loudly, suddenly and without their owner present for example. And so for many pet owners, they have to change their lifestyle patterns substantially in the winter months, when fireworks may go off as soon as it is dark. And particularly for the month around Guy Fawkes and Diwali (as, yes it is on-going and no longer just one or two nights), as well as New Year and increasingly, sadly Christmas. Due to the lack of tight legislation in the UK, fireworks can go off any day of the year, without warning – just because someone wants to celebrate a wedding, a birthday, a festival – with fireworks. They have become a nuisance and should be acknowledged so by changes to the law.

Examples of lifestyle impact and how the ‘fun’ of some causes stress for others and restricts their own rights:

• A limitation on their right to walk when they want to: Many dog owners won’t go out after dark, particularly in the months around October/November and Christmas and New Year. One owner reports walking home on Christmas Day one year and almost being pulled over by their dog – as fireworks randomly went off. If you have a nervous dog, they could bolt and you may lose them. Or an anxious one made worse by going off when one randomly goes off. This means it impacts visiting friends, going out etc as well as the right to walk when you want to – and is extremely restrictive
• Many can’t go out while those letting off fireworks can: Most pet owners need to stay indoors to comfort their pets. This applies also to pets not distressed, as they can become so if left alone. Owners have to do a whole series of things, such as closing curtains, letting the dog out before the fireworks go off, providing any medication that might help, putting on calming coats etc, as well as loud or calm music. This goes on night after night, week after week. And it often impacts new year plans, general social engagements but also important events such as visiting a sick relative. One is torn between caring for the pet and for a loved one
• Simple events become stressful: Trying to work out when it is safe to let your pet out pre going to bed is incredibly difficult. Again, the random nature of fireworks use in the UK means no time is safe once it is dark. Even if you have a pet that is OK with them, if you let them off when a neighbour lets off a firework in their garden, you could well end up with a continually distressed pet, or one that bolts and injures themselves. One small charity this year posted on Facebook, asking people to update their dogs’ microchips. They alone – one small charity had 15 dogs come into them during fireworks last year, due to them bolting out of fear
• A whole list of things are bought to try to ease the pet’s distress: A lot of money is spent on things like calming tablets, actual medication from vets, thunder jackets, diffuser sprays, collars. For pet owners, seeing your pet in such obvious distress is heartbreaking and they will do anything to try to help. But these come at a cost
• Some owners watch on-going distress and behavioural impact: I remember speaking to a neighbour whose dog was so scared during and after fireworks, that she wouldn’t go out to do her business. This meant sadly, that the owner had nights and nights around the time – and for a long time after, when they had to clear up continually after their pet. For many owners, it is incredibly distressing, having to watch your pet absolutely trembling in fear – and having tried everything being unable to do anything about it. It is absolutely devastating to watch.

All of these have an emotional and mental health impact on owners.

• Distress: It is heartbreaking and distressing for an owner to see their pet, despite best efforts, trembling, hiding, running upstairs, or even bolting and getting lost. The distress to an owner is immense. And is definitely not ‘fun’. And we are talking about this happening for millions of people up and down the country, for weeks and months on end
• Death of pet: For some owners, they have had to suffer the distress of losing their pet. Many pets die each year, from heart attacks due to the anguish, or from bolting and running into something. This is devastating for an owner, particularly as it is unnecessary
• Anxiety: For many owners, the whole period becomes a very anxious time. The stress of seeing a loved one in distress, having to prepare, cancel or balance out plans… Plus, if one is already living with a mental health or other condition, this can exacerbate and make things dreadful
• Isolation and loneliness: Needing to stay home to keep their pets safe can for some, feel isolating and so the ‘fun’ of others can actually cause loneliness and isolation for many

The question here, is why are the needs of such a broad percentage of the population ignored, at the expense of the few who want to randomly let them off in their gardens? Why does our government continually chant that the rules don’t need changing, when clearly millions of people are adversely affected? And they sign petitions, write to their MPs and demand change.

If you want to bring about change, you aren’t the only one.

• Sign and share petitions. This is a recent one for 2023.
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the Government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public. Or you can use the RSPCA template
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. 
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to, at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read and share more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, how even Christmas is no longer a time of peace and why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.

Two themes ran throughout the fabulous Coronation Concert:

1. Diversity and Inclusion

2. Consideration for our natural world

Diversity and Inclusion

The concert was a wonderful display of reality showing that we are, and always have been, a diverse range of people. Within this diversity are people with varying reactions to fireworks. Some people love them but for some who have PTSD, autism, dementia, hyperacusis and for some children, they are incredibly distressing. For people with sensory issues or autism the unexpected loud noise and flashes of fireworks can cause anxiety and stress.

What the Royal Family did, by minimizing fireworks, was to INCLUDE those people to be able to both attend and hear the concert if they were living nearby. The drones that were used were so incredibly powerful at depicting messages and were far more gentle, so much more creative and interesting.

We wrote a blog on why fireworks are not inclusive and outdated in a modern society, if you want to read more.

Caring for our Natural World

The other strong theme throughout is that we need to look after, and be considerate of, our planet and the natural world. What better way to highlight that than in the use of gentle, quiet drones which were beautiful, creative and impactful. Not toxic, loud fireworks which would distress any animals nearby – birds in the trees, animals in the gardens as well as wildlife and pets in the surrounding areas.

This is why we are so proud and grateful to the Royal Family for setting the example of diversity and inclusion, concern for the natural world and highlighting this with the considerate use of drones.

It’s a strong message to government to consider changing the laws around fireworks to become a more inclusive society, one that cares for the natural world.

To those who want change, we say, please keep going. The momentum is there with the signatures and the charities now pushing. Keep signing and sharing petitions, write to your MP, write to your local council, share blogs like these so that more people know others share their views. 

• Sign and share petitions.
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the Government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public. Or you can use the RSPCA template
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. 
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, how even Christmas is no longer a time of peace and why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.

As a society today, versus say 15, 30 or 50 years ago, there is a higher awareness of the need to include different people – and certainly not to exclude them. Companies, universities and organisations have DE&I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) as key objectives within their cultures – and a lot of time and effort is spent on this. Even wider society is now more acknowledging of differences, that we are none of us the same. There is no ‘normal’, as everyone has a set of different preferences, needs, challenges and illnesses they are living with. These are often unseen.

Many people are adversely affected by fireworks and yet society does not include their needs in the lack of regulation we have around fireworks. I remember a lady who got in touch with us, whose husband is a war veteran. He almost died in combat and she finds it so distressing to see him go clammy and shake when fireworks go off. The sounds, the smells all trigger the distress. A young man who was involved in an explosion at a building. Every time fireworks go off, it reminds him of the blast and triggers the fear, the distress of a former traumatic experience.

The examples are never-ending and on different scales and to different degrees. For those that don’t suffer anxiety but find that when they go off day after day – as they did over Christmas and New Year last year in some areas – that the relentless nature of the bangs starts to become stressful. For pet owners it becomes a dreaded and upsetting event, watching their animals terrified. Frankly something as simple as needing to let them go out and do their business becomes a nightmare as you never know when one will go off, night after night. Trying to work out the best time to do it becomes like navigating a minefield. I know one lady whose dog is so scared she won’t go outside and so does her business inside the house – even for days after fireworks. The distress of the pet is one also passed onto the caring pet owner.

I have met people who are scared of fireworks and won’t go out at night over the winter months in case they go off, others who don’t like the noise. I heard from a mother whose daughter screams and asks for them to stop and can’t sleep because of them. Babies awoken from their sleep. Some people with autism, dementia, hyperacusis, PTSD, people who come to the UK from war zones such as Ukraine as well as those who simply want peace and quiet as they battle with other challenges of life. Why do so many people have to live like this?

What I have heard from people, such as the lady whose husband trembles in fear every time fireworks go off, is that they ‘don’t want to ruin other people’s fun’. I hear it so often. The people who suffer are concerned about those having fun. And yet I don’t hear many of the people ‘having fun’ considering their impact on those who suffer distress. It just seems totally wrong, totally outdated in a society where you can complain if your neighbour makes noise, where there is an appreciation that noise is distressing, that people should consider the needs of neighbours and yet the insane, out-of-date laws around fireworks, don’t include the needs of the so many for whom fireworks are frankly no fun at all. A neighbour having a party affects a few neighbours, the law supports us with that, but fireworks affect hundreds and thousands of people as the thundering bangs carry such a long way.

It’s simply NOT inclusive as a society to expect people as mentioned above to have to suffer, literally suffer, as the result of other people’s actions. Not when there is an easy solution to prevent it. It’s outdated and it belongs to the era of 50 or 100 years ago, not to today.

We have had debates in parliament over and over again. The MPs have put up good arguments that cross the needs of different people, animals and the environment. The government simply does not listen. But in a democratic society, governments do need to listen. They do need to be inclusive and should not allow the rights of a few to disturb the peace and calm of so many around them.

Sadly, it’s the weekend of November 5th and yet fireworks will continue around the country over the coming months. To those who want change we say please keep going. The momentum is there with the signatures and the charities now pushing. Keep signing and sharing petitions, write to your MP, write to your local council, share blogs like these so that more people know others share their views. 

• Sign and share petitions. This fireworks petition ends in Dec 2022 and is a recent one, so please sign and share to show support for those in society who have often stayed quiet about their pain
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the Government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public. Or you can use the RSPCA template
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. 
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, how even Christmas is no longer a time of peace and why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.

According to the BBC this week, “Countries must re-prioritise climate change or the world faces catastrophe, the UN chief has told BBC News.” After a summer of extreme heat, drought and wild-fires in the UK and around the world, it is totally bewildering, that people still let off fireworks in their gardens – when this is a small change people can make, to do their bit for the environment. You can smell the chemicals, the toxins from them – the same day and the day after. The toxins are in our gardens, countryside, they go into the soil, the air and into our streams and lakes.

We wrote a blog all about the chemicals, the waste in fireworks, 3 years ago. “We can either carry on how we are and destroy the planet and cause lots of suffering for humans and animals or we can radically change the way we live – across all areas of life – and have a chance of saving the one planet we all share. Now is our last chance. We referred to an article in BBC Science Focus which says, “Though beautiful, fireworks pollute the atmosphere so may not be the most green choice of entertainment. Fireworks propel a cocktail of chemicals into the atmosphere, many of which can harm both people and the environment. The vivid colours in firework displays come from metallic compounds such as barium or aluminium that can have negative impacts on animal and human health.” So, let’s just stop them! We won’t starve without fireworks. But instead, many people will have more peaceful evenings, animals will be less anxious, the nature around us will have at least one less form of pollutant on it.

We do as a race, need to start living lives that respect nature, live in harmony with other beings on earth with whom we share this planet. In October 2022, Eleven organisations have signed an open letter to the Government asking for a review of fireworks sale and use. These are the BVA, Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Blue Cross, Cats Protection, Children’s Burns Trust, Combat Stress, Dan’s Fund for Burns, Help for Heroes, The Kennel Club and PTSD UK. The letter urges the UK Government to follow in the Scottish Government’s footsteps by committing to a review of the sale and use of fireworks and their impact on animals and people.

It is baffling, that 3 years ago we wrote about the impact on the environment, on animals, and different people. We have had a debate in parliament about it each year – because so many people signed petitions. We have even reached over 1 million signatures in a petition to change fireworks laws and yet the government of the time, refused to listen. It is a small change to make, to simply stop having ad hoc displays. Will the new government finally be the one to listen to the will of the people and care for the future of our planet and our wildlife – and make this change?

To people who want change, we say please keep going. The momentum is there, with the signatures and the charities now pushing. Keep signing and sharing petitions, write to your MP, write to your local council, share blogs like these so that more people know others share their views. 

• Sign and share petitions
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the Government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public. Or you can use the RSPCA template
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow.
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, how even Christmas is no longer a time of peace and why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.

Thank You, Ma’am.

During the Platinum Jubilee concert yesterday, the public was delighted and in awe of the drone display above Buckingham Palace. A little time before this, a moving and inspirational presentation encouraged us all to play our part in saving the planet for nature and future generations. Prince William encouraged us, with a positive and uniting message, that if humans put their mind to it, they can make amazing change happen. And we can. And one way to do that is to limit the use of fireworks, which are toxic and damaging to the environment. At the concert, an alternative was highlighted, with a drone display. Peaceful, and a far more creative and unique display than can be had by fireworks.

The patterns created in the sky were wonderful, on theme with the celebrations and truly unique. There was a pot of tea, a corgi, a stamp with Her Majesty on it and the number 70 floating above Buckingham Palace. Far more personal, respectful to the surrounding areas and relevant than a lot of noise and chemicals from fireworks. And in case you missed it, or want to see them again, here are some videos and images. Truly wonderful.

Over the past years, there have been many petitions signed by over 100,000 people and debates in parliament, asking this government to change the regulations and restrict the regulations. The most recent anti fireworks petition reached over 1 million signatures, but sadly this current government does not listen to the people. We have written many blogs on the impact of fireworks on the environment, how fireworks terrify and hurt wildlife, as well as the detrimental effect on human beings, such as many sufferers of PTSD who are often taken back to their original trauma, when fireworks go off. And as we welcome more refugees from the Ukraine, many of whom have experienced bombardment, we also need to be considerate of how similar and distressing fireworks are for those to whom we offer refuge.

So, Britain and beyond, the Royal Family showed how it’s done. Let’s do the right thing for the environment, for wildlife, pets and many people – and stop the use of fireworks. There are more considerate ways to celebrate.

To people who want change, we say please keep going. Keep signing and sharing petitions, write to your MP, write to your local council, share blogs like these so that more people know others share their views. 

• Sign and share petitions
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the Government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public.
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. You can use the RSPCA template
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, how even Christmas is no longer a time of peace why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.

We can all make a difference. Each person continuing to share and spreading the word, writing to their MP, every signature. Every one counts.

It’s Time for Peace, Quiet & Consideration – and for the Government to Listen

We are delighted to announce that the petition demanding the Government change regulations to restrict the use of fireworks, now has over 1 million signatures! That is a lot of people that, despite the Government repeatedly saying they think the regulations are tight enough, are saying, frankly, NO THEY ARE NOT. People are fighting for Peace Rights! In an era of mass production and easy access to low cost fireworks from China, regulations need to be updated to restrict their usage – which just grows year on year. Being allowed to be set off any day of the year until 11pm and some days until 1am is a breach of the peace, fireworks are a nuisance and they are cruel to animals and humans. Furthermore in a time of climate emergency, fireworks damage the environment. 1 million said it in this petition, plus over 100,000 signed 6 petitions that led to 5 debates in parliament in recent years. And these are just the signatures gained from social media. It doesn’t include the many-fold that are not on social media but who agree with the cause.

A million people are saying that it’s NOT OK for a few people to be able to disturb the peace of many – including pets and wildlife whose hearing is even more sensitive and 50% of whom are caused a lot of distress, anxiety and in some cases, death when fireworks go off. It’s heartbreaking for owners to experience this and the RSPCA has received thousands of reports of fireworks incidents as it calls for changes to be made to reduce the impact on animals. Additionally, the fact that this happens has a substantial impact on their rights – their rights to leave the house after dark and feel happy there won’t be anti-social bangs going off that will cause their pets distress. Most pet owners have to stay in on New Year’s eve, around fireworks – and sadly this period has been extending to include Christmas and the whole season from Christmas to New Year. Their right to walk their dog after dark, which is 4pm onwards in winter months. Many simply can’t go out because fireworks can go off any day of the year. And there is a huge amount of concern around the impact of fireworks on our air and the environment, as chemicals and toxins race into the air. We are all too aware after COP26 of the importance of living in harmony with nature, not against it.

Additionally, many, many people have simply had enough of the on-going, relentless nature of fireworks. People want to be able to feel peace in their home and yet even this has been denied many over Christmas and New Year. The writer of this blog personally logged fireworks for 8 out of 9 days from Christmas Day 2021 onwards and was woken 3 of those nights. Furthermore, many people have anxiety caused by them. 1 in 10 people in the UK develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to PTSD UK. So in a small to medium town of 20,000 people, that is 2,000 people. Each bang can take them back to the trauma they initially experienced and make them anxious and extremely agitated, sometimes reduced to tears. Here is an example from our blog on how fireworks affect sufferers of PTSD where the wife of a war veteran explains how fireworks affect her husband:

“My husband is a war veteran. He served in the Welsh Guards for 22 years and sustained life-changing injuries in the Falklands War. He actually died on the runway at Port Stanley airstrip. He received CPR from a colleague and thankfully he was resuscitated, but because of the lack of oxygen to his brain, he has brain injury and back problems and lost his leg below the knee. Part of his left foot was also blown away. This happened when a harrier jet accidentally fired the sidewinder missiles it was carrying. So as you can imagine, loud bangs affect him. He becomes very agitated and shaking, breaks out in a cold clammy sweat and is reduced to tears. It’s pitiful to see a grown strong man reduced to tears due to the noise of fireworks. We put the television on very loud, but I can see by his face it really gets to him. When these fireworks are going off all the time, it is terrible to watch him. I really think they should be banned on the street and only used in an organised event.”

Some people have hyperacusis and loud sounds such as fireworks are actually painful for them. Some people with dementia suffer confusion at the sounds. And too many emergency services staff know the accidents that happen and the increased demand on them due to fireworks – as well as the anti-social use of fireworks being used as weapons, put through letterboxes and pointed at police and others.

So, we say to the Government, listen to the people. Respect them. They are not stupid. They know you give the same answers every year and aren’t taking them seriously. And it will impact their decisions of how they view you and vote for you. This is a democracy and far more laws have been passed to protect far smaller numbers than 1 million. And they won’t go away. The situation worsens every year. And as was clear in the debate in parliament in November 2021 many, many people wrote to their MPs explaining why they wanted change – from people whose babies were woken and scared, to people having had them put through their letter boxes, to others with pets who are scared or wounded, to others suffering from PTSD and very distressed each time one goes off.

To people who want change, we say don’t give up. The suffragettes fought for years/decades for change. Keep signing and sharing petitions, write to your MP, write to your local council, share blogs like these so that more people know others share their views.

• Sign and share petitions
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the Government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public.
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. You can use the RSPCA template
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, how even Christmas is no longer a time of peace why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.

We can all make a difference. Each person continuing to share and spreading the word, writing to their MP, every signature. Every one counts. DON’T GIVE UP.

Twas a cold Christmas Day night in 2021. They walked home after a peaceful day of eating and merriment with loved ones after a hard global pandemic which had cancelled the Christmas before. As they walked past the softly lit windows they saw people resting at the end of their busy day after the babies and smaller children had been put to bed. Now was their time to relax. The people walking said to themselves “Ah ’tis the season of peace and goodwill.” Then BANG. Out of nowhere, across all the houses, horrendous noise and flashes of light assaulted them. The dog nearly pulled them over. Children and babies were shaken from their sleep. Dogs started to bark from fear. War veterans who were enjoying the calm were reminded of their trauma. People with sensitive hearing clutched their ears to deaden the sound. More went off later and woke them from their sleep. Then it all happened over again on Boxing Day and 5 days in a row afterwards. It breached their peace and their right to peace; their right to walk with the dog after dark; their right to sleep without disturbance. It ruined their tranquil day and they began to dread the season next year. But alas, the Government which calls itself a democracy, resolutely refused to listen to the will of the people who peacefully signed 6 petitions that went over 100,000 signatures and one that reached nearly a million. Refused to listen to the sensible debate of MPs in parliament on the topic 6 times. It preferred instead to allow people to breach the peace by letting off loud fireworks that impact thousands in the miles around them instead of allowing these people their peace. They exercised their democratic right to ask for their peace and their right to peace. Just as have so many before them and laws have been made that accommodated them.

Summary for those who don’t read all (but please do as it’s good!): The tradition for fireworks is NOT Christmas. It is NOT actually New Year. It was the 5th November. One day. There are laws to protect others from ‘Breaching the Peace’, such as a neighbour playing loud music that disturbs others and yet fireworks are not included in those or limited in any way. Enough is enough. Take action with the list below to make a difference.

When you raise the topic of fireworks to some councillors and MPs many will answer “It’s our tradition and we don’t want to change it.” It is a tradition on 5th November. Full stop. Finnito. End of. Guy Fawkes. Because of the bang of the gunpowder. It is not a tradition any other night of the year in the UK – Christmas Day, Boxing Day, American Independence Day or every other public holiday around the world. It’s one night – the 5th November. New Year fireworks only started at the millennium but now none of us can go to bed before 1am if we don’t want to celebrate new year or have had a hard year and are not in the mood.

It is a breach of the peace and fireworks are a nuisance and it goes against our rights to do things as we would want to – every day of the year. Why are a few people allowed to do things that impact hundreds of people for miles around them, when laws protect people breaching the peace in much closer surroundings – such as next door? Why can you have the police round for breaching the peace if you play loud music or even if your dog barks and either scenario disturbs a few neighbours – and yet you can let off fireworks that are 120 decibels or more and that breach neighbours’ peace for miles around and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it? One does have to ask oneself where the logic is in this. And I hate to say it but why is the Government absolutely refusing to move on it? It really does beg the question of what they gain from fireworks.

Another argument one hears from the party of the Government, as they copy and paste their response to you, is that they don’t want to restrict people’s liberties. Our liberties are constantly restricted for the benefit of a few. Smoking in pubs to protect people working in bars; fox hunting laws to protect a few foxes – when many, many more animals are impacted by fireworks. Dog owners have to pick up after them to protect other people from their mess. We need laws in place to protect the rights of others. Currently one person’s right to let off a firework in their garden, any day of the year, infringes on the rights of those that don’t want to hear them on any day. Who want to do ordinary things such as sit at home without bangs going off, walk in the dark or sleep undisturbed. Who even would like to go out on new year’s eve, but can’t because their pets will be terrified by the fireworks. The rights of minorities as well as majorities always have to be considered. Nearly a million people signed one of the latest petitions to restrict firework usage. In a population of around 62 million, that is not even a minority, but even if it were, laws have been passed to protect far smaller groups impacted by others’ behaviour.

So why is this government not listening? Are you fed up of your right to peace not being protected? If so, the only way to change things is to take action, demand a change in the law and help educate others on the impact of fireworks on others. Legal changes could restrict the number of days a year that fireworks are allowed to go off; stop the sale to the public and limit to public displays only; reduce the decibels of those let off on the few days they should be allowed. There needs to be some limit rather than being able to go off 365 days a year until 11pm or 1am on some days. It’s simply against our right to peace. And is highly stressful in different ways for different people and animals.

Don’t give up. The suffragettes fought for years/decades for change. Keep signing and sharing petitions, write to your MP, write to your local council, share blogs like these so that more people know others share their views. Writing now is important as a private member’s bill is being brought forward on the topic in January. It may not go far enough, but MPs knowing what changes you want, will help them know how to act in relation to it.

• Sign and share petitions
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the Government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public.
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. You can use the RSPCA template
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.

We can all make a difference. Each person sharing and spreading the word, writing to their MP, every signature. Every one counts. And don’t give up.

To anyone who is adversely affected by fireworks, for whatever reason, don’t feel you are alone. A minimum of nearly a million people in the UK are in agreement with you (and that’s only the people who received the petition to sign). And many, many more. You are not being a killjoy to want your right to peace and rest in a world that is busy and often harsh.

This week has been a week when the future of humanity, wildlife and our planet has been discussed in relation to climate change – at the COP26 conference. Much has been said about the need to live together with our planet, not against it. In harmony with nature, not inconsiderate of it. And next Mon, 8th November 2021 – following yet another petition with hundreds of thousands of signatures by the public asking to amend the legislation around fireworks – the topic will be debated in parliament. But will government listen, or will they try for a 5th debate on the topic and after 6 petitions, each with over 100,000 signatures, to ignore the will of the people?

For those that won’t read the rest, the summary:

Fireworks release chemicals into the atmosphere. These fall into rivers, onto trees and the sounds scare and sometimes kill wildlife. We are talking about the future of our planet and we are still obsessed with ‘having a bit of fun’ at nature’s expense? Not only is the environment and wildlife impacted, but pets, people with PTSD, dementia, hyperacusis and plenty more people, including those who are fed up of hearing bangs from nowhere in the middle of a quiet night. They are also dangerous and can be used as weapons. They are outdated and their use should be restricted, as they are in many other countries. Write to your MP to make change happen. For those that will read the rest, read on.

We have written many blogs on the impacts to so many different aspects of our world – to the environment, to wildlife, to pets, to humans. Fireworks are outdated and a nuisance. And it’s time to limit the use of them. In our blog on the environmental impact of fireworks, we commented, “An article in BBC Science Focus says, “Though beautiful, fireworks pollute the atmosphere so may not be the most green choice of entertainment.” The article states, “Fireworks propel a cocktail of chemicals into the atmosphere, many of which can harm both people and the environment. The vivid colours in firework displays come from metallic compounds such as barium or aluminium that can have negative impacts on animal and human health.” So they impact not only the environment, but also wildlife and us. Isn’t it time to simply stop them or at least severely restrict them? There are plenty of other ways to enjoy oneself and in the UK particularly, it has become the norm that for any little celebration, people let these toxic chemicals off into the atmosphere – disturbing the local environment and its inhabitants – and to scare many with the noise. Countries like the Netherlands and Germany allow them on only one or two days of the year. Yet in the UK we allow them every day of the year. That’s not awfully globally considerate when tackling climate change. We should restrict the number of days allowed, along with who can access them.

We have also talked about the impact to wildlife in a blog, “Birds Die, Horses Panic, Wildlife Suffers. Humans Setting off Fireworks Terrify and Kill”. You can read the details and the background to the points, but in summary, “Thousands of birds have died from heart attacks or through panic and flying into things, when fireworks go off. Horses have bolted, some impaled. Hedgehogs been tied to fireworks and shot into the air. We are in a climate emergency where we have already lost 60% of the UK’s wildlife population. It’s not only humans on this planet.” You can take action – write to your MP and town councillors, tell people not to use them, sign every petition.

There is plenty of detail on the impact of fireworks to all these groups in our blogs. Fireworks are a nuisance and outdated. They are toxic and chemical based and do not act in harmony with our planet. They are harmful to wildlife, who we need to protect. They can scare and even kill pets, much to the distress of their owners and affecting their lives as they often need to stay in to support their pets. Furthermore, they wake and scare humans – particularly those with PTSD, dementia, hyperacusis, anxiety and more. We have heard from many veterans with PTSD, who may tremble, hide under a table and go into cold sweats, because the firework sounds and colours trigger their trauma and take them back to a terrible place. We honour them on the 11th November, just 6 days after fireworks night – when we thank them by bombarding with noises that make them suffer. What kind of society thinks that is OK? That the ‘fun’ of a few is acceptable while so many suffer – be that humans, animals or the planet?

If you agree, now is the time to take action. You need to write to your MP and tell them. Ask them to attend the fireworks debate on Mon 8th November 2021. Tell them your views and ask them, regardless of their own personal views, to reflect those. And to find a way to change the regulations around fireworks. Enough is enough. We need to live together with our planet, to save it – not constantly bombarding it with pointless chemicals and noise. It’s easy at http://www.writetothem.com Just enter your postcode, select your MP and write. We need as many people as possible to do this.

And please share this blog and ask others to do the same. We need your momentum as this may be the last chance for change.

OK humans. Want to be responsible for this planet? What can you do? 

• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• Sign and share petitions
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public.
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. As you can see in Bideford, they can do this. Push. You can use the RSPCA template to ask them to change which are allowed
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let them off or if they insist, to at least use those with lower bang ratings – which are available among most fireworks sellers and those that do displays 
• Read more blogs on the impacts of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.