Julie delivered the Firework Campaign’s petition for legislation reform with over 1,086,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street yesterday (05/11/2024) accompanied by representatives from Assistance Dogs UK, British Horse Association, Dogs Trust, Redwings and RSPCA and Alex Mayer MP.
The campaign continues. Our next goal is to get the new government petition over the 100,000 signatures required to be considered for debate.
Edinburgh Councilors have voted to introduce temporary restrictions in Niddrie, Balerno, Seafield and Calton Hill, following serious disorder in the Niddrie area last year and support for a ban from community groups and animal welfare charities.
The control zones will run from 1-10 November 2024. Anyone setting off a private firework during this period will be committing a criminal offence.
The Scottish government gave local authorities the power to designate firework control zones (FCSs) in 2022 following a major riot in Dundee. Establishing FCZs is a “key milestone in the journey towards a cultural change in Scotland’s relationship with fireworks”.
In Other News:
The Pet Abduction Act 2024 came into effect on 24/08/2024. This Act recognises that cats and dogs are sentient beings capable of experiencing distress and other trauma. Now that the distress of animals is recognised in law you can use this when contacting your own MP about fireworks https://www.writetothem.com. Many more sentient beings (our pets) are traumatised by the use of fireworks every year. If our pets now have legislation to bring the full weight of the law to prosecute theft trauma surely the playing field should be level and fireworks prosecution should not rely solely on the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Edinburgh Council has launched a consultation on a city-wide Firework Control Zone (FCZ).
The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 empowers Local Authorities to designate FCZs in their area. Within these Zones, no use of fireworks would be allowed without a licence, unless the fireworks are part of a public display.
The Council is currently considering both four individual zones (Calton Hill, Balerno, Niddrie and Seafield), and an alternative city-wide zone. Greens are concerned individual zones won’t protect the environment, animals and vulnerable people across the city. The Council are also concerned that, given how far fireworks can be heard, the individual zones will not be effective.
Click here to complete
Sample arguments to fill in the free-text comments boxes, should you wish to do so, can be found here
The consultation is open until 23 August, but completing the consultation by 6 August would be ideal, as the responses can be considered by the Culture and Communities Committee on 8 August. Please do still fill it in later if you are not able to by this date.
Individuals need to live; work or otherwise have a connection with the city in order to have their response considered
Did you know that more than 360 horses are known to have been killed or injured in fireworks-related incidents since 2010?
A new infographic from the Fireworks Working Group reveals many more of the unintended outcomes that fireworks displays can have on people, animals, wildlife and the environment.
The Fireworks Working Group is a collaboration of charities representing people and animals who are asking Westminster to review and update current firework regulations so we can start to reduce these sobering statistics.
Please share the infographic and ask your own parliamentary candidates to support calls for a review of firework regulations. We know we aren’t alone in wanting to see much needed change!
A new report published and released by Redwings Horse Sanctuary today (Thursday 23rd May 2024) says the Animal Welfare Act does not offer recourse or protection for pets or livestock caused to suffer because of firework displays, and the assertion by Ministers that it does is an ‘illusion’.
Read more … https://www.redwings.org.uk/news-and…/fireworks-report
For years MPs have been telling us to use the Animal Welfare Act with regard to firework problems. We all knew it was unworkable. Now this view is backed up by a multi-agency forum.
Read the full report … https://www.redwings.org.uk/…/Fireworks%20and%20the…
This will be perfect to show to your prospective MP. Ask for their view and see if their answer affects your vote.
*** EDIT: The 6th debate will now not take place on 24/06/2024 due to the general election. Whether or not it is rescheduled will be a decision for the new Petitions Committee ***
We left the European Union with a far lower percentage – just under 52%! The debate is no longer WHY? It’s more WHY NOT? There have been 5 debates already on the topic, with 6 government petitions reaching over 100,000 signatures, and another petition with over 1 million signatures. The 6th debate is scheduled for 24 June 2024. Each time great arguments across the spectrum of objections to fireworks have been put across by MPs. From people with PTSD, children with sound sensitivity, fears, people being woken in their sleep, to them being used as weapons, the environmental damage and the dreadful impact on wildlife and pets.
Each time in previous debates, the current government stands up and says they do not feel there is a need to change the law. Huh? Were they even listening? Have they seen the polls? Are they totally and utterly out of touch? Do they no longer believe in democracy? Read this blog (Polls Reveal Fireworks Sales To The Public Should Be Banned) to see a long, long list of stats, all across the country, across the years. The Mirror asked the question in November 2023, “Should fireworks be banned?” It wasn’t even to the general public. Just banned. And 87% answered a resounding YES! 90% answered the same in 2021. The summary is about 85% of people, across a list of separate polls, each time say, yes ban them. Combat stress and Help for Heroes have written an open letter to Kemi Badenoch explaining the impact on veterans with PTSD and asking for change. Animal charities have done the same – RSPCA, Dog’s Trust and many more.
They are outdated and the growth in the fireworks industry’s sales over the last decade, impacts individuals’ right to peace and quiet in their own homes.
When we have written blogs over the years, and had interviews with individuals impacted or who saw a loved one impacted dreadfully, they were often so kind and apologetic, believing themselves to be in the minority. Not wanting their need to have them stopped, to impact on ‘other people’s fun’. Well the truth is, it is actually the minority who want to ‘have fun’ in their back gardens, at any time of day or night, any day of the year and for any simple reason. And it is ‘fun’ that is harmful to people, the environment and animals. ‘Fun’ versus ‘Harm’. They are no longer valid in a society which realises that in order to survive, we need to be compassionate and live together in harmony with nature. And a society that is more aware of the importance of supporting the whole host of people who are severely impacted by them.
It is just a debate on 24th June 2024. The Government still needs to show at least some level of compassion and value in democracy – and listen to the people. They need to start a process to change the law. But what can you do? Don’t give up. We could have a new government soon … write to your MP – it’s easy. You simply go to writetothem.com, enter your postcode, pick you MP and write a polite letter with why you want change. We have written many blogs over the years which explain the multitude of reasons they should be banned (Blog) with statistics and important information.
You might also want to ask what your MP’s party’s policy is on fireworks – or they as individuals and what will they would do if voted in. We wrote to the main parties and didn’t hear back. So ask. Push them for who will back change if you vote for them. And let us know! And with an election coming up, vote with your feet. Vote with who you believe will listen to the people.
• Sign and share petitions
• 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: The polls that show the vast majority of people in the UK want change, the 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 Petitions Committee will debate the petition “Ban the sale of fireworks to the general public” on 24 June 2024 despite it only receiving 50,288 signatures. It is very unusual for a petition to be debated with less than 100,000 signatures so this is a positive sign
Judith Cummins’ Private Members’ Bill – Fireworks (Noise Limits) – is scheduled for the second reading on 21 June 2024
Let’s keep the momentum going. Please write to your MP to tell them how fireworks affect you and your loved ones, both human and animals. The more people they hear from the more they will understand the problems faced. It’s easy with https://www.writetothem.com/
PS: if you haven’t already signed our 1m plus petition, please do. We will be taking this to number 10 https://www.change.org/p/officeforsands-review-firework-rules-to-protect-animals-from-injury-and-distress
UPDATE: Unfortunately both the debate and second reading have been cancelled due to the upcoming general election.
By Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive, RSPCA
You might have noticed we look a bit different today – very different in fact! In our 200th year we’re proud to unveil a bold new look and feel for our historic charity. A new brand along with a new purpose – inspiring everyone to create a better world for every animal. In shorthand, people will see us talking about For Every Kind. That means for every kind of animal, whether it’s helping thousands through our vital rescue work, or helping millions more through our advocacy, prevention and education work, both here and around the world. But it also means for every person, whoever they are, because we need everyone to get involved in animal welfare.
In the 200 years since we were founded, we’ve changed attitudes, behaviours and laws towards animals and, as a society, we’ve revolutionised the way we think, feel and act towards them. But animals are now facing some of the biggest challenges in our 200-year history, from climate change to loss of habitat, intensive farming to the cost of living crisis. Unless we act urgently to put animal welfare back on the agenda as one of the most pressing issues of our time, we risk animals’ lives getting worse, not better.
We at the RSPCA have a critical role to play as the oldest and biggest animal charity in the country; with our powerful voice, we can bring individuals and organisations together to drive change. We know we can’t do it alone, which is where our new, brighter, bolder and more welcoming brand comes in.
We’re proud of our 200 year history, and we’ve achieved a lot, including changing more than 400 laws improving the lives of animals in labs, in farms, in homes and in the wild. But we have changed too and we know that, for many people, our old brand was out-of-date or off putting. We haven’t rebranded since the 1970s and it was holding us back from being the modern, forward-facing organisation we really want, and need, to be.
It isn’t just about a new logo, this is all about raising the profile of animal welfare and helping everyone understand that we can all play a part in improving animals’ lives. Our new brand will help us reach more people, people who may not have considered us, or their role in animal welfare, before. We want to build a movement for animals and the more people we can inspire to get involved, the more impact we can have for animals, now and for many years to come.
We’re at a turning point and we’re changing to meet the challenges ahead. We need as many people as possible to join us to create a better world for every animal. Because a world that’s better for animals is better for us all.
Join us to support the Firework Working Group. You can add your support by joining AFLR as an individual and/or as an organisation.
Have a look at the AFLR website https://www.aflr.co.uk/
10 years ago Julie started a petition with a couple of really good friends asking the UK Government to limit firework use. That petition, after a lot of hard work and even more FABulous friends, eventually morphed into The Firework Campaign.
The Firework Campaign has had success pushing 6 petitions over 100,000 signatures and following those were 5 debates in Westminster Hall, Parliament. Our current petition will be taken to No 10 this year. As we have been constantly disappointed with the response from Government to the government petitions and the debates we have been looking for ‘another way’.
At the same time charities have been searching for ways to bring this issue to the Government’s notice and a group of 17 charities have come together to form The Firework Working Group (FWG).
Going forward we have created The Association for Firework Legislation Reform (AFLR). This new UK based organisation will support the FWG to help them achieve a change in the 20 year old Fireworks Regulations 2004. Our mission is to gather support from a wide range of charities, organisations and groups who are all, in one way or another, negatively affected by the extreme overuse of fireworks today. We hope to improve the welfare of vulnerable members of society, as well as domestic, agricultural and wild animals, whilst balancing people’s right to enjoy fireworks. To this end we also continue to support the RSPCA’s Bang Out Of Order Campaign.
Add your organisation’s support by completing the form.
Together We Are Stronger
The Firework Campaign UK 