Jules she/her4d ago

Is it time to ban balloon releases, or indeed balloons altogether?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/02/the-dark-side-of-the-balloon-boom-is-it-time-they-were-banned

I'd say yes, not just for the rubbish they scatter over the countryside but also because as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has recently hopefully demonstrated, helium is a finite resource with important medical and scientific applications

The dark side of the balloon boom – is it time they were banned?

From balloon arches at parties to mass balloon releases at funerals, these bits of floating rubber and plastic can have disastrous effects on wildlife. As some retailers are refusing to sell them, here are some alternatives

The Guardian
Show threadHelena4d ago

@afewbugs strong agree from me.
No one *needs* a helium balloon.

Edit: referring to party balloons not meteorological or other scientific

Show threadMidgePhoto3d ago
@Hellybootwader @afewbugs
(Um, Meteorology?)
#Helium is a bit important though, so perhaps (#electrolytic ) #hydrogen would be better.
Show threadHelena3d ago
@Photo55 @afewbugs fixed it- was referring to entertainment balloons
Show threadMidgePhoto
@Hellybootwader @afewbugs
That's fair.
Apr 2 at 1:27pmMastodon for Android