How Sociable are Fireworks? (Children's Parties)

Member Name: aefra

Product:	Children's Parties
Date:	07/01/04 (123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Entertaining

Disadvantages: Heartstopping stress for those not involved

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br>I have spent time wondering how I can write this opinion without appearing a complete killjoy fuddyduddy and realised fairly quickly that I can't. So knock me down in flames (no pun intended) and I will accept gracefully.

It is a while ago now that only November 5th was celebrated with bonfires and fireworks. Straw-filled images of poor old Guy Fawkes were plonked on top of fires (first having been exhibited on street corners by kiddies in the hope of donations), pet owners kept their dogs and cats indoors and the fire brigade and ambulance readied themselves. Then a good time was had by all, with the biggest displays held in parks and open spaces.

Gradually Guy Fawkes night extended to a week or two either side of the true date until nobody knew when to expect a sky-shattering explosion just as they let their dog into the garden or the baby had just dropped off to sleep. As we all became used to this and were half prepared, it became a good idea to celebrate Johnny's 18th birthday in July by setting off a couple of hundred pounds sterling of fireworks from the back garden. Then Johnny's friend Sammy passed his driving test and his family popped down to the local newsagent and purchased their own equivalent of several pounds of T.N.T. to let everyone for 5 miles around know of his achievement.

A few years ago parties were generally accepted as a part of community life on the occasional friday or saturday and were viewed with neighbourly indulgence. Then Groundforce showed viewers how to make their garden an "outside room" and social evenings were taken outside and the proceedings livened up around 1am with a few score fireworks - shedding the debris in next-door's pond and terrifying the local guinea pigs into coma. I am lucky to live in an area where neighbourly courtesies are on the whole observed. People don't park outside others' houses, tend to let next door know when noisy
do-it-yourself is about to start and don't light bonfires until nearby washing is off the lines. So perhaps there is a pent up need to occasionally let everyone else know they are there with a vengeance.

The Chinese invented fireworks for shows and it is significant that they fairly soon afterwards discovered that they also effectively scared their enemies in war. Nowdays "Made in China" means that there is a good chance that these cheap rockets will turn on the hand that lights them, with the resultant "blues and twos" adding disturbance to the residents of Little Middleton in the Wold, already cowering beneath their duvets.

Although annual injuries from careless use of firworks have dropped recently, I feel that fireworks are still far too easily available. The death of a spectator when a rocket was set off in a sports stadium a few years ago was not enough to prevent injury in a similar incident not too long ago. Only yesterday what I thought was the repeated sound of a shotgun nearby went almost un-noticed until realising that someone was setting off fireworks in broad daylight in an adjacent field. If you are thinking my priorities are upside down, it's ok. I don't rate fireworks more dangerous than shotguns but clay pigeon shooting doesn't seem to actually frighten the real pigeons.

With public support Hamilton South MP Bill Tynan successfully submitted the bill which became the Fireworks Act (2003), passed to legally prevent nuisance and unsociable behaviour. A close look at this legislation, however, shows that it effectively covers only the sale of Grade 1V (public display) fireworks and the age at which fractionally less mind-blowing explosives may be bought, as well as covering their ignition in a public place. Yet the fact that a garden fence or wall is the only barrier between private and public in this instance leaves a lot to be added and I believe that this Act
needs to be extended somewhat. I am not suggesting that fireworks should be banned or that citizens shouldn't enjoy colourful celebration. I have two suggestions. First that the impressive noisy variety be on sale for only a couple of weeks before November 5th and December 31st and that those on sale generally at other times be at least the colourful "whizz" variety rather than the sonic boom reverberators which blitz neighbours' homes when least expected.

Fireworks can be pretty marvelous when the finale to a concert in a park or when viewed as myriad displays as Big Ben strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. They are exciting, colouful and have a great "Ooh Aaah" factor. But let us leave it there so that we may continue to enjoy peaceful summer evenings and cosy winter nights.


Note: Apologies for placing off-topic, but will ask for it to be moved as soon as dooyoo management are around.

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