Na 'alleen professionele vuurwerkshows' komt: 'vuurwerk is zonde van het geld, slecht voor het milieu en zielig voor mensen die het eng vinden'. Voorspelbaar natuurlijk, maar hier wel heel duidelijk in beeld gebracht. Hij gebruikt de bosbranden als kapstok, maar de argumentatie staat daar verder eigenlijk los van.
https://amp.smh.com.au/national/nsw...-display-of-human-excess-20191229-p53nfc.html
Sorry, I see our fireworks as a tasteless display of human excess
By Charles Purcell
December 30, 2019 — 12.00am
Every year in Mosman, dozens gather at the end of my street to watch the fireworks. It's a merry affair with champagne, nibblies and much bonhomie. Perhaps this year many will celebrate with Darrell Lea’s new Harbour Fireworks chocolate block, complete with a picture of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the wrapper.
Come midnight, you can find me watching the midnight fireworks from my window (from where I will also have seen the 9pm warm-up act). The show is indeed spectacular, an eruption of colour and captivating shapes, all the way to the bridge.
And yet, from the same vantage point, it is also possible to behold another view of the fireworks — one through less human-centric eyes.
Because the fireworks also provoke the mass flight of terrified bats from the city. There are silhouettes of startled birds, scared out of their nests. There are the howls of dogs from under their humans' beds.
All so we can have our yearly bread and circus in the sky.
From fireworks to festivals, here’s how to end the decade with a bang
I recognise the beauty of our fireworks, but I believe we should press pause on the pyrotechnics next year.
If the plight of our animals is not enough, perhaps the bushfires make a compelling argument. There is a groundswell of opinion that it is in poor taste, even obscene, to squander millions on fireworks while the state burns.
There have been petitions to cancel the show and give the money instead to farmers and firefighters.
This year's New Year's Eve fireworks have already been cancelled in Toowoomba because of the fire ban, but also out of respect for people affected by the bushfires.
It's too late for Sydney this year, I know. That money has already been committed.
But there's still next year, and many years to come when we'll be confronted with the prospect of prolonged bushfire seasons.
The New Year's Eve fireworks — if we persist with them — will continue to be slap-bang-bang in the middle of them.
Naturally, there would be objections to a ban in Sydney. We hear much about the tourism dollar and of the joy the fireworks give to millions. Yet I can’t watch the fire in the sky without thinking of the fire on our land.
I can’t stop but think of the human toll, or of the news that almost 500 million mammals, birds and reptiles have been directly or indirectly killed by the Australian bushfires.
A burning question when you adore fireworks with a stubborn passion
My sympathies go to the people who may find the fireworks traumatic.
If our nation continues to burn in the years to come, to go on with these excessive displays would be the worst of human hubris.
https://amp.smh.com.au/national/nsw...-display-of-human-excess-20191229-p53nfc.html
Sorry, I see our fireworks as a tasteless display of human excess
By Charles Purcell
December 30, 2019 — 12.00am
Every year in Mosman, dozens gather at the end of my street to watch the fireworks. It's a merry affair with champagne, nibblies and much bonhomie. Perhaps this year many will celebrate with Darrell Lea’s new Harbour Fireworks chocolate block, complete with a picture of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the wrapper.
Come midnight, you can find me watching the midnight fireworks from my window (from where I will also have seen the 9pm warm-up act). The show is indeed spectacular, an eruption of colour and captivating shapes, all the way to the bridge.
And yet, from the same vantage point, it is also possible to behold another view of the fireworks — one through less human-centric eyes.
Because the fireworks also provoke the mass flight of terrified bats from the city. There are silhouettes of startled birds, scared out of their nests. There are the howls of dogs from under their humans' beds.
All so we can have our yearly bread and circus in the sky.
From fireworks to festivals, here’s how to end the decade with a bang
I recognise the beauty of our fireworks, but I believe we should press pause on the pyrotechnics next year.
If the plight of our animals is not enough, perhaps the bushfires make a compelling argument. There is a groundswell of opinion that it is in poor taste, even obscene, to squander millions on fireworks while the state burns.
There have been petitions to cancel the show and give the money instead to farmers and firefighters.
This year's New Year's Eve fireworks have already been cancelled in Toowoomba because of the fire ban, but also out of respect for people affected by the bushfires.
It's too late for Sydney this year, I know. That money has already been committed.
But there's still next year, and many years to come when we'll be confronted with the prospect of prolonged bushfire seasons.
The New Year's Eve fireworks — if we persist with them — will continue to be slap-bang-bang in the middle of them.
Naturally, there would be objections to a ban in Sydney. We hear much about the tourism dollar and of the joy the fireworks give to millions. Yet I can’t watch the fire in the sky without thinking of the fire on our land.
I can’t stop but think of the human toll, or of the news that almost 500 million mammals, birds and reptiles have been directly or indirectly killed by the Australian bushfires.
A burning question when you adore fireworks with a stubborn passion
My sympathies go to the people who may find the fireworks traumatic.
If our nation continues to burn in the years to come, to go on with these excessive displays would be the worst of human hubris.
