I love them.
An Extravaganza in our City! International ~ half a million people come to my neighborhood every year for the three nights of Explosive Celebration!
I have to say I have loved the show … they have been a staple in our City for over 30 years now – about how long I have lived here. I don’t remember a year without them.
It is always exciting and a great event. A real boon to our local vendors, restaurants and community too.
Yay!!
Now the bummer …
I have indoor pets – 3 cats. We have outdoor pets ~ hummingbird feeder, songbird feeder and a couple of pet crows, Betsy and Bob, who, over the years have introduced us to their kids, Bert and Ernie.
There are many dogs in our community.
We have a heron nesting site in Stanley Park very close to the fireworks barge (within half a mile).
Fireworks are horrific for all of the above. I can’t imagine what the booms that make our chests reverberate do to them. Day-bright lights when there shouldn’t be. The volume of people and noise ..
How does that effect these integral, natural parts of our lives and home and community?
Pets, all birds, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, etc. ~ it must be Armageddon for them three times a year, Every Year. And they have no idea why or when it is coming …
To reiterate:
- I LOVE the spectacle! I have had fireworks parties in our home.
- I know how much this event pumps money into our community.
- I know in the past that we have been described as ‘No-FunCouver’ and this has been cited as one of the exceptions.
All that said, and, as much as I really do not want to miss out on this event, nor put it in writing for all to see, in my opinion it is time to Stop the Fireworks ‘celebration.’ We are not the only ones in our world and we are the only ones who see it as a celebration.
Too much damage to too many.
The repercussions are not sustainable. (Yes, as a sad comment on my humour, but the pun was intended…)
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Can we not find another event that can draw so many people for Celebration of Summer and Fun? That also contributes to our community?
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As I never feel it productive to complain about anything without putting forward an alternative …
Perhaps?
The Biggest Picnic Event Ever!!
A Music and Food and Fun Fest!
Line the beach-side roads with food trucks – both sides of the water – make special dispensation for local restaurants to jump in. Allow for food and drink service on the beach! Get a number, have a ‘beach butler’ bring your stuff!
Have bands and music and food – from all the cultures that make Vancouver great.
Water events! Paddleboard races! Inner tube water football! Have the bathtub races! Silliness and whimsy!
Supervised bonfires on the beaches! Allocate areas for the bonfires that would inspire guitars and singing.
Allocate areas for bands and cultural exploration.
Encourage bare foot dancing!
Allocate areas for outdoor movies that you can watch from a beach blanket and are projected onto a blanket ~ old school.
Call Guinness and set a record for the Most Fun Ever Anywhere!
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There must be another way to celebrate Summer, have an Extravaganza, bring people together and Cause No Harm.
I’m confident that there is.
Throw out your ideas and contribute ~ one of my favorite quotes, from Margaret Mead:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”