Fireworks? More like fire-wreck the environment

 

Hey! Welcome back.

The New Year’s is celebrated by many around the world annually and one common practice that many follow is the usage of fireworks for the countdown. What better way to start the year off than with a bang, right? The flashy fireworks lit up the sky, coming in different shapes, sizes, and colours. It definitely looks spectacular. However, for something that only lasts for a swift moment, it leaves behind pollutants that can last for hours or even days!

Firework shows from different countries for New Year Eve in 2019. Looks nice, doesn’t it? But at what cost?

The usage of fireworks has been found to substantially increase the particulates and pollutant levels in the area. To achieve the different colours displayed, certain metals such as copper (for blue) and strontium (for red) are used as components. As a result, metallic chemical compounds formed from the reaction for fireworks are released. These metallic particles that normally wouldn’t be exposed to human are found to be more harmful than the regular pollutants that we breathe in on a regular basis. The introduction of these pollutants increases the risks of respiratory diseases for the more vulnerable groups.

Not only are fireworks expensive, its not even long-lasting. In 2019, Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks cost 5.8 million USD, is sending money up the sky truly the best way to spend it? That is just the cost for one country, out of the many that celebrated New Years with a bang. What does this say about the global cost of fireworks?

Fireworks are inherently unsustainable as well. Designed to be single-used, it seems like a waste of resources. Not to mention, fireworks are technically missiles. Mishandling them can cause widespread damage to people and the environment.

Should we change the long tradition of using fireworks as a celebratory tool and look for more sustainable alternatives? After all, the purpose of fireworks is mainly for aesthetic reasons, it isn’t indispensable.

If we seek to have a grand finale for celebration, alternative methods such as laser light shows, or drones can be employed. These shows are innovative and can display multiple patterns. Drones and lasers are reusable and produce less pollution overall as well! I truly believe that they can be the future “final event” for the year. There are only so many ways to improve a firework show, you either make it bigger or flashier. Wouldn’t it be better if we can find a more sustainable, creative alternative?

Drone shows look pretty dope, don’t you think?

 

Laser light show on the Burj Khalifa in 2018.

I believe that we already process the necessary technology to switch to an alternative, so the question now is: Are we willing to switch? Can we welcome the new year without a bang?  I don’t think we should blindly stick to old practices just because it is a tradition. At the end of the day(year), if we are welcoming a new year, shouldn’t welcome new practices as well? What do you think?

7 thoughts on “Fireworks? More like fire-wreck the environment

  1. Hi Jian Xi!
    It was really interesting to learn about the pollutants released by firework shows. I definitely support the switch to laser light or drone shows, but I wonder if it will receive support from the majority of Singaporeans who seem to love the fireworks during special occasions like National Day and New Years.

    Also, the use of lasers and drones for these shows may use a lot of energy. From your post, I understand that one of the reasons why we should consider switching is also because fireworks are very expensive. Thus, I was wondering: would these shows be significantly cheaper than firework shows?

    – Hope 🙂

    1. Hi Hope!
      Thanks for the question! Frankly, I cannot give you a answer as to whether drones and lasers are significantly cheaper than fireworks, as the costs of such events are often dependent on the scale and duration. However, I do want to point out that lasers and drones can be reused indefinetely (or at least until there is equipment failure), compared to fireworks which cannot be recovered upon firing. Therefore, in the long run, both will definitely be cheaper than fireworks.

      – Jian Xi

  2. Hi Jian Xi!
    thanks for such an interesting read! Like Hope, I too support the switch to laser light and drone shows, but I feel that a key element that contributes to the excitement over fireworks is its noise. I was wondering if light shows and drones are able to replicate the sound, and whether it even is ethical to intentionally do so, contributing to noise pollution, now that we have found a more environmentally viable alternative. I was also curious if there is any way to remove the pollutants from the environment.
    Looking forward to the rest of your blog! (-:

    Cheers,
    Kelly

    1. Hi Kelly,
      thanks for stopping by! While I do agree with you that sound is an important aspect in firework shows since it helps to bring excitement, I feel that drones and laser shows should not try to replicate the sound, even if the technology allows it. Drones, laser shows and fireworks each have their own uniqueness. To me, emulating the sound created by the fireworks means that they are admiting to be mere replacements and will never be enough. Which is of course, not the case. Also, I think that hearing explosion sounds during such shows would bring worry, since its almost as if there is equipment failure? Regarding your second question, I shall be addressing it in one of my future blog posts, so stay tune!

      -Jian Xi

  3. Hi Jian Xi,

    I was really struck by this…

    “Not only are fireworks expensive, its not even long-lasting. In 2019, Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks cost 5.8 million USD” and your question about the global cost.

    I thought about it and found a website that lists 24 locations (mostly in N America, plus one in the Caribbean) where you can go see spectacular NYE fireworks displays. This doesn’t even count fireworks for Canada Day and July 4 (US). Let’s say the cost in Sydney is pretty average and conservatively estimate the cost of a nice display at 3M USD, we can estimate 3M x 24locations x 2events = 144M USD/yr just for those 24 spots. The same thing is repeated in major cities all over the world. Surely, the world is spending a minimum of 5B USD/yr on fireworks displays.

    Now while Kelly & Hope suggest (justifiably) that ppl might not want to do away with these celebrations, and I admit that Canada Day fireworks are meaningful to me too, I’m totally willing to do away with it altogether (and even not have replacement laser or drone shows) if that $$ could be spent on pressing global concerns.

    You say you’re willing to change too. Out of curiosity, if you ask the ppl in your immediate entourage (after explaining to them the environmental impact and cost), what % would rather give up these events and see the $$ spent on “good deeds” ?

    jc

    1. Hi Dr Coleman,
      I asked a few of my friends what their views on replacing fireworks for the alternatives were and got mixed receptions. They believed that fireworks are deeply ingrained into the cultural aspects of celebrations that nothing can ever fully replace the excitement it brings about. They do however, also admit that the money should be better spent on improving infrastructure or do something more meaningful, rather than shooting it up the sky (their exact words). In the end, they settled for reducing the scale and duration of fireworks show to allow for better allocation of funds. I suppose my views on making a complete change were too idealistic, and I did not account for the cultural significance it has.
      -Jian Xi

    2. Thanks so much for your reply, Jian Xi !

      So referring to our discussion at the end of friday’s class, when I said all of us can ask ourselves at what point will humanity decide we’ve hit a wall as far as human impacts on the environment are concerned.

      To me, your reply suggests that we might not be quite at that point yet. Do you see why I interpret it that way ? Or do you think the point where we make that decision still leaves us room for baby-step approaches like reducing fireworks displays in scale ?

      If this Q is too deep for your blog, don’t worry. No need to answer. But perhaps worth thinking about ?

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