Balloon releases

Increasingly, as illustrated by the chart below, balloon and chinese lantern releases are being used as a way to fundraise, cellebrate and commemorate. These are not a good idea for the following reasons, they:

• create litter
• maim and kill wildlife
• use up irreplaceable helium resources

Until this activity is made illegal (which it already is in some parts of the UK) it is down to everyone to do what they can to persuade and educate others into the folly of this pursuit.

Even if the balloons used are "biodegradeable" they cause the harm described above. Consequently we have created this page to list the releases that we hear about and provide you with a quick and easy way of sending the organisers of such events a message. The links below will take you to a page on which you can pick the message you want to send, either by e-mail or twitter.

Impending balloon releases

Date

Organiser

Event

Link

Hall of Fame

Balloon releases planned but either abandoned or done differently. Our congratulations to the organiser!

Date	Organiser	Event	Link
23rd March 2013	Hannah Swain	Memorial fundraising	Article
7th March 2013	Steve Goodyear	The High Flyers Fundraising	Website
23rd Oct 2012	Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer	Fundraising	Website

Dungeon of Shame and Ignominy

Organsisers who have been contacted but who have chosen not to withdraw or change their plans for a balloon release. We're hopeful that the next time around these organisations will plan something different.

Date	Organiser	Event	Link
Sat 6th July 2013 time	KL.FM	The KLFM Charity 500 balloons Balloon Race 2013	Website Evidence
Fri 5th July 2013	IATP	2,374 blue and yellow balloons to raise awareness of Mesothelioma and Asbestos Related Diseases	Website Evidence
Mon 22 April 2013 2:15pm	Mayor of Winchester Cllr Frank Pearson	The Mayor's Charity Balloon Release	evidence page
Sat 6th April 11.30-1.30pm	Mandy Binns NAS Stafford & District Branch	National Autistic Society Fundraising at Stafford Castle
Sun 17th March 2013	Kent Davis Digbeth landlord	Birmingham’s St Patrick's Day Parade	Website