Clubs, Community

Lions Club of Kingsville Cautions Against the Use of Helium Balloons

The Lions Club of Kingsville would like members of the public to be aware of the impact of helium balloons on our environment. Our local chapter of the Lions Club was established on May 3, 1933 and focuses on the environment as one of its areas of service.

Today, one does not have to look far to find helium balloons — in fields, trees, hydro wires, lakes, rivers, creeks, and even buried in sand. After their lofty flight, they descend back to Earth where they break down into harmful debris. This can be ingested by animals who then suffer from many related problems such as blocked digestion.  Smaller animals can also get tangled in the loose strings.

And while we know that there is no nutritional value in plastic, unfortunately once an animal has eaten it, they feel less hungry. When the animals feel less hungry, they do not search for or eat their natural food sources, causing them to weaken.

Recent research has uncovered evidence of hundreds of thousands of plastic balloons that have ended up in the Great Lakes waterways. Articles on the specific impact on the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie, underscore the seriousness of this problem. Ontario biologist Dr. Leanne Grieves confirmed this earlier this summer.

She said,  “If you assume they wash up on the Lake Erie shoreline at an equal rate, it’s possible that 960,000 balloons wash up on the Lake Erie shoreline every year.”

The Lions Club of Kingsville is appealing to the public to consider using environmentally friendly options instead of helium balloons.

For tributes, perhaps you can consider planting a tree, giving a donation to an environmental project or planting a memorial garden. Trees and gardens will be there for many years as a remembrance of a loved one. The long-lasting impact of planting a tree with a child and watching that tree grow will long outlast the impact of a momentary helium balloon!

For younger children, you may want to consider blowing bubbles together, a fun and harmless way to celebrate while protecting the environment.

Homemade confetti is also a good option and, rather than coloured paper, why not collect and use autumn leaves from our Fall bounty? Ontario’s autumn colours come in a  gorgeous range. They can help celebrate graduations, homecomings and engagements while also still respecting Mother Earth.

If you love our natural environment, the Lions Club would like to ask you to do your part and share this public service announcement with your friends and family. Let’s do our part to encourage others to think twice before using helium balloons.

Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash

 

11 Comments

  1. When we know better, we do better. Thank you for bringing awareness to such a simple thing as celebrating wisely.

  2. So bad for the environment. What seems innocent does so much damage.

  3. This informative article is a real eye opener for all those who love our wonderful landscape.. We all need to be more vigilant in protecting our precious environment.

  4. Joan Elaine Cope

    So happy to see this important message. As someone who lives along the shores of Lake Erie I’ve often seen these balloons floating by on the lake’s surface. I can attest to the fact that these helium balloons are frequent wash-ups along the beaches in our area. They get caught amongst shoreline reeds and also in-between huge rocks that front local break walls. These balloons should be banned, as they degrade our environment in the form of litter and the risks presented to wildlife.

  5. Excellent article. Balloons are causing much harm to the environment. Every year on the farm I pickup several. Upon spotting one, I have to stop my equipment, to get one out of the field. They can get caught in working parts of a machine. There should be an “environmental” charge on everyone sold, as there is on other goods, electronics, tires, engine oil filters, liquor bottles, etc. Maybe traceability record on everyone sold, so if found outdoors loose, then purchaser could be fined.

  6. Wow, what a great article and fantastic suggestions.

  7. Susan Kelsh

    Another lesson to learn. They were pretty cool until we found people were taking them outside and contaminating our waterways, gardens and conservation areas and wildlife habitat harming animals, birds and fish. We are destroying the earth and our home with our litter. The alternative ways to celebrate a special occasion such as planting a tree, giving a donation to an environmental project or planting a memorial garden will have a positive and very long lasting impact on our earth and the people on it.

  8. I couldn’t agree more. I wish they would just outlaw them altogether.

  9. So unnecessary –and a selfish use of such a dangerous material– when the dangers to wildlife are considered. Kudos to the Lions’ Club for stepping up.

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