----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday,
May 14, 2007 9:44 PM
Subject: Re:
Want more news on ballon releases posted on this
site?
Regarding
balloon releases:
I
would like info on how many countries, states, etc. have legislation
regarding balloon releases, either banning them or restricting the number of
balloons that can be released.
Polly
Yanick
National
Aquarium in Baltimore
111
Market
Place
Baltimore,MD.
21202
From: Sea
Turtle Biology and Conservation [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Allen Salzberg
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 2:44
PM
To:
[log in to unmask]
Subject: Want more news on ballon
releases posted on this site?
I do a lot of surfing the web
for materials for HerpDigest. the free bi-weekly e-zine on the latest news
on reptile and amphibian science and conservation.
If I find another article on a
balloon release. like the one I did about N. Zealand (Unfortunately the day
before it was scheduled.) will no one mind if I post it on this site? With
contact information? Since this group is the only one who seems to
care.
By the way, that was a quick
banning of balloon releases in New Zealand, after the fact? or
scheduled and the release just was the trigger point they
needed?
And then people can contact the
local media and the people involved with the balloon release and
tell them that they don't break up into a billion little harmless bits. The
truth. And about the Mylar strings increasingly attached to the balloons.
Suggest alternatives.Always suggest alternatives, even using the balloons.
(Then it sort of deflates -pun intended- the balloon industry's argument
that they will go out of business.
Ideas like, Want to quickly
stop a kid from crying to laughing? If they lost the balloon they just
bought. Get them another one to bust. Hey the balloon seller just sold one
instead of two balloons.
If a group wants to use balloons
in a parade, as say an arch and dispose of them properly, have fun and maybe
make some money for the cause. Charge for the right to get into balloon
busting and cleaning unit. It's more fun than busting the little bubble on
bubble wrap.
The big picture? The people
who do the releases and the media and government have to be made aware
that even if the balloons don't harm wildlife. They are pollution.
Litter. They wash up their beaches making them look into garbage dumps.
Tourism anyone?And they contribute to millions, billions of other pieces of
plastic in the ocean that are eaten by sealife, or sea life gets tangled
in.
Outside getting funding for an
organization. Which I doubt would be possible. Besides the balloon industry
can outspend them. Hire lobbyists. And have in the U.S. And
then mis-inform people on their website. It has to be local. ground up
activity.
I'd like to see a cop give a
parade that just sent up a lot of balloons a ticket for littering. Its
legal. One for each balloon. That would make some interesting headlines.
So unless anyone objects,
occasionally you will find news about a pending news release somewhere in
the world. And people posting ideas of how to replace the release with
something just, or more fund, should post
them.
By the way what happens to the
helium that all the balloons are filled with? Do we have to start worrying
about what they do the atmosphere?
HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly E-Zine That
Reports on
The Latest News on Herpetological Conservation and Science
www.HerpDigest.org
HerpArts.com
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& Frog Calendars, Reptile and Amphibian Jewelry, Art, Toys for Adults
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----- Original Message -----
Sent:
Friday, May 11, 2007 11:44 AM
Subject: Re:
Environmentalists slam baloon release world
record
Lance,
Thanks, AGAIN, for all you're doing
to keep us aware of these issues
"Down Under"!
Keep up the excellent
work!
Cheers,
Steve
-----Original
Message-----
From: Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Lance Ferris
Sent:
Thursday, May 10, 2007 6:46 PM
To: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Subject:
Re: Environmentalists slam baloon release world record
Hello
Michael and Cturtlers.
Although we were unable to prevent this
balloon release happening,
(13,000)
we were able to attract the
attention of the New
Zealand media althoug
it
was
'after the fact'.
I have since received a phone call from the
manager of the Warehouse
Group
who released the balloons. He
indicated his deepest regret, and stated
that
his organisation was
only acting on advice from the balloon
manufacturers.
He is now
aware of the environmental ramifications of helium balloon
releases,
and we can only hope that this may set a precedent for the
prevention
of any proposed balloon releases in New
Zealand.
Many thanks for all the
Cturtlers who assisted with emails. Yes, we
were
too late to
prevent the release, but we all helped to make that country
aware of
the dangers.
Well done, all.
Best regards
Lance
Ferris
Australian Seabird Rescue Inc. (Sea Turtle Rescue/Rehab
Division)
WildlifeLink Sanctuary
264 North Creek Road, Ballina.
NSW
Australia.
Email: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Web: www.seabirdrescue.org
-----
Original Message -----
From: "Michael Coyne" <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]>
To:
<[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]>
Sent:
Thursday, May 10, 2007 1:30 PM
Subject: Environmentalists slam baloon
release world record
Lance,
Nice work getting some press
on this issue. I presume the following
story is your doing?
TV3
News,
New Zealand
-
http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/NationalNews/tabid/184/articleID/26781/
Default.aspx
Synopsis:
Lance Ferris says bits of them get stuck in the stomachs of
birds and
sea turtles. Balloon releases have been banned in New
South
Wales.
I'd like to
suggest a potential method for pushing this story (and
others like it)
in to the public consciousness, and in particular
putting it in front
of people that we as a group do not normally reach.
Visit the
following page and "digg" this story:
http://digg.com/environment/
Environmentalists_slam_baloon_release_world_record
Stories
with a large number of diggs are pushed to the digg.com home
page where
they are potentially viewed by millions of people. Social
networking to
further sea turtle and marine
conservation.
cheers,
Michael
On May 8, 2007, at 6:43
PM, Lance Ferris wrote:
> My fellow Cturtlers,
> It is
with regret that we were not able to stop the release of 13,000
>
balloons in New
Zealand, on 8th May.
>
>
However, with your support, we may be able to prevent it
happening
again.
> The founder of the N.Z. Warehouse is a Mr
Stephen Tindall. His
> administration email is [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
>
>
Given the Cturtler's marvellous support in assisting us with
the
banning
> of helium balloons in Australia,
I would invite you to email your
> concerns to Mr
Tindall.
>
> We may be able to prevent this grossly ignorant
and environmentally
> disastrous event re-occurring in the
future.
>
> Best regards
> Lance Ferris
>
Australian Seabird Rescue Inc. (Sea Turtle Rescue/Rehab Division)
>
WildlifeLink Sanctuary
> 264 North Creek Road, Ballina.
NSW
> Australia.
> Phone: 02
6686 2852 Mobile: 0428 862 852
> Email: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask] Web:
www.seabirdrescue.org
>
>>
----- Original Message -----
>> From: Allen Salzberg
>>
To: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
>>
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 7:00 AM
>> Subject: 13,000 Balloons
to be released in New
Zealand claim
>>
environmentally done
>>
>>
>> Now, yes, I know,
the question of the balloons being dangerous to
>> turtles and
other sea life is still up in the air, (pardon the pun)
but
>> to boldly state in the press release that
...
>>
>> It's Environmental: That All balloons are 100%
latex (a totally
natural
>> product) and are fully
biodegradable. They will ascend to 25,000
feet,
>>
freeze, shatter disperse and decompose
>>
>> There is
got to be a limit. people informed what is true, false,
>>
possible, unknown. I've been told it takes 1 year to decompose iin
salt
>> water. The sea around N
Zealand should be interesting looking after
>>
tomorow. That line is pure PR to keep people happy. Defuse
the
issue.
>>
>> 13,000 Balloons Turn New Zealand's Sky Red
>> Tuesday, 8 May 2007,
9:45 am
>> Press Release: The Warehouse Group
>> Photo
of the Day
>> Tuesday, 8 May 2007
>>
>> 13,000
Balloons Turn New Zealand's Sky
Red
>>
>> A New Zealand record balloon
launch will turn the sky red tomorrow
>> morning as part of The
Warehouse's 25th birthday celebration.
>>
>> Thirteen
thousand red balloons will fill the skies over Dairy Flat
in
>> North Auckland at 8am tomorrow to recognise 25 years of
Kiwi bargains
at
>> the big red shed.
>>
>>
The Warehouse first opened it's doors in 1982 and quickly became a
kiwi
>> institution as stores spread all over the
country.
>>
>> The environmentally safe balloon launch
will symbolise the beginning
of
>> a month long celebration
and the business success story as they
float
>> across the
country.
>>
>> Where: Winters Farm, Postman Road,
Dairy Flat, Nth Auckland.
>> When: Tuesday 8
May
>> Time: Between 7.30am and 8.00am (pending the
wind)
>> Parking: North Shore Aerodrome, Postman Road
(shuttle bus to launch
>> site - call 021 270 3633 on
arrival)
>> Confirm: To attend, please confirm in advance to
ensure shuttle bus
>> seating
>>
>> Record
Balloon Launch Facts:
>>
>> * Balloons released: 13,000
(all red)
>> * Time to fill balloons: 9 hours of constant helium
filling
>> * Previous New Zealand record:
12,000
>> * Environment: All balloons are 100% latex (a totally
natural
product)
>> and are fully biodegradable. They will
ascend to 25,000 feet,
freeze,
>> shatter disperse and
decompose
>>
>> Footage and Images
Available
>>
>> * Broadcast quality footage and
photographs will be available from
Mango
>>
Communications
>> * Photographer Michael Bradley will also make
images available via
the
>> Fairfax Image Store and the NZ Herald
Picture Desk for APN
>>
>> Allen
Salzberg
>>
>> HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly
E-Zine That Reports on
>> The Latest News on Herpetological
Conservation and Science
>> www.HerpDigest.org
>>
>>
HerpArts.com
>> Gifts for Herp Lovers: 2007 Turtle & Frog
Calendars, Reptile and
>> Amphibian Jewelry, Art, Toys for
Adults
>> And Kids, Decorative Items for the House and Tree and
So Much More
>> www.HerpArts.com
>>
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