Animal rights group raises concern over fireworks

AN ANIMAL rights group is calling on key stakeholders to adopt a national social responsibility policy when it comes to improving the lives of animals and humans and the environment when it comes to the continued use of fireworks.

The Animals 360 Foundation, in a release, said that the covid19 pandemic and the consequent enforced restrictions on human movement and activity had a marked impact on the environment which is proof of the negative effect on the environment by human behaviour.

It said the current times provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on the harm people may unknowingly cause others through actions taken. It also provides the opportunity to change and adopt more compassionate and humane behaviours.

On the issue of the use of fireworks and its impact on the environment and the health and welfare of animals and humans, the foundation pointed out that nothing good comes from this "other than the cruel enjoyment of some to the detriment of the environment and the health and welfare of those that can least defend themselves – the infirm, elderly, children and animals."

The foundation said that fireworks are proven to cause extensive air pollution leaving metal particles, dangerous toxins, harmful chemicals and smoke in the air for not hours, but days. Some of the toxins never fully decompose or disintegrate, but rather hang around in the environment, poisoning all they come into contact with.

Exposure to these toxins, the foundation said, is linked to negative health implications such as shortness of breath, asthma attacks and even heart attacks. People at greatest risk for problems are those with heart or lung disease, older adults and children. Those that we should be protecting are the ones we put at risk when we use fireworks.

During a fireworks display, the residue particles that fall to the ground (including actual physical pieces of waste) often contain chemicals and colorants, which find their way into the soil and our water systems negatively impacting our ecosystem. Many of the raw materials used to create fireworks are mined from mountains.

The use of fireworks, the foundation said, is a process destructive to our environment which decimates forests and wildlife habitats and contributes to global warming.

It reiterated that fireworks are cruel and inhumane and bring fear, anxiety and confusion to animals. This includes companion animals, farm animals, birds and other wildlife. There is no escaping the debilitating harm caused to one or other sector of animals. The hearing of most animals is considerably more sensitive than humans. Therefore the explosion of fireworks which can emit sounds of up to 190 decibels (damage to the human ear begins at 75 -80 decibel range) is proportionately more disturbing to an animal.

It is the responsibility of the Government to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the country that ensures the welfare, safety and security of the environment and all human and non-human animals. The foundation said it is calling on government to implement appropriate legislation to safeguard the nation from the adverse effects of fireworks.

The foundation comprises such entities as the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation; Animals Alive; Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville; Animal Rescue Association; Papa Bois Conservation; the TT Veterinary Association; Discovery Tours Ltd; the Animal Defence Society; Wildlife and Environmental Protection of Trinidad & Tobago; and Hikers Inc.