Lanterns: A Beautiful Tradition Or Polluting The Environment?

Sky lanterns are a tradition in East Asia, where they are released into the sky during celebrations or as memorials. However, they have been the subject of controversy due to their potential environmental impact. With their wire or bamboo frames and treated paper, sky lanterns pose a significant fire hazard, having caused multiple wildfires and building fires. They also pose a danger to wildlife, who can get tangled in the frames or mistake the lanterns for food, leading to injury or death. In addition, the lanterns can cause false alarms for coast guards and the RNLI, be mistaken for UFOs, and create litter on land and in oceans. While some countries have banned sky lanterns, others have not, leading to ongoing debates about their environmental impact and potential risks.

Sky lanterns are a fire hazard

Sky lanterns are a major fire hazard and have been banned in several countries and states due to the danger they pose. The lanterns consist of a flame, which propels the lantern, and a wire or bamboo frame covered in thin, treated paper. The flame is meant to extinguish itself when the lantern runs out of fuel, but this does not always happen.

Sky lanterns have caused multiple wildfires and building fires. In 2011, a third of Britain's fire brigades reported having to extinguish lanterns. In the same year, festival organiser Michael Eavis called for a nationwide ban on sky lanterns. In 2010, a cow died from ingesting a piece of a lantern's wire frame, and a foal had to be put down after injuring itself on a fence due to being startled by two lanterns. In Germany, a sky lantern caused a fire in a zoo, killing 50 animals. In Vietnam, almost 20 forest fires were caused by sky lanterns in one year, prompting a ban on their use.

The wire frames of sky lanterns are particularly dangerous, even when the paper has biodegraded. The wire can remain on the ground for up to nine months, causing a hazard for farm animals and children. The wire frames have also been known to strangle and maim wild animals and livestock. In addition, the lanterns can cause false alarms for coastguards and the RNLI when they are mistaken for flares, as well as for civil aviation authorities when they are mistaken for UFOs.

Overall, sky lanterns pose a significant fire risk and have caused harm to people, property, and wildlife.

They are dangerous to wildlife

Sky lanterns can be dangerous to wildlife in several ways. Firstly, they can cause harm to animals if ingested. If a lantern ends up in the ocean, it can be mistaken for food, such as a jellyfish, by aquatic organisms. Ingesting a lantern can lead to choking or digestive issues, potentially injuring or killing these animals. Birds are especially vulnerable to getting trapped in sky lanterns while in flight.

The wire frames of sky lanterns have been known to strangle and maim wild animals and livestock. In 2010, a cow died from eating a piece of a lantern's wire frame, which ruptured its stomach. Additionally, a foal had to be put down after injuring itself on a fence due to being startled by two lanterns that landed in its field. Even if the paper part of the lantern biodegrades over time, the wire frame may remain and continue to pose a threat to wildlife.

Sky lanterns also pose a fire hazard, which can indirectly harm wildlife. They have been responsible for multiple wildfires and fires in buildings, endangering the lives of animals and people. For example, a fire caused by a sky lantern killed 50 animals in the Krefeld Zoo in Germany. Lanterns can cause wildfires when used too close to vegetation or when carried by wind or other weather conditions near vegetation.

The potential harm caused by sky lanterns to wildlife has led to calls for restrictions or bans on their use. Farmers' groups and animal charities have advocated for withdrawing lanterns from sale due to the risks they pose to livestock and wildlife. Some countries and local authorities have already implemented bans or restrictions due to the hazards and environmental concerns associated with sky lanterns.

They are a cause of litter

Sky lanterns are a cause of litter and can take a long time to decompose. The wire frames have been known to strangle and maim wild animals and livestock. They do not always land somewhere safely and can cause harm to wildlife. The lantern debris can also cause damage to aircraft engines, tyres and fuselages.

The wire frames of sky lanterns can take up to nine months to break down, and even then, they may not fully decompose. In the meantime, they pose a serious threat to wildlife and farm animals. Farmers' groups and animal charities have long pushed for the lanterns to be withdrawn from sale, arguing that animals can eat parts of the lanterns after they have landed. In 2010, a cow died from eating a piece of a lantern's wire frame, which ruptured its stomach, and a foal had to be put down after injuring itself on a fence due to being startled by two landed lanterns.

The wire frames can also get tangled in trees and other vegetation, causing damage to nature and increasing the risk of wildfires. Even if the paper part of the lantern biodegrades over time, the wire frame will still be there, causing a potential fire hazard and harm to wildlife.

Sky lanterns are often marketed as biodegradable, but this claim is misleading. While the paper part of the lantern may biodegrade within six to eight weeks, the wire frame can take much longer, if it breaks down at all. This means that even if the lantern itself is no longer visible, the wire frame can still pose a danger to animals and the environment.

The litter caused by sky lanterns is not limited to land; they can also end up in oceans, streams, and other bodies of water, posing a risk to aquatic life. The lanterns can be mistaken for food by aquatic organisms, leading to choking or digestion issues that can injure or kill the animals.

They can be mistaken for distress flares

Sky lanterns can cause light pollution, which can be dangerous for a number of reasons. One of the main concerns is that they can be mistaken for distress flares. The UK coastguard has expressed concern about sky lanterns drifting out to sea, mimicking the appearance of distress flares. This has resulted in false alarms and an increase in lifeboat callouts for the RNLI.

The confusion caused by sky lanterns can also lead to UFO sightings, as the lights in the sky can be misidentified as unidentified flying objects. Nick Pope, the head of the MoD's UFO Project, attributed 99% of UFO reports involving orange lights to sky lanterns. Lanterns have also been reported as "saucers" by residents, only to be later identified as Chinese lanterns released during a wedding ceremony.

In addition to causing confusion and leading to false alarms, sky lanterns pose a significant fire hazard. They have been known to start wildfires when used too close to vegetation or when carried by wind or other weather conditions. The wire frames of sky lanterns can also cause harm to wildlife, as they can take a long time to break down and animals may become entangled or ingest them.

The risk associated with sky lanterns has led to bans or restrictions in several countries and states. Glastonbury Festival organizers banned the lanterns due to their environmental impact and fire risk. Some companies offer ""eco-friendly" alternatives with bamboo frames, but these are still considered potentially harmful by organizations like the RSPCA. While sky lanterns may be aesthetically pleasing, their potential for causing light pollution and being mistaken for distress flares is a serious concern that needs to be addressed.

They are a hazard to aircraft

Sky lanterns can be a significant hazard to aircraft. Civil aviation authorities have warned of the danger of lanterns being sucked into aircraft engines while airborne. Lantern debris can cause severe damage to aircraft engines, tyres, and fuselage. In fact, dozens of flights were delayed in Sanya, China, due to lanterns, prompting a ban on their use in this popular tourist destination.

The UK Coast Guard and RNLI have also expressed concern about sky lanterns drifting out to sea and being mistaken for distress flares, causing false alarms. In 2010, the RNLI reported a significant increase in lifeboat callouts due to lanterns being misidentified.

The unpredictable nature of sky lanterns poses a challenge to aviation safety. Once released into the sky, these lanterns can travel for miles and end up in various locations, including oceans, streams, forests, or populated areas. This unpredictability makes it difficult for aircraft pilots and air traffic control to anticipate and avoid potential collisions.

Additionally, the wire frames of sky lanterns can take a long time to decompose. While some sources claim that the wire biodegrades in nine months, others question the accuracy of this claim, suggesting that wire can remain in the environment for much longer. This lingering debris poses a risk to aircraft, particularly if it accumulates in areas near airports or flight paths.

The potential harm caused by sky lanterns to aircraft has led to calls for restrictions or bans on their use. Glastonbury Festival organizers have banned sky lanterns due to the fire risk and the potential for debris to impact aircraft. Similarly, the Civil Aviation Authority in Donegal, Ireland, issued a warning against using sky lanterns after one landed near aviation fuel containers.

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