National Campaign for Firework Safety
Noel's Page                                             March 2001

 
   
     
 
     
 

41 children have been killed whilst assembling fireworks at a Primary School, in Jiangxi Province on Tuesday 6 March.  The school made fireworks for companies, to supplement their income.

The explosion in Fanglin Wanzi County happened the day after the Prime Minister Zhu Ronghi, said that China suffered  "frequent occurrences of grave accidents".

TV stations showed a scene of complete devastation.  Part of the schools 2nd floor was reduced to rubble. Soldiers searched through bricks and mortar some using their bare hands. Last year more than 50 people were killed assembling fireworks.  Most of the people not working in the land are engaged in the firework business either at home or at factories.

The majority of firework imports to the UK are from China or Taiwan.  Importers might in future be careful which factories they are purchasing from, as it is impossible to test every firework that comes into the country.  They might also take the trouble to visit the factories they are purchasing from so that they can check on the quality control of those factories.

It follows our call last year that more stringent controls should be put on imports from wherever.  If fireworks do not come direct from the Far East they can come in via the back door through another EC country.  This highlights the importance of the European Standard on Fireworks.

Nine out of ten letters now comes from a Pet owner and the letters are still coming in about animals who have been injured or traumatised by the noise of fireworks from September to New Year's Eve last year.  We are asking for a meeting with the Consumer Affairs Minister Dr Kim Howells through MPs and hope to bring up all these matters at the DTI.  We want to get this out of the way before the General Election, which is indicated to be on or around May 3.

Meanwhile the DTI are holding on to the firework injury statistics for last year in keeping with the ridiculous tradition down there of not releasing figures until just before Easter.  We want to break this for once and for all, and have the figures released as soon as possible in the New Year each year.  We will be asking our friends in our supporting organisations to assist us with this, and bring some pressure to the DTI on behalf of the millions whom suffer each year, and who are just ignored.

I am glad that the "Countryside Alliance" have called off their huge march in London this year, as this has become nothing more than pro-hunting demo, despite the many campaigning issues that people face in the countryside on rural issues including, transport, and poverty.  However this is no longer the intent of the organisers of the demo, who are doing very nicely, thank you.  The Government have rightly put the Bill to ban hunting through on behalf of a majority of MPs, who represent the majority who live not just in the Towns and Cities but also the countryside.  The only people dissatisfied are the pro-hunting vociferous minority and their friends in high places.  On this occasion they will have to accept the majority view.

Best wishes as always,

Noel
11 March 2001

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