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"I don't think the
animal rights lobby, Doctors, Nurses and Fire-fighters
will be too happy with people who say that the
injury to people and trauma and suffering to
animals is A OK because their sales have risen by
40%."
The letters are still streaming in although its
February, about the many thousands of animals
that have suffered during the period from
September to December, in the many explosions
from firework displays. What did we get
from the firework industry in their bumph to the
media last month? "Our sales rose by 40%"
Now, they claim, we have New Years' Eve
tradition, there's no going back to the old days
with just the weeks leading up to November 5.
On the firework injury front it's the same old
crack. Injuries were up by 20% they say
because sales rose by 40%. That apparently
makes it all right.
I don't think the animal rights lobby, Doctors,
Nurses and Fire-fighters will be too happy with
people who say that the injury to people and
trauma and suffering to animals is A OK because
their sales have risen by 40%. By the
numbers of letters ands 'e-mails' we are getting
I would say this new spin from the industry,
could seriously backfire on them.
I went to the usual celebrations of the Chinese
New Year recently, as I have done for many years,
but I was seriously disturbed by a new
development. Three major firework displays, each
with their own sponsor, including my own bank
HSBC, were set off from Leicester Square Gardens
within feet of where the crowd were standing.
This was not a small display, as it used the
biggest fireworks in category 4 launched from
mortars.
The noise was deafening, being so close, I
thought we would be blown to smithereens. I
felt sorry for the residents and their pets
nearby. Many people reside in the West End,
although the attitude of the authorities is that
the noise does not matter, because nobody lives
in the West End.
Anyway all you good people will be glad to hear
that I took it up with the Westminster City
Council. I said on behalf of NCFS, that the
time and the place for a firework display is in
the evening in a place a long way away from birds
in the trees, and people in their homes.
The birds in Leicester Square were traumatised
each time a firework display commenced. I
said it should never happen again, because once
you set a precedent by allowing firework
displays, the next thing you know, every huckster
organising a film premiere in Leicester Square
will be asking for the privilege.
I watched the political awards on a Saturday
night, and it amazed me when I heard Eric Forth
MP was nominated as "a one man army" in
the House.
This is the man who was once in charge of
fireworks as a Consumer Affairs Minister in the
1980's. This is the same man who destroyed the
Firework Bill in 1998, when we came within a
whisker (after 6 months of Readings) of changing
the 1875 firework law. By some miracle he
did not get the award. However do the TV
people ever do any research?
I read on one of the firework industry websites
that the Government will conceal the fireworks
that caused injuries and suffering last year, but
were supposed to be banned 3 years ago.
These fireworks, including the Banger, will be
put under 'other related fireworks'.
Thank you to the person who gave me this
information. This Government no longer does
any straight dealing with consumer, or indeed any
other, campaigns.
While I continue to read the letters from people
with pets, and campaign on their behalf, one of
my own cats is still suffering with a nervous
condition which has now lasted 10 years.
This I believe was caused by the noise and
bombardment of fireworks.
Please continue to support the campaign and keep
the 'emails' coming in.
With best wishes, as always
Noel
12 February 2001
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