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Hidden danger of Chinese lanterns (From York Press)
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Hidden danger of Chinese lanterns
7:48am Tuesday 2nd February 2010
FLOATING Chinese lanterns let off at celebrations throughout North Yorkshire could be posing a serious threat to livestock in the county.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) issued the warning after a number of cases where the lanterns had landed in fields and been partly eaten by cows, causing serious injury and, in at least one case, death.
Rosey Dunn, north-east representative for the NFU, said: “I can see a problem. Animals, being curious creatures, they would tend to nibble on these things, and if there is wire it is often fatal if they get it in their stomachs."
A spokesman for the NFU nationally said: “For farmers they are a cause for concern.
“The wire mount for the fuel cell has the potential to injure livestock if it contaminates pasture, cut silage or hay.
“Arable farmers fear a standing crop being ignited by a lantern returning to the ground.
“The worries are compounded because the lanterns are often released in large numbers, can fly for 20 minutes at up to a mile high and can be very difficult to trace.”
The lanterns are made from paper, bamboo and wire and contain a small candle which, when lit, causes the lantern to lift into the air.
They can then float for up to 20 minutes at up to a mile high, and are carried by the wind.
The NFU said it had so far received no reports of incidents in North Yorkshire. However, the lanterns have featured in reports in the national media and farmers who have been affected are angry.
The BBC featured one farmer who described the lanterns as “incredibly dangerous” and called for them to be banned.
Another farmer, from Chester, told how he had lost a cow after parts of a lantern became lodged in the animal’s throat.
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Your Say YourPress
pedalling paul , York says...
9:29am Tue 2 Feb 10
myselby, selby says...
10:27am Tue 2 Feb 10
Taken for a Mug, York says...
10:36am Tue 2 Feb 10
They can then float for up to 20 minutes at up to a mile high, and are carried by the wind."
I like the Blue Peter explanation on how to make one.
nowthen, york says...
11:27am Tue 2 Feb 10
myselby wrote:So you wouldn't moan if someone dumped a load of flaming rubbish on your property ? You wouldn't moan if your livestock was suffering and dying ? If someone chucks a fag end on the street they can expect a fine. These trendy toys are nothing more than litter but with the potential to cause a great deal of damage. Do we really need them ?
farmers again, moan moan moan.
pedalling paul , York says...
11:44am Tue 2 Feb 10
leninwasright, york says...
12:17pm Tue 2 Feb 10
myselby wrote:Ever tried swallowing wire ? Go on, spoil yourself.
farmers again, moan moan moan.
Ghost of Oscar Deutsch, York says...
12:23pm Tue 2 Feb 10
pedalling paul wrote:Maybe it was the mothership dropping by to pick you up!
I saw a photo of an alien crop circle, in the shape of a giant bicycle. Were they trying to tell us something....?
sun seeker's, acomb york says...
3:20pm Tue 2 Feb 10
Ghost of Oscar Deutsch wrote:They would soon bring him back, after he'd try to talk them into travelling the universe on bikes! No intelligent life on earth, just idiots on bikes!
pedalling paul wrote: I saw a photo of an alien crop circle, in the shape of a giant bicycle. Were they trying to tell us something....?Maybe it was the mothership dropping by to pick you up!
Ben Guela, Tadcaster |Road says...
3:48pm Tue 2 Feb 10
myselby wrote:Just as I wanted to say first!
farmers again, moan moan moan.
Farmers do little but moan!
Why so they use tractors without number plates and supply pink diesel to their friends?
GoodDoc, says...
5:23pm Tue 2 Feb 10
Yorkshire Volunteer, Malton says...
7:00pm Tue 2 Feb 10
Surely on reflection this should be seen as a heartfelt plea, not a moan. Anyone who has seen the suffering of livestock from such things would have a more considered reaction. I have seen the havoc wrecked by plastic bags swallowed by animals and can only shudder at the damage from these lanterns. They should be prohibited.
nowthen, york says...
7:29pm Tue 2 Feb 10
GoodDoc wrote:So you're from a farming community ? Have you voiced your flippant comments to your farming neighbours ? I think not. Have a read of this BBC article http://news.bbc.co.u
I am normally very supportive of farming communities, as I'm from one myself - but this is taking things too far. If you think about how many lanterns are actually released in this region yearly - really not that many. Then imagine how many of those will actually land in pasture fields, as opposed to forests, hedges, arable fields, urban areas etc etc. Then how many of those will be entirely digested by livestock to the extent that it is likely to kill the animal. We're talking an infinitessimal figure, and any credible farmer would be worried about bigger things than flying lanterns.
k/1/hi/uk/8490524.st
m one of those interviewed found 57 ( infinitessimal according to you ) of these toys on her farm. Think about it ; it's dangerous litter which you obviously condone.
King Edward, Taterville says...
8:22pm Tue 2 Feb 10
GoodDoc, says...
1:45pm Sun 7 Feb 10
nowthen wrote:Yes I am, and yes I have. And in fact, the neighbouring farms where I'm from in Devon would laugh at this tosh. One farmer claims to have found 57, well then, it must be a huge nationwide problem. Or, perhaps you don't question what you read quite enough, and assume rare freak occurences represent the norm.
GoodDoc wrote:So you're from a farming community ? Have you voiced your flippant comments to your farming neighbours ? I think not. Have a read of this BBC article http://news.bbc.co.u
I am normally very supportive of farming communities, as I'm from one myself - but this is taking things too far. If you think about how many lanterns are actually released in this region yearly - really not that many. Then imagine how many of those will actually land in pasture fields, as opposed to forests, hedges, arable fields, urban areas etc etc. Then how many of those will be entirely digested by livestock to the extent that it is likely to kill the animal. We're talking an infinitessimal figure, and any credible farmer would be worried about bigger things than flying lanterns.
k/1/hi/uk/8490524.st
m one of those interviewed found 57 ( infinitessimal according to you ) of these toys on her farm. Think about it ; it's dangerous litter which you obviously condone.
Finding one of these in your field is a pain, but far less common than all sorts of other litter and potentially damaging items. I saw a bullock that had managed to swallow a plastic spindle from an electric fence. Let's ban fences.
Or alternatively, get a fricking grip!
Rosey Dunn, of the NFU in the north-east
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TooRad, York says...
8:13am Tue 2 Feb 10