67 replies to this topic

[Maxim]

I think that the main problem we face is the new mind-bug of "Health and safety" where the risks outweigh the worth of using fireworks and the flood of misuses by irresponsible youths and accidents caused by negligence. As the topic about the sky lanterns shows, one accident that had nothing to do with the unique characteristics of the lanterns but just the same type of negligence as would be present if the child had spilt a hot drink over him or herself, caused the mother to start a campaign against the lanterns. We could organise as many events as we could, but the main problem is bringing back the fun of the tradition and the patriotism that this country is sadly lacking, even with such a rich history!

[Spyrotechnics]

Firstly, Starsky72, CPF did not intend to attack the Diwali celebrations, but merely mentioned (with justifiable evidence) that our traditional celebrations are losing the competition against the Diwali celebrations which are not an English tradition. Therefore I support CPF's opinion that OUR ENGLISH traditions should not lose favour, especially ones that have been celebrated for such a long period of time.

Sorry, I just dont get the "competition" part, what have we lost?

[crystal palace fireworks]

I'm pretty sure that the reasons guying has stopped are to do with other unwelcome changes in our society.

In a nutshell, would you want your 10 year old down the high street on their own, begging for money? Not many parents would take that kind of risk...

There could be ways to keep interest in guys going.

How about offering to do a free firework display for your local school. They hold a guy competition (art/ DT depts might be interested). You judge the competition & the winner gets to press the button to fire the display/ light the fire.

Fraught with difficulties, but you never know - any other ideas?

If it were today in the council estate area`s where I grew up = then probably not due bullying/knife & drug gang crime etc,..... I think a child under 13 by law would have to be accompanied by an adult to collect monies anyway, so I guess it rules out the younger ones in that aspect.

Trying to expand along the line of your suggestion Phil, perhaps a inter schools competition within one`s own borough to make larger more elaborate guys to be displayed in the high streets/town centres after school, and along the lines of raising money for classroom science equipment/sundries might not be a bad idea,..... a proportion of the money raised from the losing teams could be used to pay for a firework display for the winner to be held at there school premises, then the losing Guys could be burned on a bonfire, with the winning guy surviving for everyone to beat next year!

[crystal palace fireworks]

i wouldn't dare try asking if we could celebrate bonfire traditions in our kids school. The last time I tried to arrange a organised bonfire night to raise money for the school they said it may offend some ethnic people that go to the school and making a guy could be a high cause for concern for health and safety.

I cant say for the ethnic community but i can say it offends me that i can celebrate a British tradition.

i then gave up when there H&S officer (AKA the caretaker) tried to tell me their insurance don't allow them to use cat 4 and was illegal to use, and public displays were not advised by the council. (i felt like banging my head against the wall trying to tell them they didn't need insurance)

I feel your anger, this is CRAZY,...It seems that some schools are either not confident, bothered, or too fearful to understand and/or investigate & write a risk assessment of there own. The likes of the HSE could & should do more to offer basic litriture & proceedures to schools to over come this fear of putting on shows of this kind (irrespective of a bonifida display company offering this service as part of the fireworks display).

Also I can`t believe they were worried about offending some members of a said ethnic community, why would they be offended?........so does this mean they would reject celebrations of Diwali for fear of upsetting the majority of none ethnic folk? = this is madness!

Edited by crystal palace fireworks, 11 January 2011 - 03:30 PM.

[pyrotechnist]

To anyone angry over the said ethnic community who are not so much minority anymore and as you all have noticed have a higher authority over us and their words are heard louder, bonkers the lot of it. But please dont keep voting for the same idiots that made all this happen in the first place as it just gets worse, the government played a social game that they know but wont admit failed the British electorates and that game was multiculturalism which has caused so many problems and one of them is the loosing of our traditions. I will come right out with it and say it as it is muslims are the people who they do not want to offend and as a free country and internet (for now!) I will and can say that and dont give a flying f**k what anyone says. I like many more are sick of this bullshit though we do need to stand against it and even now for our own hobby and Britain fireworks industry. How do fireworks offend a religion? if I was you I would have fired a display right near by, with allowance of course to piss the school off.

Thats my rant for today over, IF ANYONE READS THIS AND IT OFFENDS YOU THEN YOUR NOT BRITISH NOR DO YOU SUPPORT THE BRITISH VALUES OF OUR ONCE GREAT AND LOST NATION SO BUG OFF!

[teaboy]

To anyone angry over the said ethnic community who are not so much minority anymore and as you all have noticed have a higher authority over us and their words are heard louder, bonkers the lot of it. But please dont keep voting for the same idiots that made all this happen in the first place as it just gets worse, the government played a social game that they know but wont admit failed the British electorates and that game was multiculturalism which has caused so many problems and one of them is the loosing of our traditions. I will come right out with it and say it as it is muslims are the people who they do not want to offend and as a free country and internet (for now!) I will and can say that and dont give a flying f**k what anyone says. I like many more are sick of this bullshit though we do need to stand against it and even now for our own hobby and Britain fireworks industry. How do fireworks offend a religion? if I was you I would have fired a display right near by, with allowance of course to piss the school off.

Thats my rant for today over, IF ANYONE READS THIS AND IT OFFENDS YOU THEN YOUR NOT BRITISH NOR DO YOU SUPPORT THE BRITISH VALUES OF OUR ONCE GREAT AND LOST NATION SO BUG OFF!

Most of what you've written here is rubbish, plain and simple.

If you were interested in supporting British traditions such as Bonfire then why not organize an event? Fundraise for yourself, pay for Insurance yourself and rekindle the flame in the local community. You could also help those already doing this by donating time/money to keep alive the events that are threatened. Ottery Tar Barrels have a PayPal donation facility on their website. Why not use it?

You seem to assume that it's only legal to set off fireworks past midnight for Diwali if you believe in the Hindu religion. This is simply not true. Are Jews banned from setting off fireworks after midnight on NYE as it isn't Jewish NY?? Don't be so ridiculous!

Do you have a citation to support your theory that ethnic minorities are not a minority in Britain, or have you simply made it up? I suppose most of the country is urban now too...

Many organisations need re-education in Health & Safety, and what a risk assessment actually is.

There isn't any competition with Bonfire as a tradition - you don't have to do anything to celebrate/commemorate it, but that's the choice of individuals. It's the same with religion - there's no reason why you can't encourage people to celebrate whatever it is they believe alongside everything else.

[Rip Rap]

Most of what you've written here is rubbish, plain and simple.

Sorry - but right back at you teaboy!
You said

You seem to assume that it's only legal to set off fireworks past midnight for Diwali if you believe in the Hindu religion. Are Jews banned from setting off fireworks after midnight on NYE as it isn't Jewish NY?? Don't be so ridiculous!

Where on earth has that come from? What was originally said has nothing to do with religion on new years eve! -

Crystal palace fireworks said

so does this mean they would reject celebrations of Diwali for fear of upsetting the majority of none ethnic folk?

in the context of what Pyropdc said -

The last time I tried to arrange a organised bonfire night to raise money for the school they said it may offend some ethnic people that go to the school

I am afraid that as usual, statements are jumped on by the "PC police" and taken completely out of context!

I dont agree with how pyrotechnist expressed it, but I do agree with the sentiment - i.e. unfortunately, some peoples voices are heard alot louder than others!

Edited by Rip Rap, 07 March 2011 - 07:58 PM.