Tv producers and scriptwriters have been urged to think twice after a prime-time TV present featured a sky lantern launch.
Hold Britain Tidy is amongst these criticising the finale of ITV’s Doc Marten, set in Cornwall, by which individuals dwelling within the coastal village launched lanterns in reminiscence of misplaced ones. Within the episode, one lantern set the village Christmas tree alight; the chance of fireplace is one cause campaigners need such lanterns banned.
“The charity has voiced concern over an episode of ITVs’ Doc Martin, set on the Cornish coast, which has already attracted criticism from individuals on social media who’re involved in regards to the surroundings,” a Hold Britain Tidy spokesman stated.
“Yearly as much as 200,000 sky lanterns are launched within the UK, typically inflicting catastrophic harm to wildlife and habitat, and ending up as litter.”
H&H had reported extensively on the hazards of sky lanterns, together with the threat they pose to horses, livestock and wildlife, in addition to buildings, crops and people.
Hold Britain Tidy labored with the NFU to create a petition asking the Authorities to ban sky lanterns, which has 96,000 signatures. Final yr, the charity launched a #BanTheFlamingThing marketing campaign.
Hold Britain Tidy chief government Allison Ogden-Newton OBE stated: “Injury to farms and property by sky lanterns is nicely documented as is hurt to animals. These floating flames are extremely harmful.
“We have to cease this very harmful type of littering and wish to see the sale of sky lanterns banned.
“Whereas we proceed to name on the Authorities to take motion, within the meantime, we wish to see scriptwriters and TV producers step up and think twice about their illustration of points affecting the surroundings. Whether or not it’s portraying the discharge of sky lanterns or displaying characters dropping cigarette butts on the bottom, TV is normalising behaviours that do untold harm to the surroundings and pose a major threat.”
Animal and equine charities, in addition to fireplace and rescue providers, have additionally been amongst these calling for a ban on sky lanterns.
Blue Cross head of public affairs Becky Thwaites instructed H&H: “Sky lanterns current a major hazard to animals and the surroundings, and might even show deadly as there is no such thing as a certainty the place they may land.
“They might look like innocent enjoyable however they will pose a severe fireplace threat, and are a menace to wild and home animals who can undergo severe and painful accidents in the event that they ingest them or turn into snarled in them. There have even been instances of horses being set alight by them.
“We again a coalition led by the RSPCA, fireplace chiefs and different organisations who’ve tirelessly been calling for a nationwide ban and would urge individuals to think about different methods of marking an event slightly than using lanterns.”
H&H has approached ITV for remark.
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The proprietor is looking for a ban on the lanterns after the horse was discovered with a singed tail and
Credit score: Alamy Inventory Picture
Credit score: Future
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