Chinese Flying Lanterns get official approval!

[godders1966]

I thought these were considered anti-social amongst the glasto public.

Look who's selling them

My link

[FunkyDenz]

Eco-Friendly Chinese Lanterns are great, as long as they are managed safely when setting them off.

The issues people have with them are that the metal wire inside the lantern can land in a field where a cow could potentially eat it (these don't have any metal wires), and that people can be careless when letting them off, especially drunk people at festivals. It is the carelessness which could result in the Chinese Lantern not taking off properly, then landing on others or nearby tents.

[Boris]

I personally love Chinese lanterns. It made me sad to think that such an innocent and pretty thing had suddenly become BAD.. selfish etc. I know that idiots can f**k up and launch them dangerously, but surely the vast majority are launched safely? These are great anyway if it means the people launching them are no longer being 'selfish'. So as long as they do so safely, then we can all enjoy them now? The only question I don't know is whether they drip wax when launching- potentially onto tents?

[Bigjonyr]

I'm sure inland there shouldn't be a massive issue, out by the coast on the otherhand = total nightmare for the emergency services. Plenty of well wishing members of the public mistaking them for distress flares.

[mirandamayhem]

Probably a blessing it's rained so much, they're not likely to set fire to crops, which is another issue with them. I like them though, they're pretty

[tilt]

How is that 'official approval'?

[godders1966]

How is that 'official approval'?

[whisty]

Not gonna be a problem this year, try floating wet paper!

[eFestivals]

It's 'tongue in cheek' official because they are being sold by this forum's website. And eFestivals is my 'official' guide to glasto.

it's 'approval' that you can buy them, it's not 'approval' for any/all sorts of use that people might use them for.

[strudders]

Bugger I was going to buy loads, attach them by parra cord and see if I could get very high at Glasto without taking anything..... Oh and take a picture.

Guess I will have to use balloons.... Lots and lots of balloons....

[yasgursfarmhand]

I was walking in the countryside and got caught/cut by the remnants of a lantern, originally thought it was some sort of snare.

[Cooter]

I thought one of the main issues with them is that they can land anywhere and set what ever they land on alight. No amount of responsible launching can solve that can it?

[strudders]

Whilst that is true (although don't read to many reports of south east Asian countries having major issues) it's the wire in them that gets into the food chain for live stock.

[eFestivals]

Whilst that is true (although don't read to many reports of south east Asian countries having major issues) it's the wire in them that gets into the food chain for live stock.

the lanterns being sold in the eFestivals camping shop don't have wire in them - they're biodegradable ones.

[morph100]

Great to see these without the wire in them! buy buy buy!

[strudders]

Yep know that.

[yasgursfarmhand]

Whilst that is true (although don't read to many reports of south east Asian countries having major issues) it's the wire in them that gets into the food chain for live stock.

Edited June 17, 2011 by yasgursfarmhand

[doogleduck]

So what is used to replace the wire?

[strudders]

They use bamboo... As do nearly all the ones in south east Asia. At least the ones I have seen.

However it's taking food from Panda's!!!! Save the Panda!!!!

[ukslim]

I would have thought you could make something that worked entirely out of paper and card.

However what worries me more is a big field of tents, camped very close to one another, having a lump of flaming wax landing randomly on it.

I suspect the reason we don't hear about accidents in South East Asia is that it's a long way away and they're "only" poor people.

[MadCampingNut]

I've bought some to set off on first night there, I think their lovely.

[strudders]

Yeah that's true and there are plenty of story's in the uk of houses, cars, hedges, fields and gardens being set on fire. So tents would be high on the list at festivals.

So do you Ban them all? Well they are banned at Glastonbury and many other festivals so the key issue is there safe use. If people decide to let them off near the sea, in the middle of a city, in unrealistic conditions (efest's has a wind limit set) then trouble might be caused. However each year we also let off thousands of tonnes of fireworks and they are not banned.....

Me personally like the look of them..... In south east Asia... In fact when I was in Thai land it was like a mass of glowing bee's rising up in the air. Quite trippy.

Edited June 17, 2011 by strudders

[castmana1]

I like those lanterns, but have seen a couple of them go wrong with nasty consequences. Both whilst watching Stevie Wonder last year actually. I saw one get launched, only to get wrapped round someones flagpole, causing them to panic and shake the flagpole, sending miniature fireballs everywhere, and I saw another one take off, but it didn't have enough oomph to get any height, and dive-bombed into the crowd. I like the lanterns, but would prefer it if people saved them for the Stone Circle, and not set them off in front of massive crowds!

[cejx]

I've bought some to set off on first night there, I think their lovely.

Edited June 17, 2011 by cejx

[Paadzer]

I don't see the point in them myself, I will only bring things I need to Glastonbury