Starting next year, Sarajevo will join the cities that will not have a large New Year’s fireworks display.
The pyrotechnic spectacle in the sky will be replaced by light visual effects and confetti.
Many European cities have decided to ban fireworks because of the negative consequences for animals and the environment. It is common knowledge that the noise from firecrackers and fireworks, which traditionally accompany New Year’s celebrations, causes fear and stress and even fatal outcomes for many animals.
Zagreb also officially gave up fireworks for New Year’s Eve.
Although Sarajevo will not give up fireworks this year, there won’t be any next year, according to the management of the City Administration.
On this occasion, the initiative was launched by city councilor Adi Skaljic.
”New Year’s Eve, and any other celebration, should not be a source of suffering for anyone, and for many people and animals, it is because of fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices. Animals are afraid of loud noises, they react to flashes of light, and especially great stress causes them to be unpredictable when and where the noise and flash will come from. Because of this, fireworks cause them confusion, anxiety, fear, stress, and panic. Frightened animals can run on the road and cause accidents. Firework explosions can be as loud as 190 decibels. For comparison, hearing damage is possible in humans at only 75 decibels. Also, smoke from fireworks contains a mixture of sulfur and carbon compounds, traces of heavy metals, and other toxic chemicals or gases, such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. Fireworks are colored by various metals. These poisons remain after the fireworks burn and pollute the air and water. I believe that the City of Sarajevo should follow positive examples from the region where the local governments of Cres, Cazma, Labin, Mali Losinj, Opatija, Osijek, Porec, Pula, Rovinj, Rijeka, Samobor, Varazdin, Zabok have decided to celebrate the craziest night with quieter and environmentally better options such as light installations and a laser show,” he stated.
For the same reasons, Skaljic sent an initiative to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Canton Sarajevo (CS) to intensify the control of illegal and unannounced use of pyrotechnics.
He also mentioned that many people, especially people with PTSD and those on the autistic spectrum, have a hard time enduring holidays precisely because of firecrackers, Klix.ba reports.
E.Dz.
