Fireworksare synonymous with New Year's Eve celebrations all over the world.?The worst part? It happens every year, despiteknowing the harmful effects - they produce so much smoke, dust, and hazardous gases likesulphur dioxide and make the already disappointing air quality,?worse.
AFP
Apart from that, it’s a massive nuisance for pets and evenpeople who suffer from autism - the bangs and crashes of the crackers can cause anxiety and even death in some cases.
But its use is rampant.
To usher in the year 2020, cities across the world had to be part of the ritualistic firework display. Even a city like Sydney,which faces an unprecedented wildfire crisis, carried out an elaborate display of fireworks.?More than 100,000 fireworks exploded in the skies aboveSydney Harbour at the stroke of midnight, to entertain a crowd of 1 millionpeople.
The skies above Sydney were cloaked in smoke from thenearby blazes and 11 people have been killed in the infernos, which arecontinuing to rage across the city. But even that did not stop the authorities from organising thegrand display; in fact, the Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said hesupports the decision to go ahead with the fireworks, saying the event showshis country's resilience.
“One thing we can always celebrate in Australia is that welive in the most amazing country on earth and the wonderful Aussie spirit thatmeans that we will always overcome whatever challenges we face,” he said.
Toxic smoke haze has shrouded Sydney for weeks and apetition to cancel the event out of respect for fire victims attracted morethan 280,000 signatures.
But the show did go on and more than 100,000 fireworks litup the skyline for the hundreds of thousands of spectators thronging the citycentre.
You and I know, that’s no way displaying a countries resilience - it actually only aggravates the already emergent situation. However, people need that momentary joy and forget about the larger repercussion.
Take Delhi for instance - every year during winter, relentless crop burning and fog mixed with the thick smoke emanating from burning fields pushes AQI to unforeseen lows.??The Central Pollution Control Board has written to authorities in Noida and Ghaziabad, asking them to restrict bursting of unauthorised firecrackers in compliance with the Supreme Court ban, even during Christmas and New Year.
But despite that, people feltthe need to burst crackers as the clock struck 12.
According to AFP, in Hong Kong, after more than six months ofnear-daily demonstrations, 2020 was ushered in with tear gas and water cannons.
AFP
As the clock struck midnight in North Korea, a large crowdgathered for a concert in the centre of Pyongyang cheered as the fireworks burst in the sky above a neon-lit stage, hosting atightly choreographed dance performance.
The use of fireworks is ubiquitous across the world, but how much longer till we realise that they are harmful and unecessary; not using them won't take anything away from our celebrations.