Australian Bush Fires To Poor Air Quality, Nothing Stopped People From Bursting Firecrackers

Fireworks are synonymous with New Year's Eve celebrations all over the world. The worst part? It happens every year, despite knowing the harmful effects - they produce so much smoke, dust, and hazardous gases like sulphur dioxide and make the already disappointing air quality, worse.

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Apart from that, it¡¯s a massive nuisance for pets and even people 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 above Sydney Harbour at the stroke of midnight, to entertain a crowd of 1 million people.

The skies above Sydney were cloaked in smoke from the nearby blazes and 11 people have been killed in the infernos, which are continuing to rage across the city. But even that did not stop the authorities from organising the grand display; in fact, the Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he supports the decision to go ahead with the fireworks, saying the event shows his country's resilience.

¡°One thing we can always celebrate in Australia is that we live in the most amazing country on earth and the wonderful Aussie spirit that means that we will always overcome whatever challenges we face,¡± he said.

Toxic smoke haze has shrouded Sydney for weeks and a petition to cancel the event out of respect for fire victims attracted more than 280,000 signatures.

But the show did go on and more than 100,000 fireworks lit up the skyline for the hundreds of thousands of spectators thronging the city centre.

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 felt the need to burst crackers as the clock struck 12.

According to AFP, in Hong Kong, after more than six months of near-daily demonstrations, 2020 was ushered in with tear gas and water cannons.

AFP

As the clock struck midnight in North Korea, a large crowd gathered for a concert in the centre of Pyongyang cheered as the fireworks burst in the sky above a neon-lit stage, hosting a tightly 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.