All across the UK, November 5th is recognised as Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes’ Night to celebrate Guy Fawkes’ failure to burn down the British Parliament in 1605.
People all over the UK burn bonfires and have firecracker displays but they can also be harmful for the people. A few days ago, a firecracker went off inside a bus and while it didn’t injury anyone it was a scary experience for the people in the bus. At the same time, a 24 year old man lost his eye while trying to move a firecracker to save children.
In light of this, we decided to ask the people of Cardiff what can be done to curb this issue of injuring people and causing harm to animals.
Helen Wynne-Jones, 36, IT Professional
I have never been a big fan of the firework displays that take place around the city but since I got married, I saw the other side and I strongly believe that it isn’t a good idea. My mother in law runs a sanctuary for physiologically and psychologically damaged horses and it is during this period that she faces the most problems because the people in the country-side stock up on fireworks as much as the ones in the city do!
Chris Purcell, 47, Restaurant Manager
I think bonfire displays should be held in isolated places where it wouldn’t be as harmful to the people. There should be restrictions and barriers on how close people can get to the displays to further eliminate the possibilities of injuries.
Gemma Scarello, 30, Retail Assistant
I do go to these displays with my family but I have a dog who goes absolutely mad every time he hears a cracker go off. So when I leave for these displays, I have to lock him up in the house. While the regulations will curb some of the problems, there still will be people who will buy the crackers and cause accidents.
Beverly Slocombe, Retired.
The firecracker displays shouldn’t take place in the populated areas. While it is okay on one night to have such displays, they shouldn’t be used all the time as it is still harmful for the people as well as the environment.
Samantha Clark, 25, Call Centre Employee
I don’t see any solutions to these issues because as long as people can buy firecrackers from outside UK, they will keep having bonfires. The bonfires could be taken to a place that is slightly away from the city to avoid any kind of damages.
Olivia Ross, 19, Student of Human and Social Sciences
There should be specific areas where people can go and have the displays as it would decrease the chances of injuries. There could also be barriers and number restrictions on the people who come for the displays.
Ropa Madhlangobe, 20, Student of Sociology and Education.
There should be logged off areas where the people shouldn’t be allowed to pass through. Additionally, there could be time slots so as to decrease the pressure it causes on the animals around the city.
