Target: Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York
Goal: Advocate for more eco-friendly fireworks displays during massive Independence Day celebrations.
In a bid to break a world record for biggest fireworks display, leaders in the nation’s capital set a more notorious record. For a brief time on July 5, Washington, DC earned the distinction as the city with the worst air quality in the world. The atmosphere became so polluted following the 40-minute spectacle that a Code Red Air Quality alert was issued, meaning vulnerable individuals were advised to remain indoors. Dozens of people had to be taken to the hospital in the wake of the DC celebration, although the exact causes for their conditions were unknown.
This potentially record-breaking display was a macrocosm of what has played out across the country, which releases on average 300 million pounds of firework residue every year. The typical firework is replete with chemicals, heavy metals, gases, microplastics, and particulate matter that explode into the atmosphere with every detonation. These toxic substances contaminate water and soil, and they pose a range of health threats (including cancer-causing carcinogens) to any living organism exposed to them. Levels of these toxins often soar in the days following a fireworks display. Fireworks also pose a direct safety threat, since they can trigger wildfires. Such concerns have led some places to opt for drone shows instead, but a craving for tradition often causes a reversal in these decisions.
More eco-friendly fireworks that use biodegradable materials and that lack many of the harmful ingredients found in traditional offerings are on the market. Sign the petition below to urge wide-spread adoption of these healthier and safer alternatives.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Governor Hochul,
The grandeur of July 4 and of massive city celebrations comes with serious risks, as evidenced by the reported fire on the Brooklyn Bridge and the seriously degraded air quality in Washington, DC following Independence Day fireworks displays. City celebrations should not compel festive residents to risk their health and well-being. But the average fireworks display does just that, since the average firework is packed with harmful substances ranging from microplastics to heavy metals to cancer-causing agents.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Biodegradable fireworks with safer and less risky additives are available, and your investment could help them soar. Please set a positive standard for the rest of the country to emulate by helping make one of the nation’s most watched and revered fireworks celebrations — in New York City — eco-friendly and health conscious.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Jim Henderson
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