Husson University students, many of them Kappa Delta Phi members, let go balloons carrying prayers at the university on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012. The event was to remember the victims of the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., on Friday.
Husson students release balloons, prayers in memory of Newtown victims
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Stop releasing balloons into the air. It is not good for the environment or wildlife.
Nice thought and gesture. Too bad some wildlife might have to die because of it.
None of the balloons even made it off campus due to the rain…
I really wish that people would find local people to help… and make a real difference in the lives of people who need a little help.
whenever a tragedy hits the news, everyone wants to do some token thing … and frankly, I think it is to make themselves feel better.
there are plenty of kids who could use a friend, a big brother/big sister, a mentor or tutor. there are plenty of families who would just love it if someone brought them a lasagna… or even a spaghetti dinner.
DO something that helps someone still living and do it for someone in your own town.
I hate to say it, but the balloons did nothing for anyone except the people who released them, and nothing at all for anyone who might need help.
How do you know these families don’t need help? I don’t know many people that have life insurance policies on their children, some do, most don’t and funerals are not cheap.
The money being raised is also helping the living. Many of these families had other children who are going to need years of professional help which is not cheap.
Yes, the balloon part was useless and served no purpose at all but if people want to donate to these families let them. That is their right.
None of the balloons actually flew off into the sky because of the heavy rain at the time. All were collected at a near by athletic field. I think this was a nice gesture!
So if the weather had been nice they would have flown away, causing harm to wildlife or the environment. That is not a nice gesture, at all.
This tragic event happened. This sorority wanted to show their respect and the comments left here… really? Sorry the BDN wants to cover stuff that that relates to a tragic event. This sorority does A LOT for the local community. Along with the other fraternities and sororities on campus.
Currently there is a lot of community service going on. Just because it Isnt covered in the news doesnt mean they arent doing anything..
Kevin of Bangor.. when was the last time you helped out at Manna? Or raised $500 dollars for children needing treatment?
JohnG when was the last time you had an ice cream social for the residents at Ross Mannor?
Any of you ever send a handful of holiday cards to the local nursing homes? Donate toys and blankets to the Humane society?
This sorority does more than just “release balloons Into the wild.” Just because it isn’t in the news doesnt mean things arent happening locally.
So stop judging and DO something.
I have dropped off Turkeys and Hams to Manna for the past 3 years and I have given money to many fund raisers setup by atheist groups such as the one below.
http://www.weareatheism.com/donate/nonbelievers-giving-aid-support-sandy-hook-elementary/
I’m all for helping people but in this day in age a sorority should know not to release balloons into the environment. It is simply a dumb thing to do.
I find your comments to be rude and unsupportive. The whokr point of this was to recognize the victims. They will not be forgotten. Yet you want to bash on the effort made by this local sorority. Go do something better with your time. Because you are missing the point of this gesture.
Causing harm to wildlife is a nice gesture? Once again, in this day in age a sorority should know not to release balloons as they did. It is not cool to do and I’m glad the weather cause them to not travel far.
Again you are missing the actual message. Please stop responding.
He is toxic for the environment everytime he opens his mouth.
Releasing balloons into the environment is toxic, not my comments. Did you miss the part where I stated I do donate food to Manna? Did you miss the part where I stated I do donate money to those in need?
I will have done a great deal for the environment if my postings keep this sorority from ever doing a mass balloon launch ever again.
Merry Christmas Kevin. Thats wonderful you volunteer at Manna Ministries.
God Bless you
You are missing the message — how many birds or other wildlife are you going to kill with this ridiculous gesture? Perhaps having a fund drive to benefit clinics or pre-schools wouldn’t have gotten your picture in the paper quite so quickly? Kevin is right — you are WRONG. And, who are you to tell people when and what they can write. You expressed yourself with stupid balloons — perhaps you should stay away from iParty!
The shooting happened on Friday. Husson students start going home for the holidays on Tuesday. Really think there was time to organize and get volunteers to have a fundraiser? Don’t you worry, stay tuned for what we have in store next semester!
Very rude mean spirited people on this forum.
Kevin, maybe instead of commenting on every story that pops up on BDN, you could be doing something more productive, like doing the things that you are preaching about. When you do that, maybe you will understand that releasing these balloons was not “dumb”. Try doing something more productive instead of criticizing what others do. These girls do a lot for the community, and should not be criticized for honoring those who were tragically killed last Friday.
First, I do not comment on every single story and last time I checked I am allowed free time in the evening to enjoy my life and do as I please, is that ok with you?
As for doing something productive at the moment. I’m letting you and everyone else know that releasing balloons is a very dumb thing to do and those that still do it deserve to be criticized for such actions.
Is it bad for the environment to release balloons into the air?
Given that “what goes up must come down,” balloons released into the air–whether by accident or in large quantities at events–eventually end up as trash on the ground or in bodies of water. In addition–and as any wildlife or marine mammal protection organization will tell you–spent balloons are dangerous to animals, which often get tangled up in the attached ribbons or strings or mistake balloons for prey and ingest them, wreaking havoc with their digestive tracts.
Indeed, according to the non-profit organization, Clean Virginia Waterways, floating balloons–which may look like delicious jellyfish to unsuspecting sea creatures–are responsible for the deaths of thousands of sea turtles, dolphins, fish and seabirds, many whose populations are already endangered due to other man-made threats.
Consumers and event planners should not be misled by industry groups who maintain that balloons pose no environmental threat because they are constructed of biodegradable latex. Even though most latex is biodegradable, it takes at least six months to break down in the environment, and only when exposed to sun or water. So says the Balloon Council, a trade group of balloon makers which otherwise encourages balloon releases and dismisses arguments that balloons are either polluting or injurious to wildlife. Meanwhile, Mylar balloons, while less common than their latex counterparts, are not biodegradable and can be toxic in their own right when ingested by wildlife.
Interestingly, the Balloon Council labels as “misinformation” claims that wildlife can be injured by ingesting balloons, yet duly warns on its website that young children under the age of eight “may choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.”
According to the Michigan Environmental Council, which coordinated one recent beach clean-up event where volunteers picked up more than 4,500 discarded balloons along the shores of Lake Michigan, the solution to the problem is simple: “Don’t participate in balloon releases, don’t use balloons as decorations during outside events, and when you hear of a balloon release being organized, inform the organizers that what they are doing is littering.”
Mass release of balloons is illegal in several U.S. states, including Connecticut, Florida, Tennessee, California and Virginia, and similar legislation is pending in Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, and in some municipal locales. Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Marine Conservation Society has kicked off a campaign to educate the public about the dangers of balloon releases. The group is asking corporate and government event planners in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to sign onto its Voluntary Ban on Balloon Releases.
I applaud their intentions, however the end does not justify the means. There are a lot of other ways to honor the dead and support the survivors than to release balloons. People need to be educated about environmental impacts of balloon releases.
The balloons didnt harm the environment. The balloons were all picked up. Again it was a symbolic way of showing support. So get over the environment issue because there wasnt one.
It was not a good example to engage in a balloon release. If the weather was different would the balloons have been released? Was there an exact count to ensure all, and all parts, were retrieved? It is just not a responsible practice to promote. I hope that alternative demonstration activities can be explored in the future.
Boy, do you do rude? “Get over the environment issue” ??– the environment is important and certainly more important than some symbolic gesture which has great environmental impact. So you lucked out and the weather didn’t allow the balloons to rise. LUCKY YOU! It was still a stupid move and your need to show support could have been shown in so many other ways. You could have come up with a huge list in the time it took you to get the balloons readied and call your press conference!
actually, if you failed to read some of the other comments, which clearly you have, you would realize that the balloons were never intended to fly high and kill some poor marine animal. We ensured there was enough paper in each balloon that it would rise for just long enough and then fall so we could collect all the debris. and yes, we did make sure every single piece of balloon and paper and ribbon was picked up.
thank you for the clarification. the post about the paper in the balloons to proactively protect them from being “lost” was after my first comment and similar comments. The BDN should have reported that in the article, and that would have prevented this entire conversation.
To begin, sororities are organizations on college campuses, meaning not everyone who is part of the sorority is necessarily from Maine. In this case, one of the sisters actually comes from the town next to Newtown, and this tragedy struck close to home. Unfortunately since Husson is still in school for the semester, this sister was unable to go back to Connecticut and attend the vigils and church services in her own town. Knowing she had the support from all her sisters, this balloon release was arranged to show that the Husson students are supporting the families affected by this HORRIBLE tragedy. Unless you want to disagree and say that these families don’t deserve our support?
Second, Kappa Delta Phi NAS does do PLENTY to help the local community. We are a philanthropy based sorority in which we have cooked dinner at the Ronald Mcdonald house, volunteered at Ross Manor, donated to the Bangor Humane Society, and many more. If you are so concerned about our “lack of involvement in the community,” it would be wise to back up your concern with evidence of us doing nothing. Trust me, you won’t find anything.
And last, to address the balloon situation. Balloons usually float away. However, if you knew the whole story and had been in attendance yesterday, you would know that these balloons didn’t float. Not because of the weather, but because each balloon was filled with over 10 pieces of paper with a prayer on it. When the store received these balloons, they informed us that even filled with helium, these balloons would not rise that high or travel. The release was our symbolic way of sending our prayers to Heaven, with every intention of picking up the balloons (that were five feet away when they landed).
So please, stop turning this into some environmental debate or some rant about how this community needs it’s own help. Put your hand over your chest, feel your heartbeat. Be thankful you are alive. Because unfortunately because of the massacre on Friday, some people and CHILDREN can’t do that anymore. And that is why this was all done. To remember those who lost their life in such a horrible manner.
Why can we not, for just one moment, think….These kids are looking BEYOND themselves and showing respect to others who have died. In today’s society a group of kids looking outside of themselves is pretty spectacular. Forget the stinking balloons.
Thank you :)
Haven’t you read any of the posts about the damage that “stinking balloons” can do to wildlife and the environment? C’mon … I’d like to think “these kids” could have found any number of good ways to look outside of themselves. But, they had to call a press conference to demonstrate their “looking” — now, that is pretty spectacular …
Its finals week. We didnt call the press. And we raised money.
Considering you keep commenting on how we could have found other things to do to show our support, let me tell you we did have other ideas planned. Such as a luminary service and a candlelight vigil. Both which require candles. How did you expect us to light candles in the rain? we live in the 21st century which allowed us to check the 5 day forecast and plan accordingly. Plus I’m sure the smoke that candles produce is bad for the ozone? Regardless of what we did, someone like you would find something wrong with it. Unfortunately that’s the world we live in today. One thats filled with people willing to shoot up an elementary school and people who hate on people that show support to the families affected. And there was no press conference. Outside sources (meaning nobody from the sorority) called and had the press show up. This would have gone on regardless of whether or not there was a camera on us. Unless you were directly involved in the planning, you probably should keep your comments to yourself.