Please stop the indiscriminate and illegal use of fireworks

Dear Editor,
Permit me a space to re-share this letter about the indiscriminate and illegal use of fireworks to celebrate the auspicious Festival of Light, Diwali, a celebration of good over evil, a celebration of light over darkness. With this missive, I am attempting to dissuade my countrymen from using fireworks to celebrate, much to the discomfort of the multitudes.
Editor, the science is clear: animals have hearing capacities that are far advanced to that of humans. Humans can hear sounds that fall between the range of 20Hz and 20KHz, while the hearing capacity of a dog is somewhat between 40Hz and 60 kHz. The hearing range of a cat extends from 48Hz to 85kHz, giving it one of the broadest hearing ranges among mammals. Bats’ sound sensitivity ranges from less than 100Hz to 200KHz. What this simply translates to is that, as humans, we have one of the lowest hearing ranges on the sound spectrum, and last night’s explosion was loud to us. We can only imagine what those scared animals were hearing.
Editor, what transpired on Dewali Night last year is nothing short of a national tragedy. Imagine, as humans, we were forced to endure hours of loud, war-like explosions emanating from these “bombs”. Animals, with their more advanced hearing capacities, were thrown into a state of panic. Many attempted to flee the explosions and ended up on the road, with the outcome being tragic. Many more tried to hide in their homes, panicking, their respiration and heartbeat elevated even as they trembled and were inconsolable. Some, in their attempt to escape the barrage of explosions, attempted to scale fences and jump out of windows, only to end up being injured or dead. Some even died of heart failure, due to panic attacks.
Wild animals were not spared this horrendous ordeal. Birds and bats met tragic ends in their respective bids to seek shelter from this apocalyptic bombing, carried out in the name of celebration.
Humans also had to endure the effects of these explosions. The elderly, sick, babies and persons suffering from post-traumatic syndromes suffered, while a few had their “fun”.
Historically, Diwali is intended to celebrate light over darkness. Many Hindus consider Diwali to be a fresh start similar to the Lunar New Year in January. Many people clean, renovate, and decorate their homes in anticipation of blessing from the Devine Mother Lakshmi. Diwali is also a time to settle debts and make peace with family members, friends and neighbours.
Editor, the laws of Guyana are clear in relation to the importation, sale, possession and use of pyrotechnics. They are banned products, yet we continue to see the wanton sale; possession, and use of same, not only at Diwali, but around the festive season of Christmas also. Editor, there are no known benefits to be derived from the use of fireworks to celebrate. On the contrary, there are multitudes of disadvantages in using them.
Let me highlight a few:
– Illegal use of fireworks can be dangerous to you and to others, and is a public nuisance.
– People who use fireworks carelessly, or without knowing what they’re doing, can be killed or maimed. They can also kill or maim others.
– Fireworks can burn down houses, cause fires, frighten children and adults, and terrify pets and wildlife.
– Noise from fireworks can cause distress, especially as fireworks can sound like gunfire. The noise can also cause tinnitus and deafness, or aggravate a nervous condition.
– People who suffer from asthma can experience discomfort, and epileptics can experience seizures following fireworks’ displays.
– Money spent on purchasing fireworks can be more meaningfully used to purchase a household item, feed the a homeless or strays, or be saved for some other use.
Christmas is around the corner, and I can only imagine what awaits us if this asininity is allowed to go on unchecked. I am hereby making a desperate appeal to all right-thinking Guyanese to immediately stop the use of loud explosives as a form of celebration. Parents, do not encourage your children to use fireworks. Religious leaders, use your authority to encourage your followers to be considerate of all things living during their celebrations. Police officials, I know your hands are filled, but I beg you not to turn a blind eye to this scourge.
As a nation, we are judged by the way we treat animals, the elderly, the homeless and children.

Yours respectfully,
Anurama Ramgobin
Tails of Hope – Animal
Rescue