Humans have been fascinated and curious by the lights in the sky since the dawn of time. Sunrises, sunsets, full moons and shooting stars still call photographers to capture their beauty. Thousands travel north every year to watch the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, where colors dance in sky as solar wind interacts with the magnetosphere. We have always gravitated toward light in the sky and drones lighting up the sky is another reason to look up and enjoy.
But each year on the 4th of July it’s the same dreary show of noisy fireworks and canons. The loud booms terrify both wildlife and domestic pets. Many veterans suffering from PTSD hate the fireworks. The noise often triggers trauma, ironic since the canons and fireworks are designed to mimic war as a “thank you” to those who fought in one. The air is filled with noxious smoke. Anyone with asthma or a compromised immune system can have their health negatively affected by inhaling the toxic chemicals that linger in the air long after the show ends.
Imagine an amazing light show that doesn’t damage the planet? Drone light shows offer that alternative. Think how much cleaner the parks and beaches would be without the cleanup afterwards. With drones there’s no threat of fire. Each year can be themed with unique images and music. The creativeness and originality is limited only by what we can dream up.
The idea of quiet clean drones replacing noisy fireworks that leave a trail of toxic chemicals and paper behind is an idea whose time has come. However, we humans are slow to change, and nothing acts slower than government.
Some politicians might claim the expense of hiring professional companies to do a drone show outweighs the cost of fireworks, but does it really? While a drone shows cost more up front, if you include the cost of cleanup afterwards, the health cost of adding more toxic fireworks chemicals to the water we swim in and the air we breathe, the cost to wildlife that dies from the shock of loud noises (especially birds), the cost to our pets’ well-being in stressing over the noise, and the cost to veterans with PTSD triggered by the booms and flashing lights, then I say the real long term cost of fireworks outweighs the short term payment for drones.
These images are from the show I attended last 4th of July. As an environmentalist and wildlife photographer I appreciate anything that doesn’t add pollution or noise to our world, while displaying so much imagination and beauty. It’s time we replace noisy, polluting fireworks with cleaner, quiet drones.
Take the next step and write a letter to the editor of your town paper, contact your local town board or create a local chat group to explore how you might help get your town to switch to a drone light 4th of July display as soon as possible!
A thousand drones quietly gather in the sky before turning into a colorful image. Photo courtesy Staci-lee Sherwood
Staci-lee Sherwood is a lifelong preservationist, environmentalist and animal advocate. She is a published writer, blogger and poet, who writes poetry for fun and investigative articles to educate and motivate people into action at www.realitycheckswithstacilee.com. Staci-lee is an avid photographer and hiker who calls the East Coast home with her rescue kitties.
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