When I was a kid I loved fireworks. In fact, I still do. But I don’t like Guy Fawkes night on 5 November each year:
- I just seem to be getting a bit curmudgeonly as I age.
- Every year fireworks cause all kinds of damage to people, animals and property. I think fireworks should be restricted and only available for organised public displays.
- Fireworks are a wonderful spectacle, but in this modern age we have a lot of spectacles, and for that matter, a lot of fireworks — there were fireworks less than a couple of weeks ago at Diwali, for example. And there often seem to be fireworks after sporting events at the Stadium.
- Fireworks burn up, put a lot of stuff into the atmosphere, and the next day there’s an awful lot of litter. How about a light show instead?
- And finally, there’s the whole thing of Guy Fawkes. Here we are half a planet and several hundred years away. How about we celebrate something else instead — Matariki for example?
But still, those are just my thoughts, and there will be fireworks in Wellington next week, also available online: Fireworks Beamed Across the Planet:
Up to 100,000 Wellingtonians are expected to descend upon the central city on Monday evening for the Pelorus Trust Sky Show, but for those who won’t be able to make it, the MetService will make the display accessible to all internet users. … A recorded version will be also placed on the MetService website, www.metservice.com.
The Sky Show starts at 9pm and will run for about 15 minutes to a soundtrack broadcast on Classic Hits.
The Pelorus Trust Sky Show features pyrotechnic fireworks launched from barges in the middle of Wellington Harbour.
Note: The MetService webcam uses wmv (Windows Media Video) format. These files can be played by Windows Media Player and other players such as MPlayer, VLC media player or Media Player Classic.
Oh, and there is one really cool thing about the fireworks. One of the most popular viewing spots is at the top of Mt Victoria. Every year the traffic locks up as spectators try to drive as close as they can to the best spots, but we live nearby, so if we do decide to watch the show it’s a two minute walk each way. Unfortunately we’re on the wrong side of the hill to just stay home and watch, but we get the noise for free.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Mt. Vic has just been revamped. This includes hundreds of new plants. I expect these will be dead and upended by the 6th. As always I also expect the fires from private fireworks. I wish they’d ban them completely.
I will not do the Mt Vic thing this year. I’ll be in a building on Jervois Quay watching from a different angle.
I’ll be in a concrete bunker, 4km from the event.
….or I’ll kayack out to the barges!
LEEERRROOOYY JENKINS!
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