A high-profile documentary calling for a ban on helium releases has been launched in Australia, calling for people to stop releasing helium balloons during weddings, funerals, birthdays and other celebrations.
Carly Wilson, from the Gold Coast, has created an environmental documentary ‘Rubber Jellyfish’ to spread her message.
The documentary follows her journey as she learns about the harrowing affect balloons have on sea turtles and other environmental concerns.
The documentary will be screened at a number of cinemas across Australia in the coming weeks, including The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast, Cronulla in Sydney’s south and the seaside Perth suburb of Fremantle.
The filmmaker has described industry claims that latex balloons biodegrade as ‘baloney’ and urged consumers to ‘do their research’.
“There are people in the balloon industry who are trying to stop the deliberate release of balloons but there are other balloon stores and manufacturers that still recommend people do those balloon release ceremonies,” she said.
The documentary has already made a difference, with major companies (such as Ray White Real Estate, which previously used 30,000 balloons a year) cancelling any future balloon use.
Find out more about the film and watch the trailer here.
In the UK and Europe, balloon and party organisations EBPC, BAPIA and NABAS have all spoken out against balloon releases, with Code of Practises which advise against releases of any sort.
