More than 135,000 signatures: Animal rights activists submit fireworks initiative in Bern

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The initiative aims to restrict the sale and lighting of loud fireworks for private individuals. Pyrotechnic products that release silently into the air should continue to be permitted. Large professional public fireworks displays should also continue to be allowed at events, if approved upon request.

The initiative is supported by the association Feuerwerks-Initiatief, partners are the Swiss animal protection organization STS, Vier Pfoten, the Animals in Law Foundation and the Fondation Franz Weber. Numerous other animal protection and environmental organizations support the initiative. Parties are not involved.

“Animals cannot escape loud fireworks”

The initiative was initiated by former journalist Roman Huber, who is now also on the initiative committee. He told the media in Bern that he had learned from a friend what a pony phobia meant. To protect themselves and their pets from explosions, pet owners like him do a lot.

As examples, Huber mentioned multi-day trips abroad on August 1, long highway drives on New Year’s Eve or an overnight stay in a remote location. “But my thoughts are with wild animals that cannot escape loud fireworks.”

Anyone who intentionally or negligently sets off fireworks near animals and thereby frightens them could be prosecuted for animal cruelty, says Animal in Law lawyer Sibel Konyo. Animals that flee in panic can also injure themselves or even die. It’s just hard to provide evidence of the crime.

More than 300 tons of particulate matter from fireworks every year

Environmental pollution is also a concern for the initiators. Every year, more than 300 tons of particulate matter from fireworks are released into the air in Switzerland. “You can’t look away,” says Monika Wasenegger of the Franz Weber Foundation.

Corinne Meister of the initiative committee reported that the signatures were collected on a voluntary basis with a “safety margin” of 5,000. Many were happy with the initiative and wanted to help with the collection. “The freedom of fools when it comes to fireworks creates a lack of understanding.”

The initiative calls for supplementing the federal constitution with Article 74a on fireworks. Accordingly, the sale and use of fireworks that produce noise should be prohibited. Upon request, the cantonal authorities may grant exceptions for events of national importance.

How exactly noise is defined is a matter for the Federal Council and Parliament, the initiative committee writes on its website. There are also clear rules regarding barking dogs, and violations of these can be reported.

A similar initiative had no chance in Aargau

According to the initiators, no one is interested in time restrictions for fireworks. Fireworks enthusiasts did not pay attention to August 1 and New Year’s Eve. If fireworks and fireworks were set off on other days, it would be difficult for police to find those disturbing the peace.

The initiators see the local fireworks industry as forced to act innovatively. Losses would be compensated by switching to bang-free pyrotechnic products. However, the drop in turnover will probably not be proportionate to the added value that is currently flowing abroad due to the many foreign trips around August 1.

Eight years ago, a ban on fireworks for private individuals was voted on: in Aargau, an initiative for a comprehensive cantonal ban failed at the ballot box in March 2015. 64.5 percent of voters said no to the referendum launched by cantonal parliamentarians from different parties. (SDA)

Source:Blick