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UPDATED: February 18, 2011 NO. 8 FEBRUARY 24, 2011
Should Fireworks Be Banned?
 
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(LI SHIGONG)

During the Spring Festival, which fell on February 3 this year, a large number of fires and injuries to people were triggered by fireworks. A new round of debate over whether to again put firework bans in place in China's largest cities has sprung up.

The focuses of discussion are: How we can respect tradition while at the same time ensuring public safety and if governments should again put firework bans in place. Both sides of the argument have been making their voices heard loudly.

A recent online survey conducted by huanqiu.com shows 45 percent of 23,369 respondents said they were in favor of resuming bans on fireworks while the remainder said they wanted to stick with the tradition.

The main arguments of both sides are:

To keep firing

Following tradition

Setting off fireworks has been a long-time tradition ever since the invention of gunpowder in China. On special occasions, such as the eve of the lunar New Year, the Lantern Festival, weddings and funerals, fireworks are frequently set off.

China was the first country in the world to invent gunpowder, and fireworks were invented from the popular use of gunpowder.

The country has a 2,000-year history of using fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate the lunar New Year. Fireworks are often set off on the eve of the lunar New Year to ward off evil spirits.

Another big occasion for setting off fireworks is the fifth day of the lunar New Year, which is considered the day of the God of Fortune. Fireworks are set off to usher in the God and bring good luck for the year.

The sound of fireworks is a sign of saying goodbye to the past year and welcoming the new one. It also reveals the good mood of the Chinese people during the Spring Festival. It's a valuable and precious tradition for the Chinese people to celebrate important festivals, especially as more and more people are complaining festivals are less and less festive these days.

Due to the tradition and popularity of fireworks, their production has become a huge industry in China. China is a leading country for the manufacture and selling of fireworks, with production accounting for 90 percent of the world's total and exports reaching as high as 557 million yuan ($83 million) in 2009.

Respecting public will

Many big cities, like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, banned fireworks in the 1990s due to fire dangers and growing concerns over air pollution. But most of the bans were later repealed following protests from the public saying the tradition of the lunar New Year was destroyed. This is usually seen as an example of government's respect of the public opinion.

Banning fireworks again is going back to an old path and is retrogressive of society. Whether to ban them should be based on the will of common people.

Better management

Better management methods need to be adopted to regulate the practice and reduce accidents to a minimum degree.

First, the government should regulate the manufacture of fireworks. Supervision departments, along with the fireworks industry association, should adjust standards of production, reduce and control the use of gunpowder, and take strong measures against counterfeited products. Many accidents occurred this year because of the excessive amount of gunpowder in fireworks and poor-quality products.

Second, the government can regulate the place and time for setting off fireworks. In high-density business districts and living communities in large cities, the government should prohibit them. But they should be allowed for a certain time under supervision in large squares and parks. If people don't follow the rules, they should be harshly punished, and so a healthy, good order for setting off fireworks can be constructed.

Third, certain policies can be put in place to make people who set off fireworks responsible for other's injuries. For instance, the government could levy a tax on the purchase of fireworks to set up a special fund to help those who are injured by fireworks.

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