Keeping New Year's celebration safe

Now is the time to welcome the New Year. It is a time to make new promises. It is also a time to look ahead and try to change things for the better. It is also a time to look behind and see what we have done wrong, and how to change it. No doubt, it is a joyous time and could be celebrated in many ways. However, in doing that we must be careful of whether we are making nuisance for others. People nowadays spend money lavishly on fireworks and paper lanterns to celebrate the New Year. The fireworks up in the sky are spectacular. But do we ever think of the little furry and feathery creatures that are also part of this world? Something that is dazzling to our eyes for a fleeting moment can cost the lives of thousands of birds, dogs and cats. Not only do these fireworks cause harm to these animals and birds, but they also pose a great threat to infants, young children and the elderly. Did we forget about the heart-breaking Facebook post that revealed that little Umair, a 4-month-old baby with a weak heart condition, died last year in Dhaka city's Mohammadpur as he was startled by the sudden noise of New Year's fireworks?
The New Year should bring joy to everyone's life. As the year ends, we should ask ourselves: is our dazzling celebration worth a life? We, humans, are not the only ones who live here in this world. Sure, fireworks are exquisite. But at what cost? It is high time we thought of this. Fireworks and lanterns pose a great threat to us. These cause noise pollution, air pollution and water pollution. Particularly this year, with the posters of the upcoming elections hanging everywhere, fire from lanterns can cause severe damage to many. There are so many other ways to celebrate a new year: bar-b-que with friends, candles, dance, celebration cakes, game nights, and many more. So why don't we make the new year safe for everyone living close to us and flying in the sky? It is our responsibility that we make the world a safer place for all living beings.
Nusrath Nur Fatima,
Student of Department of Management,
School of Business and Economics,
North South University, Dhaka,
[email protected]