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Kaboom! Calls for a ban on noisy fireworks

Should fireworks be silent? You may have heard lots of noisy explosions this week. They can be scary for animals. Luckily, we have invented fireworks that do not make any noise at all.
What’s happening
On Tuesday, it was Guy Fawkes night.
Every year on 5 November, people gather in parks and gardens around the UK to watch firework displays. There are huge explosions of amazing colours.
However, not everyone likes fireworks. Some people think they are too noisy and that they scare animals.
Find out more
Guy Fawkes night can be dangerous for animals. Almost half of dogs show signs of fear when they hear fireworks.
One firework display in the north of England was cancelled because the organisers thought that the loud bangs would upset animals in a nearby shelter.
To deal with the problem, people have started to sell silent fireworks. However, they are a lot more expensive than normal ones.
Should all fireworks be silent?
Some say…
No! The noise of fireworks is a big part of the excitement. Firework displays are an old tradition. There are ways to keep animals calm without changing that.
Others think…
Yes. Keeping animals safe is more important. It is selfish to use noisy fireworks. We can still look at amazing fireworks without the noise.
You Decide
- Do you like firework displays?
Activities
- Draw your own picture of an amazing firework display. Use lots of colour.
Some People Say...
“Light is prettiest in the dark.”
Joyce Rachelle, authorWhat do you think?
Word Watch
- Guy Fawkes
- He tried to blow up Parliament in 1605 using gunpowder.
- Explosions
- Things that blow up.
- Dangerous
- Harmful.
- Organisers
- The people who put something on.
- Shelter
- A place people and animals go to be looked after.
- Expensive
- Costs a lot of money.