WHEREAS, all released helium balloons, including those falsely marketed as “biodegradable latex,” return to Earth as ugly litter; and
WHEREAS, balloons and their strings or ribbons kill countless animals, both wild and domestic; and
WHEREAS, balloons often cause dangerous power outages; and
WHEREAS, balloons waste helium, a finite resource; and
WHEREAS, released balloons can travel thousands of miles, polluting the most remote and pristine places, including water and land areas; and
WHEREAS, there are many alternatives to balloon releases, such as planting a memorial tree or native flower garden, celebrating with banners or flags, dancing with streamers or ribbons, donating to local charities, flying kites, making pinwheels that children can take home, scattering wildflower seeds, lighting candles at a memorial ceremony, blowing bubbles, releasing floating flowers or flower petals on waterways, holding a mass gathering to form a word or image to be photographed from above, organizing a commemorative walk/race/game, and countless other possibilities; and
WHEREAS, many U.S. and international entities already have such laws in existence so that the Louisiana legislature could pattern its law on the best of existing anti-balloon release laws in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia, as well as cities such as Huntsville, AL, and Louisville, KY; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana is known for its beautiful scenery and wildlife, attracting tourists from all over the world, so that any sort of litter from any source is contrary to our own economic and aesthetic well-being.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges the passage of a statewide law against the mass release of helium balloons, with reasonable exceptions such as those detailed in Florida’s recently passed law.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Louisiana Wildlife Federation supports public education about helium balloons as litter and highlight harm done to wildlife and fisheries.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in Convention Assembled on August 17, 2024 in Lafayette, Louisiana.