Will Boston Ring in 2018 With Silent Fireworks?

PETA Urges First Night Festivities to Swap Upsetting Ear-Splitting Fireworks for Dazzling Noiseless Displays

For Immediate Release:
September 7, 2017

Contact:
Brooke Rossi 202-483-7382

Boston is consistently ranked among the top New Year’s Eve destinations in the country—and PETA is asking the city to begin 2018 with a silent bang. In a letter sent this morning to the organizers of  First Night/First Day PETA asks that the family-friendly festivities feature silent fireworks, light- and video-based shows, holographic laser mapping, or other high-tech, color-rich displays.

In its letter, PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that animal shelters see a spike in the number of lost dogs following loud fireworks displays, and the noise can also scare wildlife onto roads, where they’re likely to be injured or killed by vehicles. And the stress isn’t limited to animals: Veterans and others suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder can find the noise of the explosives disturbing.

“Rich in color and choreography, silent fireworks deliver all the flash without the fright,” says PETA Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is urging First Night/First Day to ring in 2018 with a stunning silent display that appeals to everyone, including the city’s more vulnerable residents.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—recently prompted Costa Mesa, California, to join the several European cities that have already implemented silent fireworks.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

PETA’s letter to Dusty Rhodes, president of Conventures Events Communication Marketing, which is producing First Night/First Day, follows.

September 7, 2017

Dusty Rhodes

President

Conventures Events Communication Marketing

Dear Ms. Rhodes,

I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and our more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide, including thousands across Massachusetts, with a proposal that I hope will spark your interest: Use only silent fireworks at the “First Night/First Day” New Year’s Eve celebration in order to create a stress-free environment for Boston’s humans and animals or opt instead for only holographic laser imaging or video-based shows.

Silent fireworks and laser shows offer a stress-free celebration for noise-sensitive animals, children, veterans, and elderly people. During traditional fireworks displays, dogs frantically panic as they try to escape the loud noise and have been known to jump through glass windows or over fences and end up lost, seriously hurt, or being killed. Loud fireworks displays can also scare wildlife onto roads, where they risk being hit or killed in traffic. The stress caused by these displays is not limited to animals: Veterans and others suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are sensitive to and can be deeply disturbed by the noise of the explosives.

Silent fireworks are richer in color effects and visual choreography than conventional fireworks and provide all the fanfare and celebration without any of the frightening noise. This New Year’s, you might also consider exploring cutting-edge light- and video-based shows, drones, and holographic laser mapping. When paired with programmed music, these forms of visual artistry are just as exciting as traditional fireworks, are safer, and produce virtually no pollution. In fact, accomplished VJ Vello Virkhaus was quoted in the LA Weekly as saying, “Some type of dimensional, spatial lighting, a laser- and video-based show, could be just as immersive as fireworks and not as destructive—while producing less waste. …We don’t need to blow things up to celebrate.”

Exclusively silent fireworks displays have been implemented in several cities in Europe and, most recently, in Costa Mesa, California, at the behest of PETA. By allowing only silent fireworks or laser- and video-based shows, you’d deliver all the traditional New Year’s revelry without the frightening noise, while improving the quality of life for all living beings around Boston. We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact me at 323-210-2222 or [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President