I feel a bit silly writing this article. Why? Because it is about Christmas and I am writing it in August!
Nevertheless, now is the time many companies and groups turn to orgainising their Christmas parties, so perhaps now is the right time to try and pursuade you not to decorate them with helium-filled balloons.
Now, almost certainly, everyone reading this knows about 'peak oil'. But we also have to be concerned about 'peak helium'.
Peak Oil: In a nutshell, this is that we've passed the maximum point of oil production. Basically, we've spent roughly 100 years making our societies and lifestyles more and more dependent on oil as it has become industially extracted from the ground. But now we're gong to have to gear ourselves to use less and less oil, which will be more and more expensive, and of course eventually nothing. The sooner we make this adjustment the less big a shock it will be to us and the more time we will have to make the adjustment. Read more here.
Well, since the helium we have is extracted from natural gas wells, and since it is so light when it is released it quickly rushes up and our of earth's atmosphere, just as when we burn oil when we have it no longer, when we use helium it is also gone. For good.
Why should this concern us?
Well, helium is not only used for balloons but also for MRI and NMRE scanners amongst other things. So, no more helium = no more MRI or NMR scanners. Oops
Oh, of course balloons released into the air are doubly bad because they litter the landscape and kill animals (more).
So, this Christmas, make sure your company or group doesn't use helium-filled balloons for the party. And you also won't have to put up with the drunken idiot trying to make himself sound like Donald Duck either. Everyone's a winner!
Links
To find out more information, follow these links:
Update 28th August 2008
After witing the above I've come across a local company (based in Westcott) called eco my party which on the face of it seems fantastic (though I've not yet bought anything from them so can't tell).
They provide biodegradable versions of eveything you might use in a party - cups, plates, knifes and forks etc etc. Oh, and FSC certified biodegradable balloons too!