PAN Olhão announced this Thursday, December 30, that it presented, in the last ordinary session of the Municipal Assembly of Olhão, a recommendation for the municipality to carry out a transition to silent fireworks, having been "unanimously approved".
According to the party, "during the discussion of contracting for the traditional New Year's Eve fireworks", which took place at the session of the Municipal Assembly of Olhão on 25 November, the PAN municipal deputy, Alexandre Pereira, questioned the mayor if "at some point alternatives to fireworks with explosions had been considered".
Alexandre Pereira also argued that «this practice takes place right on top of the Municipal Kennel, with all the impacts for the animals housed there».
«This is the real sensitivity that António Pina has for the animal cause when, in a joking tone, he suggests getting earplugs and headphones for the animals to use during the fireworks explosions. Is this one of the reasons why in Olhão we still do not have the sessions of the Municipal Assembly broadcast online and live, so that this type of comments, which are common by those who lead the municipality, are not heard by the population?”, asks the deputy municipality of the PAN.
The use of fireworks is "a practice traditionally used in celebrations", and "the negative impact that the loud noise has, especially in young children, people with autism, elderly people, people with certain illnesses and in companion and wild animals'.
In relation to animals, namely dogs, «their hearing is much more refined than that of humans, causing the sound of bangs to be perceived in a much more intense way. Noise, associated with fear, triggers physiological stress responses, through activation of the neuroendocrine system, which result in a fight-or-flight response, observed through increased heart rate, peripheral vasoconstriction, pupil dilation, piloerection and changes in metabolism of glucose', according to a study highlighted by the PAN and prepared by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – SPCA Scotland.
The damage caused by the noise of the explosions «affects domestic animals but also wild animals, especially birds that, while sleeping, have an instinctive flight reaction which, combined with the lack of night visibility, causes the death of many birds as a result of the shock. with urban structures during flight”.
«It is urgent to rethink the use of noisy fireworks, respecting the well-being of all: babies, more sensitive children, pregnant women, the elderly, the sick, animals and even the environment», emphasizes Alexandre Pereira.
“There are more and more cities using silent fireworks in their celebrations, combining this show with background music and audiovisual projections, preserving the show in color and eliminating the so harmful noise. There are alternatives that satisfy the festive spirit, such as noiseless fireworks or video mapping and laser shows, it is necessary to rethink the continued use of traditional fireworks in the municipality's celebrations», he adds.
The proposal now unanimously approved by the Municipal Assembly is «an important achievement of the PAN deputy, but, above all, a demonstration that there is receptivity on the part of the executive and members of this deliberative body, to evolve and make Olhão a reference in good environmental and animal protection and welfare practices».
In the same session, a recommendation was also presented for the live online broadcast, with a Portuguese Sign Language interpreter, of the public sessions through the available technological means, entitled “To bring the policy closer to the community”.
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