Originally Posted by hwp (Post 6993145)

I'm wondering who will be cleaning up the mess. All that plastic waste ending up in the environment... some cute baby animals will surely suffer.

Originally Posted by G586 (Post 6995414)

Yep, a lot of it ends up in the oceans where turtles, sea birds and whales/dolphins ingest it and then starve or choke to death. There was a documentary recently that showed huge amounts of animals dying in the Pacific and one of the contributory factors was the increase in balloon releases.

It's 4 kids and 2 women who on average die each week due to violence from relatives, I often wonder why only the occasional case gets a reaction? Bored media that day?

Originally Posted by Rainey69 (Post 6994549)

I am really sorry if my thread has caused an arguement:confused:.......that was not what it was for, it was purely information posted for people who wanted to take part but were not able to. You can keep burying your head in the sand and ignore what is going on, but as a mother i feel i can't any longer. It is nothing to do with aportioning the blame and it is not meant to exacerbate any situation, mearly to bring this case to peoples attention. If it just means that we feel that we have done a bit to help......however small........then this just may save a childs life. I think we are all capable of sweeping things under a "mental carpet", but is there not a point where we have to say enough is enough.:confused: I am sure some peoples attitudes would be changed if it was their child in danger, and i hope with all my heart that it never is.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 6995126)

I had to google, http://www.amberalert.gov/pdfs/07_amber_report.pdf

This seems to be a well thought out coordinated interagency scheme to facilitate response in cases of child abduction under circumstances with potential for violence. I strongly approve of it.

The system was activated ~180 times in 2007 which suggests though that the effect is more on recovery rate (80% within 72 hours) than prevention. The pdf doesn't mention what the recovery rate was before the scheme was put in place, nor how many successful recoveries were a result of public awareness/participation. I'm happy to concede though that if only one child was rescued, it's worth it.

It doesn't seem very relevant to the blue balloons.

Originally Posted by moondevil (Post 6994908)

agree with that dbd33 totally
sad that the social worker didnt listen to police when they was involved, i suppose if they learnt by this case and it is kept in the media, then some other baby/child can be saved

way to late for this baby, my kids send me lala most days, but i would never hurt any of them, just a shame that there is people out there that will stoop so low, shame as well that they are not getting the right sentance either :curse:

i know that they would be a good line to pull the plug.....but i will read from afair and see if there is anything that i can do to help ;)

Originally Posted by Souvenir (Post 6996210)

It was an attempt on my part to suggest that there is value to be had from raising public awareness of such issues, even if the methods used are rather cheesy. Do not underestimate the power of symbols and colour in human psychology. Marketers use it lots.

Originally Posted by Caitilin (Post 6995798)

with no disrespect intended, but you being a mother gives your opinion no more or less value than a member who has not had a child, or is male and has had a child.

While I agree that all children should be wanted, loved and cherished, I'm not sure how much godo this action will do, and I personally find the phrase 'as a ......xyz' always sounds extremely patronising to those who are not xyz.

Originally Posted by Souvenir (Post 6996210)

It was an attempt on my part to suggest that there is value to be had from raising public awareness of such issues, even if the methods used are rather cheesy. Do not underestimate the power of symbols and colour in human psychology. Marketers use it lots.

Originally Posted by moondevil (Post 6996416)

I know the OP and she did not mean it that way, it really doesnt matter if you have children or not, male or female, if you support this then please do something, ok the ballons may not be the best answer, but that is what one person is doing, there is many other groups that are doing other things, if people stand togeather and try, maybe and i say maybe something may happen ;)




agree totally, its the awareness that makes the difference.
The OP was bring to the attention of other expats that there is a group that is trying to do something, if you don't like the idea that is fine, but honestly its about others, something that most of us do everyday on here.

Its good to see that everyone thinks different and has different options on the matter, i don't expect to change your option and thus you will never change mine, my ballons have been sent off and i will still carry on helping if i can with this, its not just for the poor baby that died its for others that are in the system.
like gibbs said thinks have not changed over years, WHY...because people don't fight for it, maybe by doing this it may help others, maybe not, but its worth the trying :blink:

Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 6996324)

What is it you think is being marketed? Or, come to think of it, symbolized?

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 6996437)

Things havent changed over the years because most people don't want to "interfere", to stick their head above the parapet.

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 6996437)

Things havent changed over the years because most people don't want to "interfere", to stick their head above the parapet.

Originally Posted by Souvenir (Post 6996444)

Then perhaps they should be encouraged to interfere.

Originally Posted by Souvenir (Post 6996441)

Essentially what moondevil said. What is being marketed is a concept, if you will. It's easier to fix the concept in people's brains if it is linked to a symbol, particularly one that is very simple and easy to remember. Blue is a good choice of colour in this case, BTW.

Originally Posted by Souvenir (Post 6996441)

Blue is a good choice of colour in this case, BTW.