New Year's Eve Fireworks - Money going up in smoke!!??!! sign now

Let's face it, we all get into the New Year's hype, enjoy the odd drop of champagne, and kick back and relax watching beautiful fireworks displays.

BUT, how many of us look up, and see a LOT of money going up in smoke??? Meanwhile, we have in our own communities homeless people who don't even know where their next meal is coming from!

I know I look up and think 'what a waste', I know my family do; and then how many of us think 'well what can we do about it?'

Doesn't it irk you slightly that OUR tax money is wasted in such a manner?

I, nor my family, are suggesting ceasing new year's eve celebrations, or the countdown, or even fireworks in general, but do we really need to see big extravagant 15-30 minutes of fireworks, whilst so many go without food or shelter? What does it say about the society we live in then? Are we ok with allowing this to go on?

What I am trying to achieve by starting this petition, is to get Australia as a whole country to set an example to all countries worldwide. To take a stand and say halve the spending on all these fireworks displays. We can still have the kids fireworks at 9pm, but hey let's just have a less extravagant display at midnight (or halve the time of both displays). I mean seriously, should we allow this huge waste of money to continue????

I figure if Australia takes a stand, then other countries may follow suit.

I am SO sick of seeing all the major cities try to outdo each other with a bigger and better fireworks display - IT IS JUST SO WRONG!!!!

If you agree with these sentiments, then please do sign the petition, as every signature will count for something. And everyone from Australia and OS is free to sign this petition. Heck, if you are OS and you feel like we do, then start your own petition in your country. Let's get this out there for discussion and let's fix this situation.

I would like to see what is saved on this event given back to the local communities, in the form of temporary housing and/or helping those that simply need something to eat. Perhaps 90% of the money could be used in this way, and say 10% could go to overseas aid....just a thought.

C'mon!!! Something has to change and change now - let's make 2012 the real start of seeing stuff like this change. Let's not allow our communities to continue on this path.

I've done a bit of online research, and I THINK the Sydney displays alone cost in excess of $6M. That is just one city.

I know there is the other side of the coin too. These are free events for the communities to attend, a chance for families to get out and about etc, but then you read articles that include text like -

"NEW YEAR'S EVE means prices rise on everything from babysitters to stretch limousines, but some partygoers are incensed by the latest attempt to cash in on the biggest night of the year.

Bradleys Head, a small parcel of land on the north shore, will become a ticketed vantage point this year, with visitors required to pay $20 to sit on a concrete slab overlooking the harbour.

It joins a growing list of public parklands to have a price slapped on them for the night, such as Clark Island, Shark Island, parts of the Botanic Gardens, Nielsen Park, the Cahill Expressway and Barangaroo.

''Bradleys Head is a national park … To charge mum, dad and the kids $60 to watch free fireworks is a disgrace,'' said a Mosman councillor, Dominic Lopez.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service said the fee would keep crowds to a manageable 5000, mitigate problems of intoxication and bad behaviour, and provide funds for amenities and cleaning.

Police and council rangers also supported the move but Cr Lopez said crowd control could be achieved without charging a fee."
(Article source http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/about-town/prices-leave-the-fireworks-for-dead-when-it-comes-to-soaring-high-20111229-1peea.html )

We are SO lucky, we have a roof over our heads, we have food in the refrigerator, yes at times we struggle to pay our bills, but gees we have SO MUCH to be grateful for.

If you can take the time to read this and sign the petition, I will be very grateful. I will be forwarding the petition at some stage to many Government departments in Australia. Help me help others.

AND if you can send this on via email to as MANY people as you can, I will be very much appreciative also.

Thank you for taking the time to read this petition.

Please sign so we can see a real change.