Himalayan Fireworks Show Sparks Outrage

On the evening of September 19, outdoor brand Arc’teryx,in collaboration with artist Guoqiang Cai, held a fireworks show in the Himalayas, Tibet. Colorful fireworks were set off along the mountain ridges which created a dynamic “Rising Dragon” scene.

After the videos of the fireworks show were posted online, it quickly became a popular issue and aroused public doubts. Many experts pointed out that the fireworks were mainly set off at an altitude of 4500 to 5500 meters,which is an important transition zone between the Qinghai-Tebit Plateau’s screen and meadows. What’s more, the shock waves caused by the explosion of the fireworks may damage the plant roots directly, preventing the plants from producing seeds, which is irreversible. Additionally, chemical residues in fireworks degrade very slowly and alpine meadows take hundreds of years to form so artificial restoration is almost impossible. Additionally, the “soil-turning restoration” claimed by the project group may bury the pollutants into deeper soil which would worsen ecological degradation.

The animals were also affected. For example, snow leopards, the top predators on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, are sensitive to sound and light stimuli. The noise from fireworks may damage their hearing and cause stress reactions. Moreover, the explosions may destroy the nests of small animals, disrupting the food chain.