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Pow-wow! Explosive Year of the Dog Begins2006/01/01
by Winnie Li The Year of the Dog may begin with the dog hiding under a bed or behind a sofa in Beijing. The city has lifted its 12-year ban on the use of fireworks in the city, which means the upcoming Spring Festival will likely come in with a roar that will catch the attention of every sentient being within earshot of Beijing. The Beijing Municipal Social Affairs Investigation Centre reported that 86 percent of local residents polled favoured lifting the ban. As a result, an average of about 204.2 yuan (US$25.30) is expected to be spent on fireworks per family during the 2006 Spring Festival in Beijing, according to a survey conducted by Beijing Entertainment News and www.sunny-wise.com. The decision to permit fireworks came after several months of meetings of government officials and following discussions involving local legislators and citizens' representative. According to the Beijing Entertainment News survey, during November 22-24 this year, 23.1 percent of the 268 people interviewed on the street regarded firecrackers as a symbol of happiness and traditional culture. Another 18.6 percent thought lifting the ban could lead to pollution and causalities. Regardless of pro or anti firecracker sentiment, Jiang Jiang, a local student who spoke at a public hearing on the issue, said, "It is better for people to light firecrackers under guidance rather than by doing it furtively." Fireworks, other than those fired with mortars, will be allowed within the Fifth Ring Road from Lunar New Year's Eve (January 28) to 12 p.m. of on Lunar New Year's Day (January 29), and from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the following 14 days until the 15th day of the Spring Festival (to the Lantern Festival on February 12). Firecrackers are allowed in areas beyond the Fifth Ring Road at any time of a year. However, firecrackers will still be forbidden from use near cultural relics, bus stops, airports, gas stations, electricity facilities, hospitals, kindergartens, homes for the elderly, in forests and at military facilities. Firecrackers will be available for purchase from January 24 at about 3,000 contemporary stalls, 1,000 of which are scattered within the Fifth Ring Road. The new regulation also emphasizes safety management in selling, transporting and setting off fireworks. It is forbidden to produce firecrackers in Beijing. The only fireworks factory in the capital was closed earlier this year, because it did not meet safety requirements. Approval from local safety supervision departments should be given to sales locations of firecrackers in Beijing. Fireworks fans suggest that those who use fireworks should be extremely considerate of the needs of elderly people. Moreover, minors under age 14 must be supervised by an adult when playing with fireworks; this age group is largely responsible for injuries and fires stemming from fireworks use. On November 21, the municipal supervision office on firecrackers published information about 657 kinds of firecrackers in about 400,000 containers that will be found on the fireworks market in 2006. The fireworks are valued at about 100 million yuan (US$12.5 million). An anti-fake, "Yanlong" （燕龙）label will be found on the packaging of every kind of firecracker. Under each label there is a serial number and a telephone hotline number, 6296 8041. To ensure that your fireworks are authentic, call the hotline and give them the serial number. Tips: |
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