Fireworks!

Obviously part of the problem!

OMG the Dutch spent €70 million on fireworks! Apparently, some people see that, along with burned fingers and injured eyeballs, as a problem. They want to ban private fireworks.

So let's do the math:

• Suppose every gemeente in NL produced one 30-minute fireworks show (a big step down from the hours-long communal display we enjoyed last night).
• There are 418 gemeente in NL. Source
• A non-professional show easily runs £100 per minute. Source
• Incorporating music, computer coordination and larger shells can increase the cost to around $2000 per minute. Source
• The city of Melbourne spent $2 million on its fireworks show. Source

So let's assume the gemeente gets a good deal on music, and call it  €1500 per minute, or €45000 for a single half-hour show. This is an extremely conservative estimate, but it still works out to nearly €19 million out of the government's pocket.

Last night's festivities cost insurance companies €11 euros.

These calculations don't even take into account the fact that for every gemeente-produced, centralized show, every single resident required to travel more than walking distance to see it increases the likelihood of driving-under-the-influence accidents at the cost of many, priceless lives.

And how's it working, where there are centralized shows and bans on fireworks?

Amsterdam:

• Burglars took advantage of the outdoor festivities with at least 50 reported break-ins in Amsterdam alone. Source
• In Amsterdam, 123 people were picked up, mainly for vandalism and public drunkenness. Source

Rotterdam:

• Turned people away from its fireworks display due to over-crowding. Source

Assen still has citizen fireworks. I observed lots of drunkenness, lots of noise, lots of fun... within one block of the house. Neighborhood bonds were reinforced; there was laughter and gossip and visiting each other until 3am. We did have to sweep up this morning. This is me on a firework high:

Don't trade some property damage for increased criminalization, increased driving-under-the-influence, and decreased enjoyment of the neighborhood.

This link will let you see a few seconds of our neighborhood festivities. 

Happy New Year. Gelukkig Nieuwjaar. Keep your paws off my party. :)