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Diwali and the business of fireworks

We ask if growing environmental concerns might cause the fireworks industry to fizzle out.

We ask if growing environmental concerns might cause the fireworks industry to fizzle out. Ahead of this weekend's Diwali celebrations in India, the supreme court there has imposed restrictions on when fireworks can be set off. Rohit Narula runs one of the oldest fireworks shops in Kolkata, and tells us how the move has impacted sales. Sainsbury's supermarket in the UK has also stopped selling fireworks, and we get reaction to the decision from Stephen Rayner of fireworks distributor Bright Star, who is also vice chair of the British Fireworks Association. We hear how drone manufacturers are hoping that illuminated drone displays might take the place of fireworks in future. And Dr Joy Jiang from Oakland University explains what she's discovered researching fireworks in China, where authorities in Henan province have shut down fireworks factories over safety concerns. Also in the programme, a final report has been released into the Lion Air crash in Indonesia last year. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Theo Leggett tells us about the conclusions of the investigation into the crash of a Boeing 737 Max jet. Plus we hear from Coca Cola's global chief executive James Quincey about how the firm intends to tackle its role as the world's largest plastic polluter.

(Picture: A fireworks display. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

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27 minutes

Last on

Fri 25 Oct 2019 22:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Fri 25 Oct 2019 22:32GMT