An ongoing poll on Fireworks Ban conducted by China Daily, to vote, please click the picture. [Photo/China Daily]

Of 467 voters, 291 say YES to a fireworks ban in big cities, accounting for a 62.7% support rate, according to results of a China Daily reader survey as of Feb 11, 2011. Another 157 voted NO, and 19 showed indifference toward the fireworks ban.

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As big cities in China are witnessing a continuous rise in the number of fire accidents caused by firecrackers during the Spring Festival holiday, the public has renewed discussions about the ban on fireworks.

The Ministry of Public Security reported on its website that from Feb 2 to Feb 8, 11,813 fire accidents took place across the country, causing 40 deaths, 37 injuries and more than 56 million yuan ($8.5 million) in economic loss.

Debates over whether it's good to ban fireworks during the traditional Spring Festival holiday are mainly focused on two aspects: the value of traditional customs and modern cities’ civilization and public safety.

Setting off fireworks is a traditional Chinese custom. People set off fireworks to drive away evil spirits at the beginning of a new year (Chinese Lunar New Year). As 71-year-old Beijing art and culture expert Wang Zuoji said, "People have been celebrating the festival with the sound of crackling fireworks for 1,000 years. If you prohibit fireworks, you will ruin the festive atmosphere."

Dissenters justify the necessity of banning fireworks, such as a voter named Hu, who posted this comment: "The damage to property, life and environment-noise pollution, sulfur pollution is excessive. I see people daily setting off fireworks in the most stupid places, no consideration to others or others'property."