Chinese business leaders shun firecrackers for Lunar New Year celebrations amid bushfire emergency

Firecrackers have long been a much-loved part of Lunar New Year celebrations, but this year Chinese-Australians are calling for them to be replaced with a video of the crackers played on mobile phones in solidarity with fire-affected communities.

Spectators block their ears due to firecrackers as members of the Yau Kung Mun martial arts group perform a lion dance in Sydney's Chinatown. Source: AFP

The sound of bright red firecrackers exploding in the street has long been a symbol of Lunar New Year celebrations, but this year Chinese-Australian business leaders are calling for them to be scrapped out of respect for the bushfire crisis plaguing the country.

In the place of crackers, the national Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce will be producing a video of firecrackers going off for people to download and play on their phone during the 25 January celebrations.

Read the full story in English here. 

An image urging people to donated to the Rural Fire Service instead of using firecrackers produced by the Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce.

Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce