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0Erinome: Hello everyone! Welcome to our podcast. Today, let’s talk about a recent event that’s causing a lot of debate online. Enceladus, have you heard about the fireworks show in the Himalayas?
Enceladus: Oh, you mean the one with the outdoor brand and the artist? Yeah, I saw some videos. It looked colorful, but I also saw people arguing about it. What exactly happened?
Erinome: Right! So, on September 19th, a brand called Arc'teryx (we can say "Arcteryx" for short) worked with artist Cai Guoqiang. They set off a big fireworks show in the Himalayas, in Tibet’s Rikaze City, Jiangzi County. The art piece was named "Rising Dragon"—like a dragon shape along the mountain ridge.
Enceladus: Wow, that sounds big! But why is it causing debate? Fireworks are common, right?
Erinome: Oh no, because the Himalayas have a very fragile environment. You know, the area is high up, about 4,600 meters above sea level. Many people are worried the fireworks might harm nature there.
Enceladus: Oh right! High mountain areas are often weak—easy to damage and hard to fix. Did the organizers think about that?
Erinome: They said they did. They claimed the colored powder in the fireworks was "biodegradable"—you know, can break down naturally. They also said it passed safety tests in places like the Olympics, Japan, and Europe. And they did things like moving animals away before the show, and cleaning up after.
Enceladus: Hmm, but maybe that’s not enough? I saw some experts talking about it.
Erinome: Exactly! A researcher named Huadan Cairang from Qinghai Minzu University said something important. He said even "biodegradable" materials might not break down in the高原 (Gaoyuan, high plateau) environment. Because it’s cold and dry there, so the materials could stay and harm the soil, water, and plants.
Enceladus: Oh no! So the powder might just sit there? And what about the grass and land?
Erinome: Right! The high mountain grasslands are super important for local herders. If the grass is damaged, it’s really hard to grow back. Some netizens also worried the fire from fireworks might burn the soil and plants. Once they’re hurt, it could take years or even decades to recover.
Enceladus: That’s sad. Did the local government say anything?
Erinome: Yes! On September 21st, the local internet office posted a notice. They said they were very serious about it and set up a team to check the site. They’ll handle it according to laws after checking.
Enceladus: What did Arc'teryx and Cai Guoqiang do then?
Erinome: They apologized. Cai Guoqiang said he was really sorry for not thinking enough. He said he’ll work with third parties to check the environmental impact. If there’s harm, he’ll try his best to fix it—like helping with local environment protection and tourism.
Enceladus: And Arc'teryx?
Erinome: They apologized too. They said they’ll use the assessment results and people’s feedback to take action to fix things. But before that, they had deleted the videos about the event, which made some people more upset.
Enceladus: Why did people get more upset about deleting videos?
Erinome: Because many netizens thought they were avoiding the problem instead of explaining. They wanted more details—like real test data for the materials, or how they’ll fix the land.
Enceladus: That makes sense. It’s important to be open when there’s a debate.
Erinome: Yeah. Cai Guoqiang also said he has deep respect for nature and will be more careful in the future. He’ll check environmental impact more strictly before doing art events.
Enceladus: I hope they really do that. The Himalayas are such a special place—we need to protect it, not harm it.
Erinome: Totally. Even if you have good intentions, you have to think about the environment first, especially in fragile areas. What do you think, Enceladus? Should art events ever take risks with nature?
Enceladus: Hmm, maybe not. Art is beautiful, but nature is more important for everyone’s future. You know, once it’s damaged, it’s hard to get back.
Erinome: I agree. Let’s hope this event teaches everyone a lesson—whether it’s brands, artists, or all of us. We need to care more about our planet.
Enceladus: Yeah. Well, that’s the update for now. The investigation is still going on, so we’ll have to wait and see the results.
Erinome: Right. Okay, that’s it for today’s podcast. Thanks for listening, everyone! Let’s talk again next time. Bye!
Enceladus: Bye!
