Clear blue skies after the haze's scare - 29th June 2013
Haze was
something new to me as a greenhorn in the city. I guessed the same went for the
rest of the KLites on that one fine day in 1983. The
haze came in thick. It smelt acrid. None knew what it was all about. Perhaps
this marked the onset of the critical mass for slash and burn practices. In the past, it was localised, this time the smoke and ash were carried across boundaries. Sad to say, thirty years later, we are still having these smoke and ash blown to our land on a regular basis.
I personally experienced the damaging effects when these micro-particulates were breathed in and subsequently lodged in the lungs. On different occasions in Malaysia and in North Thailand, I had to put on the N95 mask. Failing to do so will induced wheezing and red-eyes. My heart goes out to those who can't afford medical care especially in countries where free government medical services is non-existent. Really these poor folks cannot afford (pun intended) to fall sick.
In 1997, satellites’ photos pointed out conclusively the source of the haze. Despite the evidence, concerns raised by the affected countries were brushed aside. The politicians from where the haze came from made cynical remarks some were bordering on idiocy.
Forest burning in times past had limited impact even as these shifting cultivators practised the slash and burn method when they moved on after exhausting the nutrients on a particular piece of land. Their land was small and these were subsistence farmers. Still the results are there to see in Sarawak, Malaysia in the mid-80's and Mae Suay and other districts in North Thailand in early the 90's. Hills after rollicking hills were denuded.
We used to joke in the mid-90’s that if we were to bring these folks over to the green forests over our side they will be grinning from ear to ear. Imagine, once again they can hunt and plant. I recalled these tribal people were so willing to sell their traps as they have no more animals to hunt. In North Thailand, reforestation and education help and stiff fines convey the message clearly. Forests are once again thriving through concerted tree planting campaigns by government and NGOs. The greening of the land is happening.
Today, we are dealing with mass land clearing and burning. Thousands of hectarces of land are alienated at a go and given to agricultural conglomerate. The burning usually takes advantage of the dry season and all and sundry want to do it at the same time. Hence the environmental, health and economic disaster! USD9 billion was estimated to be lost during the 1997 haze season. The days of localised impact caused by shifting cultivators is over. And now the joke is being taken out on us by those who have learned their lessons well.
And for those who trusted ASEAN to solve the problems were in for a shock. Sixteen years on and the same issues are still on the diplomatic table: stop the burning, prevent a recurrence and deal with companies and individuals that practice open burning. There will be better action if only the Asean way of doing diplomatic business is done away with, at least for the sake of the populace’s health in these 3 countries. The practice of non-interference and consensus decision-making must be suspended and concrete action taken so that the saga of dangerous suspended particulates is eradicated once and for all.
Is that too much to ask?
I personally experienced the damaging effects when these micro-particulates were breathed in and subsequently lodged in the lungs. On different occasions in Malaysia and in North Thailand, I had to put on the N95 mask. Failing to do so will induced wheezing and red-eyes. My heart goes out to those who can't afford medical care especially in countries where free government medical services is non-existent. Really these poor folks cannot afford (pun intended) to fall sick.
In 1997, satellites’ photos pointed out conclusively the source of the haze. Despite the evidence, concerns raised by the affected countries were brushed aside. The politicians from where the haze came from made cynical remarks some were bordering on idiocy.
Forest burning in times past had limited impact even as these shifting cultivators practised the slash and burn method when they moved on after exhausting the nutrients on a particular piece of land. Their land was small and these were subsistence farmers. Still the results are there to see in Sarawak, Malaysia in the mid-80's and Mae Suay and other districts in North Thailand in early the 90's. Hills after rollicking hills were denuded.
We used to joke in the mid-90’s that if we were to bring these folks over to the green forests over our side they will be grinning from ear to ear. Imagine, once again they can hunt and plant. I recalled these tribal people were so willing to sell their traps as they have no more animals to hunt. In North Thailand, reforestation and education help and stiff fines convey the message clearly. Forests are once again thriving through concerted tree planting campaigns by government and NGOs. The greening of the land is happening.
Today, we are dealing with mass land clearing and burning. Thousands of hectarces of land are alienated at a go and given to agricultural conglomerate. The burning usually takes advantage of the dry season and all and sundry want to do it at the same time. Hence the environmental, health and economic disaster! USD9 billion was estimated to be lost during the 1997 haze season. The days of localised impact caused by shifting cultivators is over. And now the joke is being taken out on us by those who have learned their lessons well.
And for those who trusted ASEAN to solve the problems were in for a shock. Sixteen years on and the same issues are still on the diplomatic table: stop the burning, prevent a recurrence and deal with companies and individuals that practice open burning. There will be better action if only the Asean way of doing diplomatic business is done away with, at least for the sake of the populace’s health in these 3 countries. The practice of non-interference and consensus decision-making must be suspended and concrete action taken so that the saga of dangerous suspended particulates is eradicated once and for all.
Is that too much to ask?
