Up in smoke<\/p>\n
How often we are reminded. How quickly we forget.Like a
\nrecurring bad dream that is cyclical in nature, nations
\nin Southeast Asia are again clouded by thick haze from out-of-
\ncontrol wildfires in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Neighboring Malaysia has declared a state of emergency after
\nthe air pollution index rose to hazardous levels in its major
\ncities. Already, reports are coming in of families exiting Kuala
\nLumpur to get away from the all-enveloping haze.<\/p>\n
The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in North Sumatra fears
\nthat given predicted weather conditions, the fires could continue
\nuntil the end of this month. The agency has found nearly 550 hot
\nspots in plantations and forests in North Sumatra and Riau.<\/p>\n
Given the size of this archipelago and the immenseness of its
\nforests, the occurrence of such fires is inevitable. But the
\nscale of the conflagrations over the past few years can only lead
\nus to conclude that they are the consequence of environmental
\nrecklessness and bad management.<\/p>\n
Too often the fires have been the result of land clearing by
\neither farmers or speculators. While slash-and-burn agriculture
\nis common among the indigenous populations, these fires can
\nspread uncontrollably in dry conditions.<\/p>\n
Since the major forests fires of 1997 and 1998, which created
\na region-wide crisis, various mechanisms and high profile
\nmeetings have been held to set up a joint mechanism to manage
\nsuch catastrophes and provide early warning.<\/p>\n
The repeated recurrence of fires proves that much of these
\nefforts simply don't work, or more precisely, haven't been made
\nto work.<\/p>\n
Once the fires are out, the focus and resolve of governments,
\nespecially ours, seem to immediately dissipate.<\/p>\n
It is sad to say that the series of much-touted initiatives
\nhas amounted to little more than grandstanding to temporarily
\nappease those affected by the haze.<\/p>\n
Given that the fires seem to occur in a cyclical manner --
\nduring the hot dry season -- such dangers should be anticipated
\nthrough stronger monitoring mechanisms.<\/p>\n
Five hundred hot spots don't just appear overnight. A large
\nnumber could have been prevented with the proper tools and
\ncommitment.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile officials persist with the same old platitudes:
\n\"Better coordination is needed,\" or \"We will discuss the matter
\nwith local officials.\"<\/p>\n
These are not comforting words for the asthma sufferer who's
\ncoughing his lungs out, or the hawker whose business has
\nplummeted because his customers dare not venture out.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Forestry M.S. Kaban was right to
\napologize to his Malaysian counterparts. This country is culpable
\nof poisoning the people of Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
What's needed now is a progressive action plan and the
\nallocation of resources in a way that is carried out irrespective
\nof whether the fires are burning or not.<\/p>\n
This country has gone through five governments since the major
\nhaze problem of the late 1990s, and there has been no improvement
\nto date. The Indonesian government should be bold enough to admit
\nits incompetence and concede that without international aid it
\nwill be unable to prevent or properly deal with wildfires in the
\nfuture.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/up-in-smoke-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}