Lesson for ASEAN
<p>Lesson for ASEAN</p><p> Raging forest fires in Indonesia, many set by plantation firms
clearing land, have cast a pall of haze over much of peninsular
Malaysia and Singapore.</p><p>ASEAN's environment ministers have long paid lip service to
the notion of regional cooperation. In January, the ministers
gathered in Phuket and released a statement which "expressed
their appreciation of Indonesia's efforts on the issue of haze
pollution".</p><p>The haze has been occurring for years, so why wasn't action
taken earlier? Because even within most ASEAN countries -- much
less between them -- polluters are still not held accountable for
their actions.</p><p>Environmental problems are allowed to fester until a crisis
occurs. Only then do leaders muster the courage to bang some
heads together and implement stopgap measures.</p><p>These delays make problems even more serious, increasing harm
to people and the environment and raising the cost of finding a
solution.</p><p>In this case, the drought brought on by El Nino has stoked the
forest fires, making the haze worse than ever. Perhaps this time,
ASEAN will learn its lesson.</p><p> -- The Nation, Bangkok</p>
clearing land, have cast a pall of haze over much of peninsular
Malaysia and Singapore.</p><p>ASEAN's environment ministers have long paid lip service to
the notion of regional cooperation. In January, the ministers
gathered in Phuket and released a statement which "expressed
their appreciation of Indonesia's efforts on the issue of haze
pollution".</p><p>The haze has been occurring for years, so why wasn't action
taken earlier? Because even within most ASEAN countries -- much
less between them -- polluters are still not held accountable for
their actions.</p><p>Environmental problems are allowed to fester until a crisis
occurs. Only then do leaders muster the courage to bang some
heads together and implement stopgap measures.</p><p>These delays make problems even more serious, increasing harm
to people and the environment and raising the cost of finding a
solution.</p><p>In this case, the drought brought on by El Nino has stoked the
forest fires, making the haze worse than ever. Perhaps this time,
ASEAN will learn its lesson.</p><p> -- The Nation, Bangkok</p>