On smog

On smog

Yes, it's back again. Some call it smog, others prefer a more
tourist-friendly term -- haze. But there is no doubt as to the
origins of the huge smoke cloud that has enveloped parts of
Southeast Asia last week. In 1997, forest fires, aggravated by
the El Nino weather phenomenon, swept out of control in Borneo
and Sumatra, paralyzing the region for several months. The fires
broke out again a year later, albeit with much less ferocity.

Environmentalists have warned that this year's fires could
dwarf the smog of 1997, given the drier weather conditions. ...
Obviously, the Indonesian government has yet to learn the lessons
of 1997. Logging companies and plantation owners must be severely
punished for forest destruction. If the Indonesian government
does not have the political will to do so, then other affected
countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations must step
in. Forget about the cherished non-interference policy. This is
about the health of our citizens.

-- The Nation, Bangkok, Thailand