Haze Singapore!

Alright, it isn’t something really news now. People are used to seeing the haze every single day. So much so that not seeing it IS news. As everyone knows, the haze is caused by the ”slash-and-burn” activities of the Indonesian farmers. It’s a very fast way to clear and create fertile lands, albeit with a shortlived nature. Now, tons of people are condemning these folks for causing them health problems, financial problems (cannot go work cause of haze), eating problems (cannot go out eat cause of haze), social problems (cannot go East Coast Park and look at girls cause the haze blurs the vision) etc. etc. etc. etc. and etc. Hmm… interestingly, a lot of clubs/pub have atmospheres that would hit at least 150 on the Pollutant Standards Index.

Regional ministers, grassroot leaders and people in general are calling the Indonesian government to do something about it. To the slash-and-burn farmers, “STOP burning! You are killing me slowly (softly?)!” Hahz~ Take my breath away~ (pun intended) “So inconsiderate!” they griped.

It was then that something occurred to him. Why should the farmers listen to you? They are breathing in the same smoke. If they don’t even care about their health, why would they care about yours? Moreover, slash-and-burn is really cheap and fast! Economic rewards, though short-termed, are abound for these farmers. Think of it this way: will you give up money for the sake of someone living a sea away from you? He doesn’t think these farmers have some grand ideas about saving the Earth and protecting Mother Nature from the filth of human habitation. All that matters to them is how to make sure that they have things to eat the next few days. Alright, maybe some of them do, but they are making very good efforts at hiding them.

And they are not the only ones being inconsiderate. Even in daily life, you see that inconsideration manifests. People not giving up their seats to others who need it more. Guys blasting their boomers/hi-fis/etc. etc. late at night. Girls screaming in laughter at the same time. A certain XXXXXX not flushing the stupid toilet bowl. So everyone has the capacity for inconsiderate and has done something inconsiderate before. So what right do we have to brand these farmers as inconsiderate? Pot calling the kettle black?

Of course, that is not to say we should just let them burn yeah? He doesn’t want to smell smoke everyday either. Instead of griping, people should find solutions. Solutions, not gripings, solve problems. And the haze certainly looks like a big problem.

So until the smog is gone, it’s…

Haze Singapore!