I’m sure all Singaporeans have experienced a haze and fervently wished that it will stop, albeit bouts of series haze every year.Now, it might just come true. The region’s haze problems would be solved as Indonesia pledges to introduce tougher laws to combat offenders by banning open air forest fires.
While Indonesia has pledges to step up measures in curbing the haze problem, other factors seem to show that it is very difficult, maybe impossible at all. The sub-regional steering committee, formed in 2006, has since been tasked to look into the haze problem. However, it might be saying something are over the course of these 3 years statistics has indicated a worsening of the situation. Even the minorities also said that it would be “impractical to aim for a “zero-haze” situation”, which might be worsened in the coming months. Also, internal problems like corruption might also hinder the progress as the laws will be bent and rendering it ineffective. Lastly, due to the vast territory and many farmers residing in Indonesia, Indonesia cannot possibly control all those farmers. These mean that Indonesia needs a long time to curb the haze problem as much as possible as its internal problems will greatly hinder its progress in curbing the problem. Indonesia needs to tackle and solve these problems to hasten the process of curbing the haze problem.
However, Indonesia might have greater chances of success with new help from neighboring countries. Indo is not to be fully blamed as its residents are poor, particularly who uses the slash-and-burn method to clear the forests. Compared to US$5, the US$250 cost of using more eco-friendly methods is a major deferent to would be uses, as many would obviously go for the much cheaper method. This means that such farmers need to be taught to look for alternative methods instead of the slash-and-burn. The question hovers really about the implementation and effectiveness of these solutions. Singapore’s Minister of Environment and waste resources Mr. Yaacob Ibrahim, noted that although it was a little late, Indonesia is taking a “very major” move to penalize offenders, a move that might critically speak greater resistance. Other countries are also offering Indonesia assistance in combating further outbreaks of the forest fires. These solutions, if implemented practically, will definitely help to curb the haze problem in Indonesia.
Many poor farmers in Indonesia, as mentioned above, do not want to waste so much money to use more eco-friendly methods to clear forests. The cost as mentioned before can reach up to 50 times the cost of slash-and-burn. The Indonesia government must not only penalize the offenders, but in my opinion they should also strongly encourage the farmers to use eco-friendly methods. One such method would be to subsidize their cost of using eco-friendly methods to clear forests. This subsidy would not only make the farmers listen to the government, this would also make the farmers think that the Indonesia government is very kind and helpful. This small little help from the government, other than help the farmers, but it can only help the world in the global scale. Using more eco-friendly method would not only solve the haze problem in Singapore, but it would also help the Earth in reducing carbon emissions.
To conclude, although Indonesia’s natural problems can greatly hinder the progress of Indonesia’s move to penalize offenders and stop slash-and-burn problems, help from outside might also help to balance the scales. Indonesia has lots to do to curb the haze problem as much as possible. The only thing we citizens can do is to wait and see.
