Make this the last haze with more haste

Many years back the Indonesians said they needed a satellite to help them spot the hot spots to fight haze. Of course no one was willing to buy them a satellite even if they could afford it. It was nonsensical. In the last few days the Indonesians have been wavering from wanting our help to send our aircraft to help them fight the haze to not necessary, too little to make a difference.

Yesterday they said they are willing to accept our offer of help or anyone willing to help. And what they need are bigger planes that can carry more water to douse the fire. Sounds logical, big fire needs big planes and more water.

Have they forgotten what Siti Nurbaya Bakar said, that they should tackle the haze problem from the source and prevention. Prevent the fire from starting and no one needs to go around lugging pots of water to douse the fire. Is this too difficult to understand? Oops, they may request to install CCTVs in every corner of the jungle to track down fire starters. Now how many million CCTVs would be needed on paper?

Can anyone teach them on a more efficient, effective and less costly way to prevent the fire from starting?

The momentum to take actions against fire starters has taken a first baby step. The ban and boycott of products and related products from such companies must remain in place until the next haze season and only be lifted when haze is not reappearing.  Please do not lift it next month when the sky is clear, no haze already, so no more problems. And this campaign must be expanded not only to cover more companies. Taking just APP alone is definitely not enough, it must also extend to other affected countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and perhaps the Philippines. The ban can only be effective if there is a concerted effort to stop this menace and not just talk, talk and talk.

The haze can be stopped if serious enforcement measures are taken to prevent the fire from being lighted or to be killed at the early stages of the fire. After this haze season, all the fires will be out, and no haze, when the wet season arrives. The situation should be kept that way and close monitoring, early warning and detection system must be in place to keep a look out for fire starters in the next season.

The haze can be stopped next year, not another 3 years if there is a political will to stop it. The different countries can assist the Indonesian govt in law enforcement with equipment and financial resources to beef up the forest rangers and law enforcement officers. The satellites are there and it is only a matter of getting a dedicated team or ministry to work on it. It is all about prevention, not fighting fires.

Let there be no outbreak of fire or putting them out at earliest possible. And make the firestarters pay. Keep the ban in place on all the culprits, not just one company, until next year. The haze is not caused by just one company.