Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Singapore Prompts Indonesia on Haze
Desperate Singapore tried some unorthodox methods to subliminally persuade Indonesia to eradicate the haze problem. During the recent ASEAN meeting of environment ministers Singapore's Yuck-Cough Ibrahim undertook to light a cigarette and blow smoke towards his Indonesian counterpart's face. This was done to demonstrate that Singapore will not remain content to blow just hot air over the issue.
Dinner entertainment was provided by Singapore Idol Hazy Mirza singing a dedication to the Indonesian delegates with the song "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes".
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Report from TODAY Newspaper
Battle against haze hots up
Wednesday • November 15, 2006
Ansley Ng
ansley@mediacorp.com.sg
THANKS to the lurking El Nino, which is threatening to strike in force next year, a strong sense of urgency has seized the region in the battle against haze.
In fact, what has been happening in the last five weeks, during which regional officials were engaged in a series of meetings, has yielded "hope and optimism", said Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday as he fielded questions from MPs on the haze situation.
Describing the measures that have been drawn up as "concrete", the minister however cautioned that it is not a problem that can be solved overnight.
"I am a bit more optimistic now that we have something concrete," said Dr Yaacob. "(But) will we solve the problem next year? I don't think so. We would require long-term effort."
Singaporeans should not expect this to be solved in one or two years, he said.
He explained: "You need concrete action at the ground to develop new capacities among farmers and land owners to make sure they resolve to use land clearing methods that were more environmentally friendly."
Even as they set out to fight the haze problem on two fronts, fire prevention and suppression, simply having farmers change their slash-and-burn method to the modern method to clear land would take some time, Dr Yaacob added. They would have to be given equipment, and be taught to use and maintain it.
While there is clear and strong political commitment on Indonesia's part to eradicate the problem, Dr Yaacob also said that the country needs to ratify the Asean (Association of South-east Asian Nations) Haze Agreement to show its political resolve.
He hopes details of the implementation plans will be sorted out before the Ministerial Committee meets again in February 2007.
In response to MP Madam Halimah Yacob (Jurong GRC) who wanted to know the impact of the haze problem on the economy and the health of the population, Dr Yaacob said that a local professor is studying economic losses from the haze. Prolonged periods of haze, he added, would lead to losses stemming from a rise in hospitalisation cost, tourism, productivity and recreational activities.
Dinner entertainment was provided by Singapore Idol Hazy Mirza singing a dedication to the Indonesian delegates with the song "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes".
----
Report from TODAY Newspaper
Battle against haze hots up
Wednesday • November 15, 2006
Ansley Ng
ansley@mediacorp.com.sg
THANKS to the lurking El Nino, which is threatening to strike in force next year, a strong sense of urgency has seized the region in the battle against haze.
In fact, what has been happening in the last five weeks, during which regional officials were engaged in a series of meetings, has yielded "hope and optimism", said Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday as he fielded questions from MPs on the haze situation.
Describing the measures that have been drawn up as "concrete", the minister however cautioned that it is not a problem that can be solved overnight.
"I am a bit more optimistic now that we have something concrete," said Dr Yaacob. "(But) will we solve the problem next year? I don't think so. We would require long-term effort."
Singaporeans should not expect this to be solved in one or two years, he said.
He explained: "You need concrete action at the ground to develop new capacities among farmers and land owners to make sure they resolve to use land clearing methods that were more environmentally friendly."
Even as they set out to fight the haze problem on two fronts, fire prevention and suppression, simply having farmers change their slash-and-burn method to the modern method to clear land would take some time, Dr Yaacob added. They would have to be given equipment, and be taught to use and maintain it.
While there is clear and strong political commitment on Indonesia's part to eradicate the problem, Dr Yaacob also said that the country needs to ratify the Asean (Association of South-east Asian Nations) Haze Agreement to show its political resolve.
He hopes details of the implementation plans will be sorted out before the Ministerial Committee meets again in February 2007.
In response to MP Madam Halimah Yacob (Jurong GRC) who wanted to know the impact of the haze problem on the economy and the health of the population, Dr Yaacob said that a local professor is studying economic losses from the haze. Prolonged periods of haze, he added, would lead to losses stemming from a rise in hospitalisation cost, tourism, productivity and recreational activities.
