I am struggling with a haze that as enveloped Singapore. It is hard to breathe. Exercising, even just walking, is a challenge. You can see the pollution. The burned smell permeates everything. I am reminded of the Oregon farmers that used to burn their fields in the fall. When they began to burn the fields, a haze blanketed the area. The elderly and young were advised to stay indoors. Outdoor activities were a headache. There was a rationale that had been accepted however the price paid through the suffering and health consequences eventually became too much. The practice was banned in the 70’s.
I listen to the arguments coming from Indonesia and they are eerily familiar. Even the clerk in the local grocery store rationalized their actions because of the lack of economic alternatives. Burning fields to clear them in preparation for planting is an easy alternative. It works. No capital investment required. It is easy to execute, simple to see the outcome. Any other option takes money, skills, and time.
Given the millions in the Singapore and Malaysia communities that are impacted, one wonders why rationale individuals still support the practice. The questions are obvious. How many people need to fall sick or die because of the pollution? Has anyone thought through the price paid by children?
It is hard to think about the consequences without challenging the status quo. At some point one needs to stand up and call it like it is. We need people that will bring David’s observation to the center of the debate; “I saw Wicked bloated like a toad, croaking pretentious nonsense.” (Psalm 37.35)
You and I have the ability to listen, reflect, and conclude. The fact that we have done something in the past is not the reason for continuing to do it in the future. We have a mind. We have the freedom to use it and act. We may be in a haze today; where we are and what we are doing tomorrow will be a result of our thinking now and the choices that follow.
