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View all search resultsFatal smog demands action, not self-defense
While the government and other stakeholders are struggling to stop the smog in fire locations, we can contribute in different ways.
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Officials from the search and rescue office in Jambi try to put out a fire in the region.Thick smog from a series of peat land fires across Jambi has started to affect everyday life in the province. (JP/Jon Afrizal)
A
n environmental catastrophe occurred in London in late 1952. This calamity began with the coming of cold winter air to the city on Dec. 4. It was a Thursday afternoon when London residents burnt extra coal in their furnaces to get warm, according to accounts of “The Great Smog of London”.
The smoke from the furnaces, along with that from industrial areas and vehicles, caused extraordinarily heavy smog to blanket the capital.
At the same time, London had a windless period that trapped the toxic pollutants in the city for five days.
The smog caused 4,000 deaths and made 25,000 people sick. The exact number is still debatable because deaths increased for months after the smog.
More than half a century later, air pollution is still a major human killer. Forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan have affected hundreds of thousands, including a 4-month-old infant who died of pneumonia and meningitis, the media reported.
The smog had caused many disruptions in Indonesia and neighboring countries. The government is grappling to solve this issue. Fatalities as smog spreads are clear signs that the government needs stronger action. On the other hand, we also have to think how we can contribute to tackling this problem.
While the government and other stakeholders are struggling to stop the smog in fire locations, we can contribute in different ways.
