In Response to "Haze Season"

This was intended to be a comment on a friend's blog, but decided to post it on my blog instead as I was getting really long winded. For details on my friend's post you can click on the words "haze season" in the title.

To answer the question "Is Indonesia really that poor to protect its own resources?" It is yes and no. Burning of the forest is probably much faster and easier in economic terms. You don't need to pour in huge amounts of money into it, but at the end you'll have cleared lands for development that can potentially improve the country's economy. Let's just say this is Indonesia's decision on how to get the most economic return out of limited resources.

It is the same reason why George Bush refuses to participate in the Kyoto Protocol and we are talking about US which really has the economic means to cut down greenhouse gases emission. I forgot, he probably squandered a large amount of the country's resources waging wars and hunting down Hussein and Osama. Back to the point. What George Bush sees is the shrink in profit from the revenue pie if US is to use greener industrial methods. His short-sightedness will probably cost the country more in terms of healthcare expenditure and worsening living conditions in the long run. Nothing we can do here if George Bush refuses to budge.

Right or wrong we cannot force our opinions on the Indonesian government. Given the circumstances and resources of Indonesia, can other world leaders say with certainty they would not also make the same decision? The haze may be affecting the health of millions and causing damage to our environment, but so does the fumes spouted by factories brought about by the industrial revolution. Developed countries arrived at their economic prowess today by slowly poisoning the world too, and some continue to do so even when they know the long-term impact on the environment.

All in all, let those who have not sinned cast the first stone.