Hi Mr Tan
I find it puzzling and disappointing that NEA, HIMC or MEWR did not issue any advice, suggestion or restriction as to the necessary adjustment to our daily routine so as not to add to the haze presently choking spore.
One point in mind is the regular fogging carried out by pest control company. I am sure these can be suspended temporally since it will definitely add to the haze in spore.
When PSI is in unhealthy (> 100), very unhealthy (>200) and hazardous (>300) level, I think we do not need to carry out the routine fogging. Spore is like been fogged 24/7 now compliment from our neighbour. I am not expert in mosquito control and dengue may still be a concern but I think the experts in NEA or MEWR should let us know whether we still need to fog when air quality is already so bad.
Other steps include limiting unnecessary travelling, car pooling, use public transport whenever possible, routine grass cutting, limit incense and routine burning of sacrifice during prayers, smoking etc. The haze from Indonesia we cannot stop but I think we can do more to limit adding to the haze.
Like in Australia, during water restrictions when there are droughts, limit are set on watering lawns, using sprinkler systems, washing vehicles, hosing pavement, refilling swimming pools, etc. I think spore should consider similar restriction on non essential activities that will aggravate the already alarming situation.
I know the haze is beyond our control but then again I think we could have done better preparing for it when the haze did not choke us so badly. After all haze has been an annual routine and it has been 16 years since it last hit above 200.
Each public flat in spore comes with a bomb raid shelter. I think the chance of war is spore is definitely more remote than having haze attack. Instead of having air raid shelters would it not be more useful and practical to have places where large group of people or those who do not have the luxury of aircon to go take shelter when PSI hits above 300 or god forbids beyond 400?
As for those who think that because we have little control of things happening outside spore and so that provide us with a good alibi or excuse... I would like to refer him to chapter 25 of Machiavelli's The Prince:
" IT is not unknown to me how many men have had, and still have, the opinion that the affairs of the world are in such wise governed by fortune and by God that men with their wisdom cannot direct them and that no one can even help them; and because of this they would have us believe that it is not necessary to labour much in affairs, but to let chance govern them.
This opinion has been more credited in our times because of the great changes in affairs which have been seen, and may still be seen, every day, beyond all human conjecture. Sometimes pondering over this, I am in some degree inclined to their opinion. Nevertheless, not to extinguish our free will, I hold it to be true that Fortune is the arbiter of one-half of our actions, but that she still leaves us to direct the other half, or perhaps a little less.
I compare her to one of those raging rivers, which when in flood overflows the plains, sweeping away trees and buildings, bearing away the soil from place to place; everything flies before it, all yield to its violence, without being able in any way to withstand it; and yet, though its nature be such, it does not follow therefore that men, when the weather becomes fair, shall not make provision, both with defences and barriers, in such a manner that, rising again, the waters may pass away by canal, and their force be neither so unrestrained nor so dangerous. So it happens with fortune, who shows her power where valour has not prepared to resist her, and thither she turns her forces where she knows that barriers and defences have not been raised to constrain her."
May the haze situation improves sooner rather than later.
Foo
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