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Sunday, October 4, 2015

AIRpocalypse When?

I woke up this morning with a bad headache, burning eyes and a sore throat - all the symptoms of breathing in bad air.

Once again, for the umpteenth year, we are engulfed by the dreaded annual haze. Schools closed for the second time this year as the API (Air Pollution Index) surpassed 200, meaning very hazardous and unhealthy air quality.

Acrid smoke billowing from agricultural fires in Indonesia is the cause of this perennial nightmare. On Saturday, as the haze worsened, an airport just outside Kuala Lumpur closed temporarily as visibility dropped to less than 400 metres. The condition is also risky to sea vessels without navigational equipment.

The haze crisis,  the worst since mid-2013 continues to choke us year after year during the dry season, when agricultural land is illegally cleared by burning in neighbouring country Indonesia.
School children donning masks against a hazy backdrop

image credit  - FreeMalaysiaToday
Image credit - Lim Huey Teng
We are told that Indonesia needs 3 years to solve the problem. Meanwhile, do we have to  hold our breath until then even if it is causing health hazards to many whilst incurring hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses? If this goes on, people and animals would start dropping dead one by one like flies.



This week's cookies for Halloween

13 comments:

  1. Oh wow, this sounds awful! I wouldn't have known about this unless you wrote about it. Sounds like it could be a long 3 years to get the problem under control. We are having control burns here (they burn areas that have a lot of foliage in hopes that if a fire does happen there, it won't be so damaging). There's a lot of smoke in the air and lots of coughing. I worry about those that have lung problems like asthma, how they are surviving.

    I hope you continue to do the best you can with what you have to work with and the air clears sooner than later.

    betty

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  2. oh my really? I had no idea.. that sounds awful!

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  3. What the heck?! I can't believe that they can continue to burn when people are at risk! Oh my gosh.

    I hope you stay safe.

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  4. Very hard thing to have to deal with on a daily basis. It is not like you can hide from the air. I'm going to share this to get the word out--you never know who can help. Great blog BTW. I'll be back.

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  5. Wow, unimaginable for us! Thanks for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things! Hope soon the government will make changes. Hugs

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  6. This looks absolutely amazing! Pinned and tweeted. You always bring the most amazing creations to our party. Thank you! I hope to see you again, this Monday at 7 pm. It wouldn’t be a party without you! Lou Lou Girls

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  7. These don't sound like good conditions to live in at all. Stay safe. Nice cookies by the way! #KCACOLS

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  8. That's crazy! We've never had schools close for that reason. Stay safe!

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  9. Oh that sounds just AWFUL!! And very dangerous for you as well. Stay safe my friend...

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  10. Oh God this doesn't sound good at all!!! How awful to live in those conditions!! Not being able to breath a good quality fresh air must be really difficult to deal with. I hope the Government make some changes soon!! Sending you some hugs from here! Thanks so much for linking up with me at #KCAKOLS. I hope you can join me again. :-)

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  11. I forgot to mention that I used to work for a Malaysia company for a few years. They were so lovely with me. I have a few friends over there. I have been in Malaysia because of work and I love your country!! Glad you find my linky lovely!! :-) xx #KCACOLS

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  12. This is really not good. Let's hope that it really is solved in 3 years! Take care. Thank you for sharing and raising awareness of this. #KCACOLS

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