21 June 2013 - Singapore's Haze hit record highs of up to 401 PSI.
Singaporeans panic. We blame our neighbours. We blame our government for doing enough. We blame the pharmacies for not stocking up on N95 face masks.
Being a Singaporean, I am well aware that our general population can be extremely critical towards people around them. However, blaming others isn't going to make the haze go away. And while everyone continues to discuss on how the government can start control measures, we all know that this will only end when the burning stops.
In the meantime, here are 3 positives that I can draw from this experience which I hope would put a silver lining in the hazy clouds above:
1) Spending more family time is worth its weight in gold
Health advisory recommends that we avoid being outdoors during this hazy period. Simple, clear your long awaited annual leave, have a holiday or just simply spend time with the family playing Uno or scrabble! We Singaporeans work often work long hours trying to settle work issues. This is a fantastic opportunity to take a break and start enjoying the quality family time that you have been so fond of neglecting! Time to put off your work and focus on the family... Just remember not to save on the A/C.
2) Preparation is better than Panic
SARS, Bird Flu, H1N1 and you would've expected Singaporeans to stock up on N95 in their own homes. Oh no, everyone simply depends on their "Guardian" or Unity to that job for them! And in times of crisis, everyone panics...buys them by the cartons and attempts to resell them online like the hello kitties! Even air purifiers are not spared. My bunch of close friends searched the entire island for air purifiers and triggered a mass clearance of any and all models. I bet the Osim staff will be getting big bonuses this year! Do we need to do this routine every 2 to 3 years? Time to recognize that preparation is the key to survival!
3) Blaming our neighbours won't solve the problem
As you would expect, the media spared no expense at crucifying our poor neighbours. Yes, I do believe that better control could have been exercised. Perhaps to an extent of even recommending capital punishment for the guilty. But the truth of the matter is we are way past the stages of finger pointing, insulting, being childish or even suggesting that we could convert the flyer into an oversize fan to "blow the haze back!" Why waste time scrutinizing every word that is uttered from an Indonesian official for our FB post when we can constructively research and find ways to deal with the situation on our own? I've seen some FB posts on food that can detoxify, essentials items to prepare, how to deal with breathing problems etc., which makes a lot more sense than rallying national hatred towards the already fragile relationship we have with our neighbours! Focus on helping each other work out solutions, no matter how small, will go a long way in our fight against haze! Stand together and show the world that we Singaporeans, though a tiny red dot, can and are able to be united in times of calamity.
I urge you to take a positive step in our fight against haze!
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