Indonesian skies turn blood-red.
“Stopping this recurring fire crisis should have been at the top of the government’s agenda since 2015, But our findings show the reality: empty words and weak and inconsistent law enforcement against companies” said Kiki Taufik, the head of Green peace Indonesian Campaign.
Scenario
People of Sumatra and Kalimantan are suffering, as around 2000 wildfires burn around in different places of Indonesia causing respiratory problems. Excess heat and dust particles create blood-red skies and white dense fog all around the place. Fires were set deliberately to create land area for production of palm oil and wood pulp which are used in paper manufacture and more. The blaze had expanded to inner rain forests regions destroying many endangered species. Rain on Wednesday gave a relief to the Indonesian tensed people, bringing down the number of Indonesian hot spots from nearly 3300 to 1800. Indonesian red skies are being compared to the Amazon forest fire which almost destroyed nearly two million acres of forests. Fire blazed through the forest uncontrollably leaving behind only black ground filled with ash and dust.
Engender
Forest fire is a common annual phenomenon in Indonesia, as people slash and burn areas of forests to create more land for cultivation purposes. Malaysia and Singapore always complained about the clouds of smoke, arising from the Sumatra and Kalimantan region, choking their people. This year’s forest fire was the worst since 2015, destroying almost 800,000 acres of forest. The blaze of fire destroyed three endangered species of orangutan found in Sumatra regions.
Even in between all this common forest fire threats, Indonesia is still not fully capable of controlling such blazes, and even when slash and burn is considered illegal in the region, companies and people still practise the same, but only a few are prosecuted The environment group of Green peace criticized the government for not taking action against these companies or people , who become a cause of uncontrollable destruction. Green peace also urged Joko Widodo, the president of Indonesia to strip the companies of their license, if fire is seen burning in their land.
Edited by: The World Women News team
