Efforts to tackle haze should involve all: Activists

Civil society groups say individuals and governments should also be involved in efforts to tackle transboundary haze, instead of just firms in the pulp and paper, and palm oil industries.
Liyana Othman Channel NewsAsia 18 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: Efforts to tackle transboundary haze should involve governments and individuals, instead of just companies in the pulp and paper, and palm oil industries.

That was the message at the first public exhibition on haze put up by various civil society groups at Nex shopping mall on Saturday (Oct 17).

The exhibition was for the public to learn more about what causes the haze, how it impacts societies, as well as efforts to tackle the problem.

Representatives from think-tank, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, and groups like the Singapore Environment Council also shared their haze-fighting efforts. The People's Movement to Stop Haze (PM.Haze), for instance, is working on a haze-free shopping guide – a compilation of products made from sustainable palm oil, pulp and paper.

To start the ball rolling, the group is looking at the Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard released by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It is an assessment of companies on their efforts to use sustainable palm oil. WWF also has plans to engage in talks with companies to get them to switch to using haze-free palm oil. PM.Haze will then include these brands in their list, according to its president Tan Yi Han.

The Haze Elimination Action Team (HEAT) also reported more interest not only from members of the public, but also companies in its movement to boycott and sue errant companies.

"I think for the boycott, we are seeing some results. I'm not saying that's all due to HEAT, but certainly it's effective to see that the products are being pulled off the shelves. This is getting us publicity not only in Singapore, but also on an international stage. So I think this has some impact certainly, and the companies are not saying Singapore is a small market. Instead, they are trying to respond to that,” said HEAT’s founder, Dr Ang Peng Hwa.

“As for suing, it is a new thing. I think it is certainly worthwhile pursuing because the intent is really to cause the company to be hurt financially, and we want to do that. We will see that, should the government be able to prosecute.”

Later this year, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs will bring together community mapping and geospatial information system experts to discuss ways to verify land ownership in the absence of official maps, as part of its Haze Tracker initiative.

- CNA/xq