Indonesia Environment Forum (Walhi), a leading Indonesian NGO, is set to file a class action lawsuit against 10 companies in connection with the August forest fires and choking haze in Riau, Sumatra. Eight of the companies are said to be Malaysian-owned.
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We are choking from the haze here in Singapore and the region- from the forest fires. This is a MAN-MADE DISASTER created by using fire to clear land. Small farmers as well as multi-nationals are responsible. Left alone and to the devises of present legislation, the problem will recur year after year.
I think that the first step is to ‘name and shame’ the culprits (small farmers and multi-national companies) and those officials who turn a blind eye. If that does not work, enviromental groups and press should push for campaigns in the west to stop buying forest and agricultural products from these countries e.g. wood products, palm oil, rubber origination from these countries.
This problem is going to affect all you out there in the world. Many governments in the region are incapable or unwilling to do anything about it.