As the world's leading supplier of palm oil, growers in Indonesia make it a habit to slash and burn the old trees to quickly make room for new plantations. The result of this drastic method are raging fires that burn for months, turning the air a frightening sepia color containing toxins that threaten the health and lives of millions of people in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore!
Approximately 500,000 cases of respiratory infections have been diagnosed since July and 10 people have died due to breathing in the toxic haze. In addition to the dangers to human health, animals are also suffering. According to The Guardian: "Endangered wildlife such as orangutans have also been forced to flee the forests because of the fires."
The World Resources Institute reports the situation is worse this year due to a long dry season complicated by El Niño. The effects on the climate is detrimental with daily emissions from the fires exceeding that of the daily emissions of the entire United States!
Efforts are underway to douse the fires but due to the magnitude of these fires help is desperately needed from across the Globe! Please ask all the World''s governments to provide help and resources to stop these toxic fires, and to implement measures to prevent this from happening in the future.
Attn: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
We (the undersigned) are alarmed at the deadly fires coming from Indonesia that have been burning for more than two months; threatening the lives of human beings, animals and the climate.
As you know, slash and burn fires are set every planting season for trees that supply palm oil. This year is complicated by a very long dry season and the impact of El Niño. The result is an out of control fire that requires the help and resources from across the globe.
Please send an emergency call to all the world's leaders asking them to step in and help Indonesia with its efforts to douse the fires and put plans in place to stop this from happening again.
Sincerely,
