Singapore Monitor - June 2013
What a difference a day makes. Really have to enjoy each day each moment as we can never take anything for granted. The Twin Evil of Dengue and the Haze got us down.
Dengue
The dengue scourge cannot be fought by the authorities alone. By the time they have finished an area, another one would have caught on. By now, every Singaporean is fully aware about dengue but what are we doing about it besides knowing? Can you imagine someone dying or hospitalised because his neighbour did not do due diligence? I can imagine for most people they will just tell their domestic helpers to ensure clean up of stagnant water but you need to personally supervise it or do it. Never leave it to chance. Bruce Lee said: "Knowing is not enough, you must apply; willing is not enough, you must do".
I am sure we have the knowledge and expertise but perhaps there are other considerations but didn't we do it like how Vietnam did using natural foes like introducing a crustaceans into their waterways and bacterium to reduced their lifespan and to block the transmission of the virus. It is time we do more or do introduce other methods too. One death is one too many. As a young boy, I saw my neighbourhood provision shop owner who lost his youngest son whom I knew.
Dengue
The dengue scourge cannot be fought by the authorities alone. By the time they have finished an area, another one would have caught on. By now, every Singaporean is fully aware about dengue but what are we doing about it besides knowing? Can you imagine someone dying or hospitalised because his neighbour did not do due diligence? I can imagine for most people they will just tell their domestic helpers to ensure clean up of stagnant water but you need to personally supervise it or do it. Never leave it to chance. Bruce Lee said: "Knowing is not enough, you must apply; willing is not enough, you must do".
I am sure we have the knowledge and expertise but perhaps there are other considerations but didn't we do it like how Vietnam did using natural foes like introducing a crustaceans into their waterways and bacterium to reduced their lifespan and to block the transmission of the virus. It is time we do more or do introduce other methods too. One death is one too many. As a young boy, I saw my neighbourhood provision shop owner who lost his youngest son whom I knew.
Haze
Just when you thought it is safe to go back to your clear blue sky and clean air. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCfWHqrYUqo.
The last time it hit us bad, I wrote about building some hydro-powered giant fans along our coastline blow them back to sender. Just like how Elvis sung - Return To Sender:
On facebook, you can already find picture of the Flyer becoming a giant fan. I am not sure if the smog will kill off the mozzies that caused us dengue. Maybe the mosquitoes can't see nor feel and kill themselves in the smog. It will be good if at least it does but if the haze prolongs, it may kill some of us at this rate of the worst ever of 401? Perhaps everyone will still be home or come home early and the population will increase as a result.
I feel that we should have better information and control on face masks as there were panic buying. The government could have given them free. The public may have been better assured. I saw people buying much more than they needed. Maybe they thought the fire would rage on for months or they got some for their dogs. Prices should also be controlled as I saw prices escalating from $4 a piece of N95 to $5. From $75 for a box of 20 to $100. That is profiteering. Profiteering during an emergency and crisis like this?
I feel that we should have better information and control on face masks as there were panic buying. The government could have given them free. The public may have been better assured. I saw people buying much more than they needed. Maybe they thought the fire would rage on for months or they got some for their dogs. Prices should also be controlled as I saw prices escalating from $4 a piece of N95 to $5. From $75 for a box of 20 to $100. That is profiteering. Profiteering during an emergency and crisis like this?
Indonesian friends, please help us: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHp4ABTXKP8. I can't believe a leader there spoke like that. He was basically telling us to "kiss my ash"! He knew we fear it. Suddenly when the PSI shot above 100, we went "oh no". Then it got to 137 and we cringed. It got over 200 and we say okay fine give me 100 and so it shot to 371 and breached 400 finally. Okay okay, give 200 it's fine. Stop behaving like a child and kiss my ash.
If the rain should come now, stay away. It will be covered in soot. The wind should blow over to Jakarta's way to Mr. Minister. That is when people will really understand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AKirAvSum2U
Kindness
On the other hand, I saw hope. In the form of one Jeremy Chua who is back on vacation and together with his group of friends and volunteers went about helping the weak and the poor. There are others like them. Keep up the Singapore spirit! This is the kind of spirit we must show and not try to out buy each other for masks. In a crisis you come together not divide. Then people watching will know what kind of fibre we are made of. I read about people blaming the government which I am surprised. Then when people look at the PSI which is a 3-hour average, they said you are telling me it is 150? I am looking now and it looks like 300! I think we need to address this issue as well.
We are smothered and choking. This is haze and not hell. So you can imagine what hell would be like. Take care and God bless!
If the rain should come now, stay away. It will be covered in soot. The wind should blow over to Jakarta's way to Mr. Minister. That is when people will really understand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AKirAvSum2U
Kindness
On the other hand, I saw hope. In the form of one Jeremy Chua who is back on vacation and together with his group of friends and volunteers went about helping the weak and the poor. There are others like them. Keep up the Singapore spirit! This is the kind of spirit we must show and not try to out buy each other for masks. In a crisis you come together not divide. Then people watching will know what kind of fibre we are made of. I read about people blaming the government which I am surprised. Then when people look at the PSI which is a 3-hour average, they said you are telling me it is 150? I am looking now and it looks like 300! I think we need to address this issue as well.
We are smothered and choking. This is haze and not hell. So you can imagine what hell would be like. Take care and God bless!
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