HAZE!

The last month has been really miserable here in Singapore as a haze has descended upon the country and has made being outside unhealthy and at times, very dangerous.  The haze is as a result of out-of-control fires in Indonesia where farmers are purposefully burning their palm tree fields in order to prepare for a new planting season.  The fires are set every year and the haze is always a result of this but this year it is particularly bad.  The fires these farmers set are no longer under control and instead are smoldering in a dry, dry season and running uncontrolled through the countryside.

The way the prevalent winds blow, this smoke is carried over Singapore where the sun hasn't been seen in the last month.  The skies are smokey, throats burn, eyes waterer and your chest just hurts.  A PSI (Pollutants Standard Index) rating over 100 is considered dangerous and outside activities are cancelled, kids are kept inside and PE classes are cancelled at school.  The PSI has been over 100 a large percentage of the last month with some days getting up to about 315!

As a result of the haze, we have been having to wear masks when outside for an extended period of time.  The necessary masks have sold out across the country several times and people anxiously await the next shipment.  We have bought a couple different types trying to find ones that are effective yet also not too uncomfortable.  Right now we can only hope that the winds shift, rains come and the haze disappears although the Singapore government has indicated it might last until mid-November!