Several days ago I posted the World Health Organisation's reflections on social and mental health in the time of the COVID19 outbreak, Mental Health and Psychosocial Considerations During COVID-19 Outbreak. My contributionI enjoy walking, and as someone in one of the groups at risk COVID19 complications, it both strengthens and relaxes me. Walking is a … Continue reading Remaining mentally healthy during the #COVID19 pandemic
Category: Singapore
Destruction of Riau’s peatlands continue
Despite the grave conditions that developed in 2015, fire is still the cheapest means of clearing remnant forest areas once valuable species have been removed.
Getting Singapore’s eateries and companies to switch to #sustainable palm oil
Here is a short digest of news I’ve written for the PM.Haze October Newletter. A full list of past newsletters can be found on the PM.Haze site. How to fight the haze three times a day The first part of my news analysis addresses an excellent article, How to fight the haze three times a day, written … Continue reading Getting Singapore’s eateries and companies to switch to #sustainable palm oil
Where Australia Collides with Asia – by Ian Burnet
Some historical narratives can be difficult to follow when they are punctuated by countless footnotes and bibliographic references, or broken by a frequent need to delve into appendices. Ian Burnet frees his work from these impediments. By seamlessly embedding his sources he has produced an almost conversational style. The result is an erudite narrative flow, … Continue reading Where Australia Collides with Asia – by Ian Burnet
Peoples’ Movement to Stop the Haze #GoHazeFree
As I approach my 70th birthday I find a need to consolidate my energy and spend time on those matters that present as the more serious and immediate. One of these matters is the health of our atmosphere and the allied issues of climate change and global warming caused by humanity's over dependence on fossil … Continue reading Peoples’ Movement to Stop the Haze #GoHazeFree
Tackling the smoke #haze problem with alternative sustainable #peatland production
In 2015 I was forced to leave Singapore when the smoke haze, mainly from fires burning on Sumatran peatlands, became so heavy it was unhealthy for me to remain. My exit was easy but the people in Sumatra and Kalimantan, particularly Central Kalimantan, were not so fortunate. All of those in affected areas were living in far … Continue reading Tackling the smoke #haze problem with alternative sustainable #peatland production
#Peatland and forest burning for palm oil production continues, but at what cost?
Harvard and Columbia University researchers have used air pollution readings to calculate exposure to the toxic smoke haze that drifted across Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, last year. Their research suggests 100,000 premature deaths in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, arising from this event.
#Indonesian #peatlands are torched again as the #burning season gets underway
I wasn't expecting things to deteriorate quite as quickly as they have today. Just in case readers aren't familiar with this Air Quality Index scale, readings are based on several factors but the figure 248 refers to parts per million of particles 2.5 microns in size. These have a capacity to enter the lungs … Continue reading #Indonesian #peatlands are torched again as the #burning season gets underway
Festival of the Hungry Ghost in #Singapore and #Malaysia some background information
This festival is held during the 7th lunar month. This year it begins on 3rd August with commemorative activities running until 31st August. Commemorating the Dead The Hungry Ghost Festival and the Ghost Month (鬼月) has uncertain origins. Similar commemorations are found throughout Asia from India to Japan. The tradition apparently predates Buddhism and perhaps … Continue reading Festival of the Hungry Ghost in #Singapore and #Malaysia some background information
#Singapore: the Festival of the Hungry Ghost
This month long event in Singapore is always worth watching as it comes to an end. Catherine Williams and I shot this quick video today on iPhones, just in passing. Back in the 1960s I worked as a television camera operator. In those days the camera's we used were huge. Operating one was like … Continue reading #Singapore: the Festival of the Hungry Ghost
Russell Darnley Blog 