SAYANG KALIMANTAN | Picture This Festival 2018 | Singapore Finalist

Summary

In 2015, Indonesia experienced a catastrophic ecological disaster with fires releasing more carbon than Europe did in a year. The thick haze led to severe health issues and even deaths. Volunteers and locals fought the fires, and innovative solutions like deployable shelters made from sustainable bamboo were developed to protect residents from the hazardous air. The script calls for collective action to combat environmental issues and reverse climate change, highlighting the beauty of Kalimantan when free from haze.

Takeaways

• 🔥 In 2015, Indonesia experienced one of the largest ecological disasters, with fires releasing more carbon into the air than Europe did in the entire year.
• 🌫️ The air quality was severely compromised, with air pollution levels reaching up to 60,000 particles per cubic foot indoors, equivalent to smoking cigarettes.
• 🚑 The health impact was devastating, with stories of children dying on their way to school and adults suffering from strokes, likely linked to the haze.
• 🌳 Efforts were made to combat the fires, including pumping water into the ground to stop the spread of fire in the affected areas.
• 🛠️ The government's response was criticized, and volunteers like Wally Tom from the Correct button took initiative to help the affected communities.
• 🏠 Safe rooms were constructed to protect vulnerable populations, featuring air purifiers and hard walls to keep out pollution.
• 🌿 A deployable shelter made from sustainable bamboo was designed, allowing villagers to create a safe pocket of air within their homes.
• 🌍 The script highlights the beauty of Kalimantan when free from haze and fires, emphasizing the importance of preserving its natural state.
• 🌱 The speaker expresses pride in being from Kalimantan, often referred to as the 'lung of the world,' and hopes for a future free from environmental disasters.
• 💪 The narrative calls for collective action to combat climate change, urging people to take concrete steps beyond social media activism.

Q & A

What was the ecological disaster that Indonesia faced in 2015?

In 2015, Indonesia experienced one of the largest ecological disasters in history, with fires burning down vast amounts of forest and peatland, releasing more carbon into the air than Europe did in the entire year.

How did the air quality affect the people living in the affected areas?

The air quality was severely compromised, with air quality meters reading around 30,000 to 60,000 particles per cubic foot, equivalent to the pollution from smoking a cigarette with every breath. This led to health issues such as throat and nose irritation, and in severe cases, children collapsing and dying on their way to school.

What was the immediate response of the narrator upon arriving in the affected area?

Upon arrival, the narrator took air quality readings and found the air to be extremely polluted, akin to being in a garage with buses running all day long. This prompted an immediate sense of urgency to address the situation.

What measures were taken to combat the fires and protect the environment?

Efforts included walking through the forest to fight the fires, pumping water to stop the spread of fire, and providing masks and a drone to the firefighters.

How did the government's response to the disaster affect the narrator?

The narrator was angered by the government's lack of response, leading them to take the microphone and start an oration about the haze and forest fires, which had been recurring since 1997.

What was the role of Wally Tom, the founder of the Correct button, in this situation?

Wally Tom came to Palangka Raya as a volunteer and started a partnership to help the people affected by the haze and fires.

What innovative solution was developed to provide safe air for the affected communities?

A deployable hay shelter was created, made from sustainable bamboo, which could be easily woven and constructed in homes to create a safe pocket of air with the use of fan filters to reduce PM 2.5 levels.

What are the features of the safe room designed to protect people from the haze?

The safe room features a glass gate to prevent outside air from rushing in, a first-stage air purifier using static to capture large particles, and multiple fan filters to reduce PM 2.5 levels to zero.

How does the narrator describe the beauty of Kalimantan when there are no fires or haze?

The narrator describes Kalimantan as having blue skies, beautiful green forests, and being a place that cleans the air of the world, often referred to as the 'lung of the world'.

What is the narrator's hope for the future of Kalimantan regarding the haze?

The narrator hopes that Kalimantan will be free from the haze and that collective action, beyond just social media posts or comments, will help reverse climate change and protect their homeland.