People's Movement to Stop Haze

People's Movement to Stop Haze (PM.Haze) is a non-governmental organisation based in Singapore. It was founded in 2014 in response to the 2013 Southeast Asian haze, which has been recognised as one of the most serious haze episodes in over 16 years.^[1] PM.Haze started its work with an investigative research project to fire-prone areas in Riau Province, Indonesia and identified peatland degradation due to mismanagement of concession lands by irresponsible companies as the fundamental cause of the fires in the areas and the resulting transboundary haze pollution. ^[2] In 2016, it became registered as a society. In 2017, it underwent a rebranding exercise and adopted a new logo to symbolise a constant flow for fresh, clean air with an arrow pointed upward to represent constructive action towards this. PM.Haze was mentioned by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli as he delivered Singapore's national statement at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi in December 2017.^[3]

Aims

As a people's movement, it focuses on outreach, research and advocacy on haze related concerns. It aims to empower people with the knowledge, values and means to be drivers of global action to stop the haze and ultimately attain clean air for present and future generations.

Work

PM.Haze conducts advocacy workshops, research efforts, and runs campaigns to increase awareness. It took part in the ASEAN Forum of National Bioethics Committees (NBCs) on Haze Pollution in Jakarta, Indonesia on 6 and 7 December 2017.^[4]

PM.Haze also conducts trips to Indonesia and Malaysia called "People's Expedition to Experience Peat (PEEP)". This is one of its on-the-ground solutions to enable people to experience the realities on the ground while directly helping out in projects to prevent fires and haze. In May 2017, it went to Sungei Tohor, a small village in the Riau province in Indonesia to build a canal block as part of the solution to stop haze.^[5]

Campaigns

2015: We Breathe What We Buy

In 2015, PM.Haze launched the "We Breathe What We Buy" campaign in conjunction with the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF). This campaign uses the #XtheHaze tagline to encourage people to switch to brands that produce sustainable palm oil.

2016: Go Haze Free

Following from this, the #GoHazeFree campaign was launched in 2016. It aims to encourage businesses to change to sustainable palm oil.

References

^ "Haze pollution | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 2017-12-17 – via National Library Board, Singapore.
^ Tan Yi Han, Putera Zenata, Lau Hong Hu, Celine Lim, Yasmeen Banu and Terry Xu (June 2014). "Hotspot Investigation Project 2014" (PDF). pmhaze.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Singapore stands ready to contribute to a pollution-free world". TODAYonline. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
^ "Haze Pollution: Seeking Solutions from Bioethics and Sustainability Science Perspectives". www.unesco.org. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
^ hermes (2017-05-23). "Singapore team digs in to help Riau village combat haze". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2017-12-17.

[1] "Haze pollution | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 2017-12-17 – via National Library Board, Singapore.

[2] Tan Yi Han, Putera Zenata, Lau Hong Hu, Celine Lim, Yasmeen Banu and Terry Xu (June 2014). "Hotspot Investigation Project 2014" (PDF). pmhaze.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[3] "Singapore stands ready to contribute to a pollution-free world". TODAYonline. Retrieved 2017-12-17.

[4] "Haze Pollution: Seeking Solutions from Bioethics and Sustainability Science Perspectives". www.unesco.org. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 2017-12-17.

[5] rmes (2017-05-23). "Singapore team digs in to help Riau village combat haze". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2017-12-17.

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