HAZE IS GOOD FOR YOU!!
by Yuen

With all the recent hoo-haas about how haze is bad for you and opportunists taking chances asking smokers to kick their habit, as this is a “good time for smokers to quit”, I’m holding on to the old adage of there is a silver lining behind every dark clouds, seeing the positive sides of this man made catastrophe, I’m thankful for this to happen around the nation. I have a proposition for you.

One of the main reason of the people’s apathy to basically everything that matters, be it environmental concerns or social awareness is because of their comfort zone abode, because things like lack of clean water access and poverty never affected them, the robotic middle class too busy with their money making and vigorous consuming. Fortunately, there is a slightly blurry, but yet bright light ahead of our tunnel: Haze.

There will not be any better opportunities than this to instill some environmental concern and awareness to the people. For one, it is man made, everybody is very well aware of that and also to the fact that everybody who utilizes motorized vehicle is very much contributing to the worsening of the situation-very much every human beings of the nation and two, there should be a pragmatic campaign to keep them converted as an eco-friendly citizens while the haze is still affecting them. NGOs, take note. But to the lone individuals, what could we do?

Walking around my campus, I see how much this haze disrupts people’s life. Activities are restricted, classes are cancelled or cut short and haze could be the reason to almost anything, from class truancy to double parking (nearer to the destination, less walking at the outdoor). People are disturbed, from their sleep of tak kisahs: and they are very unhappy about it. The gloomy effect where people do not receive any direct sunlight for days: even better. In this limited sight prospect that people have: nothing is routine or uniform anymore, and so the big turn of thinking pattern will change. Abnormal situation leads to abnormal thinking. It only spells one thing to me: ANARCHY.

There will be lack of control almost over anything, there will be no aerial traffic reports, flights postponed, transportation system crippled, police officers staying at home, lootings at 7-Elevens, machines in the factories stopped, people have more time at home to think about their sad state, people protesting to the government for consensus for cleaner air, a state of confusion and anger and many opportunities behind the unclear vision!

Grab this opportunity to deliver your thoughts, to spread your political issues, your Green ideas, try to reach closer to your utopian dream while the haze is happening. As I see everybody donning protective (?) mask, from the flimsy paper type to the pesticide spraying type, I sense a hope: everybody looks like a street protestor to me, of a protest for a better life, a better environment, a better world: isn’t this what we have been fighting for all this while? Here’s what YOU, YOU and YOU could do: Utilise the mask, write your provocative messages on it. As my “institution” still hasn’t declared darurat, I wrote mine “Isytihar Darurat Sekarang!” so that my health is not affected by having to attend classes. Yeah, you may have to support those opportunist capitalist entrepreneurs selling marked up priced masks, but think of the effect that you can deliver. Bring a marker with you, get some members of the public to participate, and try to think of some short yet catchy phrases.

Having a mask on in times like this could still be peculiar, but imagine having your messages on it! And you could cover half of your face like never before, thus protecting your identity, just like a beautifully planned protest. People will look, and think. To all fellow punks, as your spikes and studs provoke anybody anymore, try donning a facial mask with messages on it! It’s damn cool too, very much like the unexplained effect of half concealment of the sunglasses. Fashion polices ALERT!

Pardon my cincai writing, I’m too enthusiastic for the moment, I couldn’t care less.

Get your masks, markers and a good slogan, Hit the streets,
Happy Mask Demonstrating!!