Japan deploys equipment to Indonesia’s Borneo to help fight wildfires causing toxic haze

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Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. dock / dɒk / (v.) – to pull a ship or boat into a harbor or port so it can stop, stay safely, or take goods and passengers off
    Example:

    The ship docked yesterday to deliver food and supplies to the village.


  2. haze / heɪz / (n.) – air that is filled with smoke, dust, or small drops of water, making it hard to see clearly
    Example:

    The thick haze from the forest fire made it hard for people to breathe.


  3. deploy / dɪˈplɔɪ / (v.) – to move soldiers, workers, or equipment to a specific place so they are ready to be used for a special purpose
    Example:

    The city deployed extra police officers around the stadium where the world championship match was held.


  4. plague / pleɪg / (v.) – to cause repeated trouble, pain, or difficulty to someone or something over a long period of time
    Example:

    Many farmers in the region were plagued by long periods of dry weather.


  5. threshold / ˈθrɛʃ hoʊld / (n.) – the specific point or level where something starts to happen, change, or take effect
    Example:

    The air pollution reached a dangerous threshold, so the city closed schools.


Article

Read the text below.

A Japanese military transport ship docked on the island of Borneo as part of a disaster relief mission to help fight wildfires in Indonesia that are causing a toxic haze impacting people’s health in other countries.


Japan deployed 300 crew members, landing ship JS Kunisaki and three CH-47 helicopters, which arrived in Kalimantan on the island of Borneo.


The mission in Indonesia marked the first known overseas firefighting operation carried out by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, or JSDF.


“To this end, we will learn from the Indonesian military’s operational experience and work in coordination and cooperation with them, striving to ensure that the Indonesian people can lead stable lives as soon as possible,” Col. Syunji Nakahara, the commander of the disaster relief activities, said at a port in Mempawah district.


Japan and Indonesia have also been increasingly strengthening their military cooperation ties, with the two sides discussing the Japanese sale of its used destroyers.


Indonesia has been plagued by forest and land fires for decades, but an intensifying El Niño pattern this year and a prolonged dry season worsened the impact of the fires.


Toxic haze and smoke have caused a health crisis in neighboring countries. The smoke has drifted as far as the Philippines, more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) away, and breached Malaysia’s emergency-level threshold for air pollution, forcing authorities to declare an emergency in a town in Sarawak state on Borneo.


The air pollution has also affected several areas on the island of Sumatra, forcing schools to suspend learning activities at school. The toxic haze has affected more than 1.4 million students across the country.


Japan’s firefighting efforts will support Indonesian authorities in reaching areas that are difficult for ground teams to access. The JSDF said in a statement that the three CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Japan will start conducting firefighting operations on Borneo as soon as preparations are complete.


“Through these operations, we will dedicate ourselves to supporting the affected people of Indonesia and preventing further damage,” a written statement from the JSDF said.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Wildfires in Indonesia are causing toxic haze that is affecting people’s health in the country as well as in other countries. What negative impacts do you think wildfires and toxic haze have on people and the environment? Do you think these negative impacts could hurt a country’s economy? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • The air pollution has also forced schools to suspend learning activities. What do you think should be done to ensure that students can continue learning while schools are closed and the government is managing the problem? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Col. Syunji Nakahara said that the Japanese crew will strive to ensure that the Indonesian people can lead stable lives as soon as possible. What do you think the Indonesian government and the Japanese crew do together to achieve this? What do you think it means for people to lead stable lives in the middle of an environmental problem? Discuss.
  • How important is it that other countries, like Japan, work with Indonesia to address the disaster? When a nation decides to extend help to another country during an environmental crisis, what actions should it take to ensure its support is effective and efficient (ex. sending staff who speak the local language, preparing the best equipment)? Why are these important? Discuss.