- As part of the filming of an episode
of Angry Planet, we spent quite a bit of time documenting the
agricultural fires that are intentionally set across Laos every
year. The technique of "slash & burn" is a cheap
and effective way for the farmers to clear land and add nutrients
to the soil. It works in the short term, but the long term effects
cause deforestation, pollution and a tremendous carbon footprint.
Many of these fires also burn out of control. We encountered
several instances where locals had to scramble to try and contain
the flames as wind shifts caused the fires to expand beyond what
they had intended.
-
- We even witnessed numerous fire whirls,
or "fire tornadoes" that formed in the hilly terrain.
|
 |
