THIS year the rainy season has become a huge blessing for the people of Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. When rain precipitation rose from last month, residents were able to breathe fresh air, look up at clear skies, and leave their windows wide open. “There’s no more smoke, now I can breathe easily,” said Rai Gunawan, a citizen of Pahandut, southeast of Palangkaraya, last week on Thursday.

Throughout the dry season since mid-year, Palan