The Thirsty Dragon: How Dams and China’s Might Imperil The Mekong
October 13th, 2019
Courtesy of The New York Times (subscription required), a sobering look at the future of the Mekong River: When the Chinese came to the village of Lat Thahae, perched on a muddy bend of a Mekong River tributary, they scrawled a Chinese character on the walls of homes, schools and Buddhist temples. No one in […]
Read more »Mekong River Strikes Another Record Low
August 20th, 2019
Via The Diplomat, a report on the Mekong’s plight: In recent weeks, the Mekong River, one of the world’s longest and largest rivers, which has been under peril due to a confluence of development, demographic, and geopolitical pressures, has been at its lowest levels in a century. Dams upstream are holding back much needed water amid […]
Read more »US Warns Dams Give China ‘Control’ of Mekong River
August 5th, 2019
Via Terra Daily, a report on recent U.S. government officials remarks about China’s ‘control’ of the Mekong river: China is taking control of the flow of Southeast Asia’s most important river through a dam-building “spree”, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Wednesday, as water levels along the Mekong reach record lows. The famous waterway starts […]
Read more »Damming the Mekong Basin to Environmental Collapse
August 3rd, 2019
Via, commentary from Brahma Chellaney on how dam construction on the Mekong River poses a serious threat to the region’s economies and ecosystems: Major dam construction projects have become a favorite pastime of some autocratic governments, with China leading the way. But, far from protecting against water shortages, as supporters promise, large dams are contributing to river […]
Read more »Vietnam’s Economic Success Threatened By Water Risks
July 4th, 2019
Courtesy of Circle of Blue, a report on how water risks threaten to derail Vietman’s economic success: Vietnam’s economic growth and social stability face increasing risk of disruption due to water scarcity, flooding, and pollution, according the new World Bank report, “Vietnam: Toward a Safe, Clean, and Resilient Water System”. Ample water supplies combined with open-market […]
Read more »Leaked Report: Cambodia’s Biggest Dam Could ‘Literally Kill’ Mekong
May 27th, 2018
Via The Guardian, an article on the heavy impact of a planned hydroelectric dam on the Mekong: A Chinese-backed plan to build Cambodia’s biggest dam could “literally kill” the Mekong river, according to a confidential assessment seen by the Guardian which says that the proposed site at Sambor is the “worst possible place” for hydropower. […]
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