Something is very wrong in the Mekong and these trends are continuing as mainland Southeast Asia now is fully transitioning, in a premature manner, into its dry season.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
In Myanmar, China’s BRI Projects Are Old Wine in a New Bottle
New Transnational Institute brief shows how China rebrands and repackages dormant or delayed projects in Myanmar under the BRI banner — projects that lack transparency and consultation with affected communities.
There are lessons for India from China on dams
The Mekong Basin illustrates, giant upstream dams contribute to river depletion and intensify parched conditions. The spate of dam building in Asian autocracies is exacerbating already-fraught water security disputes.
China-Laos railway tunnel construction making breakthroughs
China’s latest engineering and construction update (from the Mekong near Luang Prabang) on its Belt and Road Initiative to convert Laos from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub.
Displaced by Clashes Over Amber, Villagers in Myanmar’s Kachin State Risk Death to Secretly Mine It
Some 5,000 IDPs like Ah-Ser risk arrest by the Tatmadaw to mine amber in the area. Sometimes, soldiers use sniffer dogs to search for and arrest illegal miners.
Laos attempts to rebuild flood victims’ lives amid budget constraints
Government provides limited financial support to affected families so is continuing to ask organisations, businesses and individuals to contribute what they can in the way of monetary donations to help victims.
Include Tibetan plateau in UN discussions: Climate researchers
Over the past 50 years Tibetan Plateau temperatures have increased 1.3C, three times the global average, says a researcher, thus 82% of the ice has retreated with 66% of the glaciers are in danger of melting by 2050.
Cambodian power shortages again
During the launch of the National Strategic Development Plan 2019-2023, Hun Sen said the shortages due to unprecedented low water levels in the Mekong River leading to hydropower generation dropping below local demand.