President Duterte called the island a “cesspool”. (Closed Islands in Southeast Asia under threat from tourism – Part 1)
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Thousands of Seized Logs Smuggled to China, Lawmaker Says
Up to 2,000 logs cut from champac and pine trees weighing over 1,300 tons seized by authorities
China eyes its next prize – the Mekong
China’s growing control over the Mekong is a crucial component of immobilising sovereignty in mainland Southeast Asia.
The world’s plastic crisis in the Mekong region
As the world’s single largest contributor of plastic waste into the marine environment, Mekong countries must provide leadership to restore health in our oceans.
Laos, Myanmar move forward in energy cooperation
Myanmar wants to purchase about 300-400MW of power, but that will depend on the results of the feasibility study.
Cambodia parliament passes draft law on forestry
The National Assembly yesterday approved a draft law adopting the policies of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organisation, meaning that the Kingdom could soon become the organisation’s newest member country.
Lao Banana Workers Sickened by Chemicals Used on Farms
Lao workers at Chinese-operated banana plantations are falling ill in large numbers from exposure to chemicals used on the farms, with many suffering from respiratory or liver problems.
The real cost of Myanmar’s electricity
Myanmar has some of the lowest electricity rates in the world. However, connecting and supplying power to the millions of people who will drive Myanmar’s development is a huge endeavor.
NGOs push climate change agenda
NGO’s say Cambodia should pay more attention to climate change issues, noting that it is more susceptible to it’s impacts than most Asian countries.
Rural poor squeezed by land concessions in Mekong region: report
Companies acquired concessions amounting to the size of a small European country, while rural Mekong residents saw their landholdings shrink or disappear over the past two decades.