Large dams are not the answer to climate change in the Mekong Region

Some may say it is too early to conclude that the changing weather patterns in the Mekong region – be it a longer dry season, unexpected river water level fluctuation, or cold days in early summer – are a result of climate change. Even if we could summarize the large number of expert debates and long list of research papers, it’s unlikely that a clear answer to the simple question “Is climate change happening in the Mekong?” would emerge.

Bomb Destroys Mining Company Truck

A bomb blew up a truck loaded with silicon mineral stone in Aung Myittar Ward, Namhkam Township, Northern Shan State at 7.20pm on 10 March according to Sai Ye, a local resident.

He said: “When the bomb exploded under the engine at the front of the truck some parts of the engine were destroyed but no one was injured in the accident. The truck driver is Sai Pe from Aung Myittar Ward and the explosion happened in front of his home. The explosion was very big, it caused the ground to shake. The whole town was silent after the explosion and there was almost no one on the street.”

Karen Groups Concerned Proposed Dams on Salween River Could Fuel Conflict and Increase Militarization

The Karen River Watch, a coalition of Karen environmental community based groups raise concerns over the proposed hydropower dam projects on the Salween River and repeated their call for a halt to all development projects. Together with local villagers, KRW held a protest near Hat Gyi Dam, one of the proposed dam sites in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State on March 14 to mark International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams.

Coal-fired power plants as power solution

While Myanmar has planned to increase the input of coal-fired power plants in a bid to meet the surging demand, the civil society has raised environmental concerns over the implementation of such plants, according to the 3rd Myanmar Power Summit, a business seminar organised by the Centre for Management Technology.

ADB Throws Open Research Archive

The Asian Development Bank ( ADB ) has made all its economic and development research on Asia and the Pacific available under “open access initiative”, a principle that promotes unrestricted online access to scholarly research so that it can be more widely distributed and used, the multilateral lender said Thursday.