At least three global surveys disclosed their findings recently, with all three indicating that Laos is going backwards in term of in global development rankings
Tag: corruption
The palm oil fiefdom
Mongabay and Gecko Project collaborate on an in-depth series on the corruption behind Indonesia’s deforestation and land rights crisis.
Graft props up illegal timber trade: activist
“Investigation of illegal logging and timber smuggling across the border is reported by the media, but nothing changes because timber businesses are supported by state actors,” claimed Environmentalist Ouch Leng.
Probe of Lao Timber Trucks Likely “Never-Ending”: CSO Official
High-ranking Lao officials are regularly involved in illegal logging and cross-border sales, despite a ban on the export of timber issued by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in May last year.
Laos Seizes Cache of Illegal Logs Owned by Governor’s Wife: Official
State inspection authorities in Laos have seized more than two dozen trucks after they were found to be hauling timber illegally logged by the wife of the governor of Attapeu province for sale across the border in Vietnam: an official source
Vietnam pledges to investigate massive illegal logging violations as international pressure grows
After several weeks of silence, the Vietnamese government announced that it is working to begin an investigation into allegations of widespread illegal logging in Cambodia directed by Vietnamese companies and provincial government officials.
Cambodian Communities Complain Illegal Fishing Damaging Livelihoods
In this video, community leaders at Kampong Khleang in the Tonle Sap Lake, expose to us (Scientists for the Mekong) the corruption of authorities receiving bribes and allowing illegal fishing by Vietnamese ‘trawlers’ on the Lake, plus the impacts on their own livelihoods.
Dam Design and Greed May Factor Into Flood Devastation in Vietnam
The poor design and management of Vietnam’s power-generating dams are likely one of the main factors that led to recent deadly floods that inundated the country’s central provinces, experts tell RFA.
Flooding over the past two months has devastated Vietnam’s central provinces, killed dozens of people and caused millions of dollars in economic damage as unusually heavy rain has pelted the country.
Regime’s absolute power is a danger to environment: experts
THAILAND faces many environmental issues as major development plans are being pushed ahead across the country, organic laws about the environment and community rights remain to be drafted and the forest reclamation campaign continues to cause conflicts, experts said on Wednesday.
The Thai Environmental Journalists Society held a forum and exhibition on current environmental issues and future challenges yesterday at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. At the forum, many speakers flagged up the environmental issues the country faces.
At Environmental Forum, Hun Sen Spreads the Blame
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday presided over the first of what he promised would be an annual public forum to discuss the plight of the country’s natural resources, though some participants left doubting the events would do much good.
The Forum on the Protection and Conservation of Natural Resources, held at the prime minister’s office building, was a rare chance for activists to put their concerns and requests straight to the premier. The government sought to convince them that it’s getting serious about preserving the country’s lakes, rivers and forests, which have been plundered for decades, often with the help of officials.