By Petro Kotze and Nalori Chakma Once an ‘unseen’ person, she now helps ensure her community does not disappear When I was born, my father tied my umbilical cord around a tree in the forest, says Mueda Nawanat. Mueda is from the Ban Tha Rua village in Thailand’s Sob Moei District in the Mae Hong…
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From International Rivers Latin America Team The worst dam disaster in the world in the last decade. This January 25, 2022 marks three years since the collapse of the Córrego do Feijão tailings dam, in Brumadinho, Brazilian city. Check the exclusive Photo Gallery that International Rivers and MAB (Movement Of People Affected by Dams –…
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By Petro Kotze She fights for the survival of the only place she belongs Some people already consider the Lepchas to be a vanishing tribe, says Marmit Lepcha, a Lepcha from Dzongu, in India’s North Sikkim region but, “this is where I belong.” I only understood this once I was away from my home, the…
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While our work at International Rivers focuses on fighting mega dams and destructive hydropower, we know that not all hydropower is the same nor bad for the environment. In fact, community-based hydropower — such as pico, micro, and mini hydro — has provided socio-economic and environmental benefits to thousands of off-grid communities in the Asia…
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After 16 years of a fight led mainly by women activists, Mexican communities halted the Zapotillo Dam System, stopping the project of flooding their ancestral lands. For the past 16 years, three small Mexican communities – Temacapulin, Palmarejo and Acasico in Jalisco State- have been struggling against construction of the Zapotillo Dam System, a megaproject…
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Podcasts are also a way to navigate a sea of information often produced by mainstream media. Affordable to be produced, these channels allow several independent and/or minority groups to amplify their voices and reach different audiences. They also address subjects that mainstream media has yet to cover with property, like climate collapse, rights of nature…
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By Nalori Chakma, South Asia Senior Programme Coordinator, Transboundary Rivers of South Asia The history of dams is riddled with tragic stories of displacement and blatant disregard for Indigenous groups, and the Jumma Peoples are no exception to that. Under the direction of United States and Pakistani government officials, the Kaptai Dam was built in…
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By Hydro Empowerment Network (HPNET) Originally published on HPNet’s website The river basins of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Salween (GBMS) Rivers are endowed with rich natural resources, exceptional biodiversity, and vibrant indigenous cultures. Yet social and environmental well-being continue to be undermined by large hydro development, as decision makers seek economic prosperity and economic…
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***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** Manila, Philippines –Civil society groups across South, Southeast and Central Asia are raising the alarm as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) gears up to announce a new Energy Policy that — unless recalibrated — will fail to reflect the realities of climate science and local peoples’ burning concerns. On September 6th, the…
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The common narrative of the hydropower industry is that hydroelectric dams only bring welfare and progress. But for the communities that rely on rivers for food, income, clean water, recreation and cultural values, this promise rings hollow. Instead they endure the destruction of ecosystems, food systems and may be forced to relocate. Hydropower dams require…
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by Shannon Farley, guest writer Flowing from high in Costa Rica’s Talamanca Mountains, past indigenous Cabecar communities, through dense jungle populated with jaguars, the Pacuare River travels 85 miles to the Caribbean Sea. It is one of Costa Rica’s most acclaimed rivers for its scenic beauty and is revered by whitewater paddling enthusiasts. Thanks primarily…
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