Today is a ‘Day of Action for Rivers’

Today is a ‘Day of Action for Rivers’

Two decades of indigenous peoples working to keep the Salween River free-flowing By Pai Deetes, Thailand and Myanmar Campaigns Director of International Rivers Originally published in the Bangkok Post On a sandy beach by the Salween River on the Thai-Myanmar border in March 2006, boats carrying Karen villagers and other ethnic groups such as Karenni,…

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Women and Rivers’ Defender Spotlight: Zerin Ahmed

Women and Rivers’ Defender Spotlight: Zerin Ahmed

by Petro Kotze and Nalori Chakma Connecting to riverine communities gave direction to her career  Globally, young activists have increasingly taken a stand calling for social change. Zerin Ahmed is one of those inspiring young leaders. The 25-year-old activist and educator is based in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, where she promotes environmental education and…

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How Hydropower Development Devastated the Loktak Wetlands and the Livelihoods of Women and Communities

How Hydropower Development Devastated the Loktak Wetlands and the Livelihoods of Women and Communities

By: Jiten Yumnam, Nalori Dhammei Chakma and Petro Kotze The Meitei people call the Loktak Wetlands in India’s North East region Loktak Lairembi or, the mother goddess. The wetlands are the foundation of their socio-economic development and rich cultural heritage, but has been decimated by the construction of the contentious and controversial 105 MW Loktak…

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Advancing Pico / Micro Hydropower in the Ganga, Meghna, Brahmaputra, and Salween River Basins

Advancing Pico / Micro Hydropower in the Ganga, Meghna, Brahmaputra, and Salween River Basins

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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Press Release | Civil Society Groups Across Asia demand the ADB recalibrate its Draft Energy Policy in line with climate and community realities

Press Release | Civil Society Groups Across Asia demand the ADB recalibrate its Draft Energy Policy in line with climate and community realities

***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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Three Years Later the Lao Dam Disaster is still a warning on How Unsustainable and Unjust Dams Are

Three Years Later the Lao Dam Disaster is still a warning on How Unsustainable and Unjust Dams Are

By: Phairin Sohsai, Thai-Mekong Campaign Coordinator for International Rivers This article was originally featured in Bangkok Tribune. Countless examples of dam disasters, the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower project in Southern Laos included, point to a countless number of risks to local communities and environments, but these risks are seldom integrated into the costs of the project. Instead,…

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