In a bold outpouring of public concern for Southeast Asia’s Mekong River, more than 16,000 people from within the six-country Mekong region and around the world have signed a “Save the Mekong” petition urging governments to abandon plans for hydropower development along the river’s mainstream. photo © Suthep Kritsanavarin
Over the past two years, 11 big hydropower dams have been proposed for the Mekong River’s lower mainstream. These dams threaten migratory fish stocks, regional food security, and the livelihoods and incomes of millions of people.
The petition, signed by thousands of farmers and fishers, as well as the wider public, demonstrates the widespread public concern about these dams. Many people wrote personal messages for the region’s leaders on their postcards:
“I love my country. I don’t want to see some people destroy my home country for greed. So I would like to do my best to protect our Mekong!” wrote Sneampay from Laos.
The Save the Mekong coalition is a partnership of local and international groups, academics, journalists, artists, fishers, farmers and ordinary people – including International Rivers – that is working to protect the Mekong River, its resources and people’s livelihoods.
More information
- Further information about the Save the Mekong coalition is available in English and regional languages on the coalition’s website.
- Read the Save the Mekong press release (PDF), and statement to the Thai Prime Minister.
- See Carl Middleton’s, International Rivers’ Mekong Program Coordinator, press conference presentation (Color and Black&White)
- Read media coverage of the postcard launch
- Read media coverage and other materials about the Don Sahong workshop, organized in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on June 16
- Learn more about International Rivers’ work on Mekong mainstream dams.
- Map of the proposed Mekong mainstream dams.
- Read the opinion piece “Upstream or Downstream, We All Have the Same Mother.”
