Imaging Our Mekong - Water

THAILAND: Water Diversion Plans Lead to Trouble - Activists

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:48:54 -0500

By Kornpan Winwong

BANGKOK, Aug 3 (Newsmekong) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s plans to divert water from rivers across the Thailand and from neighbouring Laos to help feed agricultural production faces stiff opposition from activists, who argue the ambitious projects could threaten the environment and local people’s lives.

Surrounded by Big Lakes, But Short of Water

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:40:10 -0500

Yang Qing

In ancient times, Er'hai lake in Yunnan, China was known as Xi Er'he, Yeyu River, Yeyu Pool, Er'he, Kunmichuan and Kunming Pool. Legend has it that people began to live near the lake after the hot sea cooled and marine life started to grow. It is said that Er'hai came into being after a volcanic eruption. The volcano's mouth of the volcano closed to form a pot, and water filled this pot. Then, organisms began to appear.

Living with the Mekong's Floods

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:42:20 -0500

Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, May 24 (IPS) - A Vietnamese academic has developed a small
following over the past two years for his views about the waters that
inundate the Mekong delta. The seminars he attends ends with

China, Promoter of Mega Dams

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:37:00 -0500

Antoaneta Bezlova

BEIJING, May 23 (IPS) - China is emerging as a new backer of massive
dam projects around the globe, giving rise to fears for pristine
natural resources and the cultural heritage of river peoples.

Stop Dam in Khone Falls Area - NGOs

Sun, 20 May 2007 02:57:23 -0500

OPEN LETTER FROM 28 NGOs TO THE LAO PDR GOV’T, THE MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION, AND THE GOV’TS OF THAILAND, CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM

China Pursues More Blasting of Reefs

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 22:25:09 -0600

CHIANG RAI - China plans to make the Mekong river deep enough to accommodate large cargo vessels by first blasting rocks in stretches of the river near the Golden Triangle and then dredging a channel. The plan was unveiled during a December meeting here between a Chinese delegation and Thai representatives in Chiang Saen district.

Droughts Aren't Due to Big Dams - China

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 05:22:35 -0600

By Antoaneta Bezlova

BEIJING, Aug 30 (IPS) - China's worst drought in 50 years has forced its leaders to defend their record of building vast hydro-engineering works at a time when finite water resources are increasingly depleted by population growth and rapid economic development.

LOW WATER LEVELS HALT THAI-LAO FERRIES

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 01:52:02 -0600

MUKDAHAN - Critically-low water levels in the Mekong River in early March at this key trade border crossing point has stopped the
service between Thailand and Laos.

According to provincial authorities here, the receding water level is at a critically low level that forces motorised-ferries between
Thailand and Laos to remain at their moorings.

Surrounded by Big Lakes, But Short of Water

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:16:48 -0600

Yang Qing

In ancient times, Er’hai lake in Yunnan, China was known as Xi Er’he, Yeyu River, Yeyu Pool, Er’he, Kunmichuan and Kunming Pool. Legend has it that people began to live near the lake after the hot sea cooled and marine life started to grow. It is said that Er’hai came into being after a volcano eruption spewed lava and rocks. The mouth of the volcano closed to form a pot, and water filled this pot. Then, organisms began to appear.

Surrounded by Big Lakes, But Short of Water

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:49:58 -0600

Yang Qing

Cambodia, China Seek Cooperation on Water

Sat, 10 Dec 2005 00:17:23 -0600

PHNOM PENH (Xinhuanet) - The governments of China and Cambodia will strengthen and expand cooperation on water resources for the benefit of the two countries and the people.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed here on Nov. 2 by visiting Chinese Water Resources Minister Wang Shucheng and his Cambodian counterpart Lim Kean Hor, minister of Water Resources and Meteorology. Under the MoU, the two sides agreed to strengthen and expand the existing China-Cambodia cooperation in the utilisation, management and sustainable development of water resources and establish short, medium and long-term cooperative relationships on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Exchanging visits, information, experts and organising technical training are also on the agenda of bilateral cooperation. Lim Kean Hor thanked the Chinese government for its "sincere and consistent assistance" to Cambodia "either in defending sovereignty or in the years of development of country's economy."

He reaffirmed that the Cambodian government will stick to the One China policy and firmly support China's great cause of reunification.

While commending China's achievements in water resource management and the construction of hydropower projects, Lim Kean Hor welcomed more Chinese companies to invest in Cambodia's hydropower station.