[Tlc] TLC-dams

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Forwarded from Dr. Charnvit Kasetsiri.
Thanks,
justin

Mekong Dams Conference in Bangkok by Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai (12.11.2008)

Under the theme "Mekong Mainstream Dams: People's Voices across
Borders" there will be an international conference on November 12-13, 2008
to be held in Bangkok at the Chumpot-Pantip Conference Room, Faculty of
Political Science, Chulalongkorn University.

More than 200 delegates will discuss for two days their perspectives and
concerns in relation to the construction of hydropower dams along the Mekong
River, which are planned by private companies in collaboration with respective
governments in Lao PDR, Thailand and Cambodia.

Representatives from the Mekong River Commission (MRC) based in Vientiane,
World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have been invited to present and
articulate their plans to dam the Mekong mainstream in Lao PDR, along the
Thai-Lao border and in Cambodia, and to hear the voices as well as arguments of
people across the international borders.

The public forum to take place at Bangkok's prestigious Chulalongkorn
University is organised by Towards Recovery and Regional Alliances (TERRA) in
colloboration with International Rivers Network (IRN), Mekong Watch, Thai
People's Network for Mekong, Rivers Coalition in Cambodia, Oxfam Australia,
Human Rights Commisssion of Thailand, as well as various local community groups
in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).

Conference workshops will also highlight the role of China, which is the most
influential country within the region. Already, three dams on the Upper Mekong
have been completed in China, while five other dam projects are waiting in the
pipeline. Now, people downstream have suspected that these dams may be related
to changes in the water flow and recent floodings. Furthermore, the mountainous
country of Lao PDR is aimed to become a "Battery of Southeast Asia."

The planned dams for the Lower Mekong are at the following locations: Pak Beng,
Luang Prabang, Sayabouri, Pak Lai and Sanakham in Northern Laos, Pak Chom and
Ban Koum at the Thai-Lao border, Lat Sua and Don Sahong in Southern Laos, as
well as Stung Treng and Sambor in Cambodia.

For further information about the conference, please go to the web-site:
www.terraper.org        

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu