(December 15, 2010) Critics of the Nam Theun 2 dam in Laos say it’s a perfect example of why the World Bank should stop its support of large dams, writes Brady Yauch.
Nervous neighbours
(November 24, 2010) Construction of a large-scale dam in Tibet is prompting familiar fears downstream on the Brahmaputra. Joydeep Gupta reports on India’s concerns.
China dams Brahmaputra river in Tibet
(November 16, 2010) China has dammed the Brahmaputra river in Tibet for the first time in order to begin the main construction work on a 510 MW hydropower station project, notwithstanding concerns raised by India in this regard.
Beijing’s threat to India’s water security
(November 10, 2010) There is growing concern in India over the country’s water security given China’s geographic chokehold on almost every important river system in South Asia. Now, as a massive project to divert as much as a third of the Brahmaputra’s water into China looks more and more like becoming a reality, concern is turning to alarm.
Water Crisis Threatens Asia’s Rise
(October 11, 2010) Worsening water shortages across Asia may hamper the region’s ability to maintain economic growth, writes Alan Wheatley.
Think twice before doing damage that will be irreversible
(September 30, 2010) With wildlife habitat and cultural heritage at stake, dam projects on the lower Mekong River must be debated in public forums, writes The Nation editorial board.
Laos sees big fish as small price to pay for hydropower
(September 24, 2010) Laos is moving ahead with plans for hydroelectric development on the Mekong River, despite concerns from conservation groups, writes Jonathan Watts in the Guardian.
Water: Tibet, China, and Asia
(September 23, 2010) “If the wars of this century were fought over oil, the wars of the next century will be fought over water,” warned Dr. Ismail Serageldin, former Vice-President for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development at the World Bank, in 1995.
China’s dams a threat to Cambodia
(September 10, 2010) Residents in Cambodia are blaming Chinese dams upstream on the Mekong River for the recent drought, reports Linda Mottram for Radio Australia.
The struggle for Asia’s water begins
(September 9, 2010) Writing in Forbes, Steven Solomon says China’s control of Tibet gives it almost complete control over Asia’s water supply.
NGOs campaign to defer dams construction in Lower Mekong Basin
(September 8, 2010) Probe International is named as one of the groups calling on the Mekong River Commission to halt construction of dams on the Mekong River.
China succumbs to Mekong nations
(August 30, 2010) Asian giant shares dam information as U.S. takes advantage of China’s poor reputation in Southeast Asia.
China’s Water Grab
(August 24, 2010) Forget the South China Sea. If America really cares about strengthening its presence in Asia, it’ll focus on the Mekong River instead, writes John Lee in Foreign Policy.
Mekong River in danger of becoming ‘Chinese river’
(August 13, 2010) A report from Deutsche Presse-Agentur says the US-based Stimson Centre has warned the Mekong River may be turned into a “Chinese river.”
Giant Stingray, 350-Kilogram Catfish Threatened by Mekong Hydropower Dams
(July 27, 2010) Dams and infrastructure development along Asia’s Mekong River threaten the survival of some of the world’s largest freshwater fish species, including the giant freshwater stingray and the Mekong giant catfish, WWF said.