Revisiting the Mekong River Amado S. Tolentino, JR.
THE Mekong River is the 12th longest river in the world and the largest international river within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Its headwaters originate in the Tibetan region of China and flows into five Asean countries, namely Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The river constitutes all the water resources of Cambodia and Laos as well as the northeast of Thailand and the Vietnamese “rice bowl” in the Mekong Delta.
Thus, it can safely be said that the waters of the Mekong are the “source” of life for the five Asean riparian countries for fisheries, agriculture, domestic water supply, flood control, hydropower, drought mitigation, navigation, tourism and recreation.
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By Ellen Lomonico
This interview was conducted on January 18, prior to the military coup d’état in Myanmar on February 1, 2021. Since then, we have been in contact with the three Burmese Prize winners Ka Hsaw Wa (1999), Myint Zaw (2015), and Paul Sein Twa (2020) and are monitoring their safety.
Smiling and exuding boundless energy, Ka Hsaw Wa (Myanmar, 1999) logged on to our video conferencing call. His upbeat personality marked a sharp contrast to the pain and suffering he would share with us later personal experiences on the Thai-Burmese border that would launch his lifelong career as an environmental and human rights advocate.
By Amanuel T. Muhzun
Land and Water are the most valuable natural resources with the grace of renewability making life sustainable to global populations, plants, animals and the habitat in general. However, world hydrological statistics show a fast way of progression in using freshwater resources, causing serious conflicts between countries that demand mutual understanding and cooperation more than ever.
Thanks to scholars and the internet technology in providing credible books, articles and other important resources that help people customize international laws, rules and regulations to resolve, or mitigate conflicts over cross border waters in a peaceful manner. The Nile Basin issue would not have to be an exception, although it is polarized and more controversial compared to other international water conflicts.
There s still hope for the Mekong
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published : 11 Jan 2021 at 04:30
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Until the onset of major dam construction in the higher elevations of the Mekong basin, its lower, broader reaches constituted the world s largest inland freshwater fishery and the mainstay for the employment, food security and nutrition for 60 or more million people. Tragically, over both of the last two May-October wet seasons, the mainstream experienced unprecedented low flows. In both years the normally reliable flood pulse was insufficient to meaningfully reverse the flow of Cambodia s Tonle Sap River to into its Great Lake, the beating heart of the fishery whose annual catch is directly proportional to its volume during the flood season.
Audit focuses on identifying responsibilities of countries in Mekong River area Chia sẻ | FaceBookTwitter Email Copy Link Copy link bài viết thành công
31/12/2020 09:11 GMT+7
The co-operative audit of water resources in the Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia for 2020-2021 is an important part of the co-operation activities of the Supreme Auditing Body in Asia.
Member of the Party Central Committee, State Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc talks to the Vietnam News Agency about the plan to audit water resources in the Mekong River basin.
The kick-off meeting for a cooperative environmental audit on water management in the Mekong River basin for 2020-2021. VNA/VNS Photo