Act Now to Protect the Mekong
The Mekong River and the millions of people it supports are now in jeopardy. In the next few months, regional governments will decide whether to proceed with plans to build the Xayaburi Dam in northern Laos, the first of 11 dams planned for the Lower Mekong Mainstream.
In April, regional governments delayed a decision on the Xayaburi Dam, largely because of the huge public opposition to the dam expressed by civil society groups, NGOs and individuals throughout the region and the world.
It is critical that we again make our voices heard.
In the past few months Laos has been working hard to push the Xayaburi Dam forward, and illegal construction on access roads and work camps is continuing.
A healthy Mekong River is vital to the lives of millions of people in the Mekong Region; it is the second most biodiverse river system in the world and is host to the world's most productive freshwater fishery. If the Xayaburi Dam is built it would open the floodgates for other mainstream dams, which would irreversibly alter the entire river ecosystem.
We must act now to protect this vital life source for present and future generations.
Please sign the petition below urging the governments of Laos and Thailand to cancel the Xayaburi Dam. Every additional signature makes the movement stronger.
Read the petition in: Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese, Lao, Spanish, French and German
Copy: H.E. Mr. Choummaly Sayasone, President of Laos
We the undersigned are writing to express our grave concern over the proposed Xayaburi Dam in northern Laos, and the fate of the Mekong River Basin.
The Xayaburi Dam threatens the lives and food security of millions of people. The Mekong River is home to the world’s most productive freshwater fishery and is a vital resource for the entire Mekong Region.
Scientists agree that the Xayaburi Dam would have severe environmental, social and economic impacts in the region, impacts which cannot be mitigated.
There are still critical knowledge gaps in understanding the dam’s far-reaching impacts and the Mekong River Commission’s own Strategic Impact Assessment calls for a 10-year deferment of all decisions about whether to proceed with Mekong Mainstream Dams, allowing time for more studies to be done.
We are aware that a decision about whether to proceed with the Xayaburi Dam will be made in the coming months. With so much at stake in the Mekong Region, we urge the Governments of Laos and Thailand to:
Cancel the Xayaburi Dam and defer all decisions on whether to proceed with Mekong Mainstream dams for a period of at least 10 years, until further studies can be conducted.
Additionally we call on the government of Thailand to cancel its plans to purchase electricity from the Xayaburi Dam and any other Mekong Mainstream dams.
Sincerely,
| Number | Date | Name | Location | Why is a healthy Mekong ... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3415 | Mon Nov 28 13:14:39 EST 2011 | Lisa Tran | US | Your actions affect the rest around you: this would be taking away traditon and culture if this dam is placed up |
| 3414 | Mon Nov 28 13:01:47 EST 2011 | Omkar Gopalakrishnan | DE | Because it is the source of livelihood for millions of people. |
| 3413 | Mon Nov 28 10:09:21 EST 2011 | Amy Nguyen | SG | Its heath affects the live of 300 million people in the South East Asia. |
| 3412 | Mon Nov 28 07:41:42 EST 2011 | van Loc NGUYEN | FR | It save the living of surronding population of several countries. It save the living and conservation of plants and animal species. from the source to the delta ther are numerous unique feature in the More.... |
| 3411 | Mon Nov 28 04:56:15 EST 2011 | hang nguyen | VN | because millions of people are living in the Mekong Delta |
| 3410 | Mon Nov 28 04:53:55 EST 2011 | esther Pastores | KH | Beacuase I am concerned for the many people who's livelihoods and well-being are dependent on this vital resource |
| 3409 | Mon Nov 28 04:21:55 EST 2011 | Thanh Thanh Ngo | VN | Because It is extremely important to millions of people in the area. Building the dam means taking away the source of their livelihood. |
| 3408 | Mon Nov 28 02:43:20 EST 2011 | FRED CHARLES OWEYEGHA-AFUNADUULA | , UG | |
| 3407 | Mon Nov 28 01:51:31 EST 2011 | Jocelyn Pederick | , AU | A healthy Mekong is crucially important for all of the 60 million rural poor who rely of it for sustainence. We should be helping the poor not crippling them further. |
| 3406 | Mon Nov 28 01:33:59 EST 2011 | nicole koss | US | To: H.E. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand and H.E. Thongsing Thammavong, Prime Minister of Laos
Copy: H.E. Mr. Choummaly Sayasone, President of Laos We the undersigned More.... |
| 3405 | Mon Nov 28 00:40:54 EST 2011 | graeme brown | KH | It is the life support for millions of people who live sustainable lives |
| 3404 | Sun Nov 27 23:01:50 EST 2011 | Anonymous | VN | because ? simple it very important with we, Ok? |
| 3403 | Sun Nov 27 21:25:59 EST 2011 | Piyanan Jitjang | TH | |
| 3402 | Sun Nov 27 18:48:04 EST 2011 | Paula Mathie | NZ | |
| 3401 | Sun Nov 27 18:22:18 EST 2011 | Victor Ventura | BR | 201 -->200Building Dams without public participations in the decision-making process violates many rights of people directly affected by the consequences. Dmocracy for all! And for another model of development! |
| 3400 | Sun Nov 27 15:52:13 EST 2011 | Nick Jennings | NZ | It is essential for the future of the world that social and environmental values have an influence equal to economic/development facrors |
| 3399 | Sun Nov 27 15:47:50 EST 2011 | Victoria Mitchell | NZ | Building a dam will create problems down the line, irreversibly, which will have a devastating effect for the millions of people this ecologically and economically diverse river currently supports. It More.... |
| 3398 | Sun Nov 27 15:24:33 EST 2011 | Anonymous | AU | a healthy mekong river is important to the
health of millions of people and to the health of the planet - we are interdependent |
| 3397 | Sun Nov 27 15:21:51 EST 2011 | Marion Lienert | NZ | I am concerned about the environmental effects of large dams and also the effects on livelihoods of the people in the Mekong River area. |
| 3396 | Sun Nov 27 10:51:40 EST 2011 | George Stadnik | , US | |
| 3395 | Sun Nov 27 10:47:33 EST 2011 | TAT THANG HA | VN | Because I'm living in the Mekong Delta. |
| 3394 | Sun Nov 27 09:16:36 EST 2011 | Anonymous | CH | As long the local people wants it to have it like this, it should not be any different |
| 3393 | Sun Nov 27 06:26:30 EST 2011 | Toan Nguyen | AU | Support our family in Vietnam. |
| 3392 | Sun Nov 27 04:50:36 EST 2011 | ngô th? minh | VN | |
| 3391 | Sun Nov 27 04:43:43 EST 2011 | minh | VN |
