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The Thirsty Dragon: Downstream Fury Over Upstream Dams
December 27th, 2010
Courtesy of China Dialogue, the first of a three-part series by historian Qin Hui in which he criticises Beijing’s response to the downstream fury that has arisen over China’s dam-building in south-west China. As the article notes: “…The Cambodian prime minister is in China’s good books. In a recent – and friendly – speech, Hun […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Chinese Dams On The Mekong Not To Be Damned, Says Cambodia
November 18th, 2010
Via Terra Daily, a report that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen dismissed concerns Wednesday that Chinese dams were responsible for the Mekong River’s low water levels, telling environmentalists not to be “too extreme”. As the article notes: “…Hun Sen blamed decades-low water levels in southeast Asia’s longest river on “irregular rainfall” caused by global climate […]
Read more »Mekong Progress? Study Calls For 10-Year Freeze on Dam Construction
November 8th, 2010
Via Circle of Blue, news of a new study approved by the Mekong River Commission (MRC) calling for a 10-year freeze on the construction of hydropower dams along Southeast Asia’s Mekong River.  As the article notes: “…When in September Laos submitted its plans for the construction of the 1,260-megawatt Sayaboury hydropower dam on the Mekong […]
Read more »Asia’s Water Crisis Threatens Region’s Rise
October 12th, 2010
Courtesy of The New York Times, a report on how decreasing water supplies may start to threaten Asia’s economic development. As the article notes: “…Framed by banana and eucalyptus trees, the caramel-colored Mekong River rolls through this lush corner of Yunnan Province in southwestern China with an unerring rhythm that is reassuring in its seeming […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China’s Water Grab?
August 23rd, 2010
Courtesy of Foreign Policy, an interesting look at China’s interest in the Mekong River and the conclusion that – if America wants to strengthen its presence in Asia – it should focus less on the South China Sea and more on the Mekong. As the article notes: “…In recent weeks, the United States has taken […]
Read more »The Tale of Two Rivers: Mekong and Columbia
July 31st, 2010
Courtesy of WaterWired, an interesting comparison of how the Mekong River is managed across political boundaries to the Columbia River (which some consider as being ‘backwards’ from the Mekong in that the larger, more powerful country (hegemon) is the downstream riparian). As the report notes: A few days ago we hosted visitors from the four […]
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