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Action Alert: Mighty Mekong River Must Forever Flow Freely
Urge Southeast Asian governments to cancel plans for up to eleven mainstream dams. Ask that each regional nation commit to keeping lower expanses of the Mekong River flowing freely, without any dams, in order to save their shared critical source of food, income and life for present and future generations.
By
Rainforest Portal, a project of Ecological Internet
-
June 28, 2009
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1.) Inform Yourself
NOTE: This is a protest, not a petition, sending emails to many real decision makers on matters vital to the Earth.
Caption:
Let the Mekong River Run Free (link)
The mighty Mekong River in Southeast Asia faces a devastating threat from eleven new proposed dams. If even one of the dams are built in Cambodia, Laos or Thailand; they would block major fish migrations and otherwise ecologically disrupt this vitally important river, placing at risk millions of people who depend upon the Mekong for their food security and income.
The Mekong is almost 5,000 kilometers long stretching from the Tibetan plateau, through southern China, and then along the border of Myanmar, Laos Thailand, through Cambodia to Vietnam. The region's governments are desperate for sources of cheap, reliable power. One of the eleven projects at Don Sahong in northern Cambodia could be complete perhaps as early as 2013.
The Mekong River basin is the largest inshore fishery in the world, providing about 2 percent of the global fish catch. These dams would block major fish migration routes that provide up to 80 percent of the animal protein eaten locally, and up to 90 percent of rural communities are involved in fishing. The highly endangered freshwater Irrawady dolphins are also found on a stretch of the Mekong and are at risk of extinction from pollution.
The "Save the Mekong" campaign is seeking to pressure regional governments to shelve the plans put forward by private companies from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Russia. Join us in calling on the Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to keep the Mekong flowing freely to save this critical ecosystem that is a source of food, income and life for present and future generations. Please participate in Ecological Internet's affinity protest action to these governments, and in so doing, sign the coalition's postcard campaign.
Sample Email Sent
Please let the Mekong River continue to flow freely
To the Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and
Vietnam
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to express my serious concerns about your
nations' plans to build hydropower dams on the Mekong
River’s mainstream that will impact the river's environment
and natural resources, including natural flow, fisheries,
biodiversity and ecosystem. Please listen to the voice of
the Mekong’s people and keep the Mekong flowing freely,
saving this critical source of food and income for millions
of your citizens. Please consider better ways to meet your
electricity needs and avoid creating cross-border impacts
and disputes.
Any one of the ill-conceived projects will have enormous
negative impacts upon your country's water and food
resources, regional climate, natural ecosystems, ecological
sustainability and future potential for advancement by
local peoples and your great nation. I strongly urge you to
cancel all the proposed 11 dam projects, as even one (much
less eleven) would block major fish migrations and
otherwise ecologically disrupt this vitally important
river.
Natural biodiversity and intact ecosystems including
undammed rivers and nearby rainforests provide essential
ecosystem services to your citizens including water
retention, flood prevention, climate regulation, soil
regeneration and wildlife habitat. The proposed dams will
damage each of your nation's hydrology -- leading to
decreased fisheries, greater water scarcity, diminishment
of critical regional ecosystems, national security threats,
and economic decline.
Southeast Asia is becoming increasingly prone to extreme
weather events, which climate change is exacerbating.
Flooding and destroying the hydrology of massive portions
of the Mekong basin will further worsen the situation. Your
natural river systems are one of your region's greatest
assets and should not be so hastily diminished for
short-term economic gain. Water is a human right,
ecosystems matter; and without intact water providing
ecosystems, economies and societies cannot function.
Each of your nations has the opportunity and responsibility
to lead Southeast Asia and the world in achieving
environmental sustainability. I therefore respectfully add
my voice to those nationally and around the world imploring
you to cancel all plans to dam the Mekong, including Don
Sahong in northern Cambodia. I hope this protest shows the
world is watching, and expecting wise long-term leadership
from each of you.
With concern,
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