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SAVE the Mekong River - 60 Million people & 71 dolphins

SAVE the Mekong River - 60 Million people & 71 dolphins

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This petition has been created by Dr L. and may not represent the views of the Avaaz community.
Dr L.
started this petition to
Mr. Viraponh Viravong, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Lao PDR
The construction of Hydro-Power DAMS is increasing along the Mekong River with dozens of dams planned on the mainstream of the Mekong and many of its major tributaries. These are putting at risk the food security for 60 Million people and the ecological stability of the Mekong River ecosystem.

The DON SAHONG Dam is the second Hydro-electric Dam already in construction by Lao PDR (the first being the controversial Xayaburi Hydro-electric Dam), despite strong opposition from Vietnam & Cambodia ... The Don Sahong Dam will block the "Hou Sahong Channel" , which is the only year-round channel for dry season fish migration in the Mekong. The massive sediment retention caused by the Dam will ensure the "Shrinking" of the MEKONG DELTA. This in turn, will reduce the productivity of this "aquatic nursery" (the Delta) for both river and oceanic species.

Lao PDR must take responsibility for its actions.
Lao PDR must ensure you do not harm downstream communities in neighbouring countries.


Here is a list of the COSTS associated with Hydro-Power Dams to help you reconsider your permission to build large hydropower dams:
  1. Cost of loss of productive water ecosystems
  2. Cost of loss of fisheries - a huge economic loss
  3. Cost of loss of biodiversity (by blocking fish migration routes and isolating fish populations)
  4. Increase in poverty and hunger - through the loss of livelihood for millions of already very poor people
  5. Costs of relocation of tens of thousands of people - effectively creating new "refugee camps" for displaced communities
  6. Cost increases in health care - through malnutrition and increase in malaria, dengue (mosquito breeding increases on sides of dams)
  7. Damage to downstream communities' housing, livestock and agricultural fields by unscheduled flooding (water release when dams are too full) - including loss of lives
  8. Increase in Green House gas emissions - through the excessive production of Methane gas by drowned forests
  9. Loss of carbon dioxide sinkholes by drowning forests
  10. Loss of riverine fertile lands for cultivation
  11. Loss of fertile alluvial sediments for agriculture
  12. Cost of loss of food production areas (rice, vegetables, fruits) and fisheries, due to damage to the delta - the most productive area of all rivers … to mention a few.
As you can clearly see the costs associated with the construction of Dams far outweigh any benefits to your country, particularly given that the profits of sale of energy will not stay in Lao PDR but will be enjoyed by other corporations.

The Don Sahong Dam will also lead to the EXTINCTION of the last 71 Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River - as it will be located just 1Km upstream of their main habitat - it will reduce the fish populations and thus their food supply.

Finally, the Malaysian dam developer Mega First Berhad - has not done the trans-boundary environmental impacts studies recommended… This alone could have disastrous consequences for the Mekong River system, the communities dependant on it for their livelihood and the Dolphins.

We remind you that in the declaration following the Mekong Summit in April 2014, Prime Ministers from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos agreed to prioritise studies assessing potential effects and consequences of major hydropower projects. Also, the Vietnamese and Cambodian delegations requested the suspension of major dam developments until after the studies' completion and subsequent development of management guidelines protecting food security and livelihoods.

We thank you for taking into consideration the needs of other neighbouring countries in the Mekong basin, and ask you to SUSPEND any dam construction for another 10 years, until you have the appropriate information.

The alternative proposed is that the Mekong River Commission (MRC) develop a NEW program to invest into alternative sources of energy that are viable long-term and have a lesser impact on the communities, the dolphins and the Mekong River system.

We are grateful for your understanding and prompt action.

Sincerely yours,
Posted (Updated )