While almost 10 hydropower mega-dams have been removed across the United States to revitalise rivers and people’s lives, the governments of Laos and Thailand have reached an agreement to construct more such dams on the mainstream of the Lower Mekong River. Eleven dams are planned, despite the devastating consequences of two already operational dams on the river’s ecosystem and the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on it.
“Our policymakers damage our river, sacred traditional practices and heritage,” said a Luang Prabang resident.
The ancient capital of Laos, Luang Prabang is facing threats to its riverscape, water resources and livelihoods due to the Xayaburi Dam (around 150km downstream) and the upcoming Luang Prabang Dam (around 25km upstream). The latter is considered an “extreme risk” project as it is dangerously close to an active fault line and could…
