Giving local rivers a voice
Activist dedicates life to bringing Mekong’s plight to light
Activist Pianporn “Pai” Deetes’ fight against the planned construction of dams along the lower stretches of the Mekong River by the Chinese government is a David-versus-Goliath story.
For almost two decades she dedicated herself to stop a project that she believed would lead to massive damage to the river if it was allowed to continue. The Thai cabinet early this year cancelled the Lancang-Mekong navigation channel improvement project proposed by China, in no small part thanks to publicity drummed up by Ms Pianporn and her team.
As the Campaigns and Communications Director for International Rivers’ Southeast Asia programme, Ms Pianporn’s most urgent task is protecting mainland Southeast Asia’s major rivers, including the…
