In the remote eastern region of Myanmar, ethnic communities in Karenni State are conserving and protecting their forests using customary rules and cultural beliefs.
A nomadic woman’s story of environmental protection on the Tibetan Plateau
The herding communities of the Tibetan Plateau are facing many struggles to protect their grasslands and herding livestock that are integral not only to their livelihoods but also their culture and identity. Mkha Be explains the changes and challenges facing the herding communities through a nomadic woman’s personal story.
Young people act now: Help protect Mekong Delta’s natural wealth
Thuan Nguyen is a 15-year student from Can Tho, Vietnam who is passionate about the Mekong Delta and environmental issues. He voices concerns about the planned Mekong mainstream dams and wants young people to work together to raise awareness about the value of the Mekong Delta.
The aspirations of a Shan lady for sustainable peace, justice and development
A personal reflection of the aspirations of a Shan lady, Ms. Nang Shining, who is seeking sustainable peace, justice and development in her hometown of Mong Pan, Southern Shan State, Myanmar. She discusses the impacts of recent logging and plans for the Mong Ton (Tasang) dam, and her work building new civil society organizations.
Conserving the benefits of floating rice in Vietnam
Floating rice production in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta is a unique traditional agriculture system with livelihood, health and environmental benefits. Once extensive, but displaced by high-yielding variety rice, this article discusses initiatives to recover floating rice production and its associated local knowledge.
Laos foots the bill for power-hungry Bangkok
Bangkok’s ever-expanding electricity demand is contributing to environmental and social injustices through the generation of electricity far away from the city. This includes in the Mekong River basin, particularly through the expansion of hydropower dams in Laos.
Environmental protection begins with protecting human rights
From ensuring access to natural resources to protection against exposure to health-damaging pollution, a clean and healthy environment and the fulfillment of human rights cannot be separated. In this Commons Comment, Carl Middleton and Aadi Samarkand argue that while there is a long way to go to in recognizing the right to a healthy environment in Southeast Asia, some windows of opportunity exist.
Youth in the Mekong Delta voice concerns about climate change
Vietnam’s Mekong Delta faces serious problems from climate change as it will exacerbate existing ecological problems including water pollution, salinity intrusion and biodiversity. A group of young people living in the Delta remind us of the area’s food and fish productivity, its importance for people both in Vietnam and globally, and the urgent need to find solutions to climate change.
Integration for whom: The ASEAN Economic Community
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), to be launched in 2015, aims to create a single market and production base. Dorothy Guerrero examines whether this advances socio-economic development in the ASEAN region, or results in damage to people’s general well-being, human rights and environmental security.
Development and the Mekong Commons
In the Mekong Region, after decades of governments, donors, corporations, experts and others pursuing development, winners and losers have emerged. In this first “Commons Comment” editorial, we discuss the changing lives in the Mekong Region, new development trends, impacts on the commons, and why Mekong Commons was initiated.