The report by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the by the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the Mekong river dam in
China has been highlighted by the Yale Center for the Study on
Globalization. In an article “Dams in China Turn the Mekong Into a
River of Discord”, Michael Richardson, a visiting senior research
fellow at the Institute of South East Asian Studies in Singapore states
that “Rivers know no borders, but dams do”.
While reporting in YaleGlobal, the article says, “A report in May by
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Asian Institute
of Technology (AIT) warned that China’s plan for a cascade of eight
dams on the Mekong, which it calls the Lancang Jiang, might pose ‘a
considerable threat’ to the river and its natural riches”.
The article has been reprinted in several publications around the
globe including the “The Nation” on July 28 on its prestigious Opinion
page.
Other publications where the article featured include
The
Epoch Times
Congoo which carried an abstract
Silo Breaker
The Daily Times
NewsTin
Water Conserve
ASEAN Society
EcoEarth
Geopolitica
Online
About the report :
The report “Freshwater under threat – South East Asia” is a joint
publication of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). The study states that countries in
South East Asia should act now to secure the region’s abundant water
supplies into the future. Authored by Mukand S. Babel of School of
Engineering (SET) and Shahriar M. Wahid, Senior Research Engineering of
AIT, the report states that though the Mekong River Basin (MRB) is not
characterized by either water shortages or open conflicts, it warrants
attention due to potential threats that might arise from development
pressures and transboundary issues”.
The article on the Opinion page of The Nation on July 28, 2009