Lao villagers walking on the Mekong River bed during the 2010 drought

Mekong Seminar: A River Under Stress

Date: 
Thursday, April 11, 2013

On April 19th, the City College of San Francisco will host a seminar called "The Mekong: A River Under Stress." Scientists from Vietnam will present on the current situation of dam building on the Mekong, the legal protections for the river, and the potential downstream impacts dams like Xayaburi would have on the millions that depend on the river. International Rivers will present on the current status of Xayaburi and civil society actions to protect the river and seek better energy solutions. The seminar will be followed by a screening of "Where Have all the Fish Gone?" and a reception. Attendance is free and open to the public.

Join us!

  • When: Friday, April 19, 2013, 1:30 - 7:00 pm
  • Where: CCSF Chinatown Campus, 808 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA
  • What: Free seminar and film screening on Mekong mainstream dams, sponsored by City College of San Francisco, Vietnamese Youth and Student Association in California, and International Rivers.

Speakers:

  • Prof. Chung Hoang Chuong, City College of San Francisco
  • Ms. Kate Ross, International Rivers
  • Dr. Dao Trong Tu, former Deputy General Secretary of Viet Nam Mekong River Commission
  • Mr. Hoang Viet, Law School of Viet Nam 

For more information, please contact Kate Ross, kate@internationalrivers.org.

More information: 

The revival of plans to build a series of dams on the Mekong River's mainstream in CambodiaLaos, and Thailand presents a serious threat to the river's ecology and puts at risk the wellbeing of millions of people dependent on the river for food, income, transportation and a multitude of other needs. Already serious concerns have been raised by non-governmental organizations and scientists over the Xayaburi Dam, which is at the most advanced stage of development. On 7 November, 2012, Laos and Thailand held an official groundbreaking ceremonyAccording to the current construction schedule, the project's coffer dam is expected to be completed by May 2013.