Dam collapse in Laos displaces thousands, exposes dam safety risks

Flood victims flee Attapeu province, Laos
Flood victims flee their homes in Attapeu province, Laos on July 23, 2018. International Rivers expresses its concern and regret about the tragic loss of life and hardship facing communities living downstream of the collapsed dam in Lao PDR. An auxillary dam that was part of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower scheme on the Xepian River collapsed the night of July 23 as heavy monsoon rains overtopped the dam. Communities living downstream were told to evacuate the area only hours before the dam collapsed. Initial reports indicate that 6,600 families have been displaced, losing their homes

Press Release | Indigenous leader delivers letter to Macron at G-7, calling for urgent measures to halt deforestation and burning in the Amazon

Chief Raoni Metuktire, leader of the Kayapó indigenous people
Sunday, August 25, 2019
AUGUST 26, 2019: Renowned indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire of the Kayapó people delivered to French President Emmanuel Macron today a joint statement signed by 62 Brazilian civil society organizations and networks, together with international allies, attributing a rapid escalation of Amazonian fires to the dismantling of environmental policy by the government of President Jair Bolsonaro. The document also calls on the G7 countries to ensure effective mechanisms to prevent imports of Brazilian commodities produced in areas characterized by recent deforestation and human rights violations.

Press Release: Women leaders unite in shared struggle to protect rivers, confront patriarchy

Thursday, March 7, 2019
Photos by International Rivers NAGARKOT, NEPAL - The world’s largest hydropower scheme has yet to launch in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The last free-flowing river originating in China remains free of dams despite a spate of proposals. Local energy plans and investments have helped entire communities in Vietnam minimize pollution into rivers, and acquire new, affordable technologies such as solar hot water heaters and clean water technology. Behind each of these campaigns to protect local economies, ecosystems, and culture are women river advocates, who are converging this

Press Release | International Rivers awarded $1.25 million from Arcadia Fund to protect freshwater biodiversity

Wednesday, November 7, 2018
International Rivers. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oakland, CA: International Rivers is pleased to announce a new partnership with the UK-based Arcadia Fund – a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin – to support our efforts to protect vital freshwater ecosystems from the threats posed by dams and over-exploitation. “Rivers are critical freshwater resources that provide drinking water for billions of people, sustain the world’s farms and forests, and are home to greater density of biodiversity than any other ecosystem. Yet these rich ecosystems are experiencing unprecedente

Press Release | Amicus Brief Urges Fundamental Rights for the Anchicayá and All Colombian Rivers

Anchicaya River
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Today, a coalition of organizations submitted an amicus brief to the Constitutional Court of Colombia calling for recognition of the rights of the Anchicayá River, which flows through the vastly biodiverse Colombian Pacific region. The brief also asks the Court to recognize the rights of every other river in Colombia.

Chinese provincial governments along the Yangtze River unite to stop the “disorderly” development of small hydropower plants

Construction along the Chishui River, a major tributary of the Yangtze (February 2018)
Monday, June 4, 2018
Construction along the Chishui River, a major tributary of the Yangtze (February 2018) Chinese provincial governments are reflecting top leadership priorities that call for increased attention to protect the Yangtze River. On May 30th 2018, the Development and Reform Commission bureaus of ten provinces (Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan) jointly announced a ban on all small hydropower projects along the Yangtze River Economic Belt. An announcement on the National Development and Reform Commission website explains that the provinces op

The Cambodian Fishery Coalition Calls for Cancellation of the Lower Sesan 2 Dam

Friday, March 30, 2012
The Cambodian Fishery Coalition is a community-based organization created by the protection network of Fishery Communities and Fishermen in Cambodia, which was established in 2005 with three main areas (Tonle Sap Lake surrounded by 6 provinces, coastal areas surrounded by 3 provinces and the Mekong River surrounded by 5 provinces). Today, the coalition has submitted a letter to the Prime Ministers of Cambodia and Vietnam urging them to cancel the Lower Sesan 2 Dam, in order to protect the Mekong River Basin’s abundant fisheries. Hydropower Dams which are being constructed along the Uppe

Stop Plans to Construct the Lower Sesan 2 Hydropower Project

Friday, March 30, 2012
Ratanakiri - Cambodia The Sesan, Srepok and Sekong Rivers Network Protection (Sesan, Sekong, Srepok) was established in October, 2001 after a big and astonishing flood hit the Sesan River in 1996, which severely affected ethic minorities along the river, forcing them to organize their traditional ritual pray. Although such a prayer was organized, the impacts still continued to threaten their livelihoods. Only years after the flood, did people along the Sesan River learn that the cause of the devastating impacts they were experiencing was due to the construction of the Yali Falls Dam, located

Judge Suspends Construction License for Controversial Teles Pires Dam in the Brazilian Amazon

Friday, March 30, 2012
Public Prosecutors and Federal Judge cite violations of indigenous peoples' rights, guaranteed by Brazilian Constitution and international lawBrasilia, Brazil – A federal judge in Brazil has suspended the construction license of the Teles Pires hydroelectric dam in the Brazilian Amazon, citing violations of the rights of the Kayabi, Apiaká and Mundurucu indigenous peoples whose livelihoods are seriously threatened by the project. Célia Regina Ody Bernardes, a federal judge in the state of Mato Grosso, ordered the immediate suspension of all activities in dam construction, "especially explo

Thousands Participate Around the World: Day of Action for Rivers

Protest Against Water Privitization in Brazil
Wed, 03/14/2012 - 12:52pm
Today is the 15th International Day of Action for Rivers! Protest Against Water Privitization in Brazil Actions have already begun in many regions, and hundreds more will take place today in over 40 countries. As the International Day of Action for Rivers falls close to World Water Day on March 22nd, these actions will be extended into the coming weeks! It's a powerful time in which thousands of voices are being raised together for free-flowing rivers! Check out the more than 100 actions happening in over 40 countries! A few of the exciting events include: Bangkok - Performance: "M

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