CALL FOR ACTION-An open NGO letter calling for the cancellation of the Xayaburi Dam on the Mekong River’s mainstream in SE Asia
TourismScan
Urgent - Please sign onto the open NGO letter calling for the cancellation of the Xayaburi Dam on the Mekong River’s mainstream in SE Asia [Deadline: 18 March]
Dear all,
This is an urgent request for your support. A very crucial decision will soon be made in Southeast Asia that will determine the fate of the Mekong River and the millions of people in the region who depend on the river’s natural resources for their survival. By April 22, a regional decision by the Governments of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam will be made on whether or not to build the proposed Xayaburi Dam on the Lower Mekong River’s mainstream. This dam is the most advanced in a cascade of eleven large hydropower dams planned for the Lower Mekong River’s mainstream and would be located in Xayaboury province in Northern Laos.
As the world’s largest freshwater fisheries and the second biodiverse river in the world, the decision to build a dam on the Lower Mekong River would result in devastating changes to the river’s ecosystem and aquatic habitat. With more than 70% of the region’s population dependent on natural resources, the adverse impacts of the Xayaburi Dam will affect the livelihoods, income and food security of fishers and farmers throughout the region.
In order to show your solidarity and support the people of the Mekong River, we would like to encourage your NGO to sign onto this letter to the Prime Ministers of Laos and Thailand, who will play a key role in determining whether or not this dam is built.
If you would like to join us in signing this letter, please send your organization’s name and country to cancelx...@yahoo.com <mailto:cancelx...@yahoo.com> by FRIDAY, MARCH 18th (11:00 PM GMT/ 3:00 PM PST).
Please circulate this widely amongst your NGO partners and friends.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Best regards,
Bank Information Center, U.S.A.
Both ENDS, the Netherlands
Focus on the Global South, India, Philippines and Thailand
International Rivers, U.S.A.
World Rainforest Movement, Uruguay
21 March 2011
Re: Global Call to Cancel the Xayaburi Dam on the Mekong River mainstream in Northern Lao PDR
Your Excellency Thongsing Thammavong, The Prime Minister of Lao PDR,
Your Excellency Abhisit Vejjajiva, The Prime Minister of Thailand,
We, the undersigned [ADD NUMBER] NGOs from [ADD NUMBER] countries, respectfully call upon the Governments of Lao PDR and Thailand to cancel the Xayaburi Dam proposed for the Mekong River’s mainstream in Xayaboury province, Lao PDR. We believe this project to be exceptionally destructive and a threat to development and conservation efforts both within the region and globally. Irreparable damage caused by the Xayaburi Dam to the Mekong River would be a permanent loss to the livelihoods of people of the region and also to one of the most valuable rivers in the world.
The Mekong River is host to the world’s largest freshwater fishery, which is central to the food security and livelihoods of millions of people throughout the region. With more than 1,000 species, the Mekong River is also a treasure trove of biodiversity and the second most biodiverse river system in the world.
Located in northern Laos, the proposed 1,260 megawatt Xayaburi Dam is the most advanced of a planned eleven-dam cascade for the Mekong River’s lower mainstream. The project’s lead developer is the Thai construction company Ch. Karnchang and the project is proposed to be financed by Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank, Bangkok Bank, Siam Commercial Bank and Krung Thai Bank. 95% of the project’s electricity will be exported to Thailand, while the impacts will be most acutely felt by riverside communities in Lao PDR and neighboring countries. If built, the Xayaburi Dam threatens to cause unprecedented damage to the river’s ecology and fisheries by blocking the migratory route of at least 23 fish species and threatening the extinction of 41 more fish species, including the critically endangered Mekong Giant Catfish. This in turn will have devastating impacts to the livelihoods and food security of millions of people living along the river who depend on its natural resources.
We stand in solidarity with the people of the Mekong Region, who have consistently called on the region’s governments to cancel the project. The Save the Mekong coalition first submitted a 23,110-signature petition to regional Prime Ministers on 19 October 2009 urging Your Excellencies to keep the Mekong River flowing freely, and to consider better ways to meet the region’s electricity needs.
The proposed Xayaburi Dam has also been closely monitored by the international community since it was first proposed in May 2007. International media, including the New York Times, the Guardian, and the Australian Associated Press have reported problems with the project. In addition, the Mekong River Commission’s bilateral donors issued a joint statement on 26 January 2011 expressing concern that the full costs associated with mitigating and compensating for the dams’ negative impacts to the environment and society have not been properly scrutinized. They further called for additional studies to be done, for public disclose of the Xayaburi Dam’s environmental impact assessment, and to extend the regional decision-making process to provide adequate time for consideration of all available and forthcoming analysis.
A joint decision by the region’s governments on whether to proceed with the dam is expected by 22 April 2011, which presents an opportunity to the governments to demonstrate a joint commitment to protect the Mekong River for the shared regional prosperity of present and future generations. More sustainable and peaceful ways exist to meet energy and water needs. We therefore respectfully urge the Government of Lao PDR to immediately cancel plans to build the Xayaburi Dam and for the Government of Thailand to cancel plans to import electricity generated from the Xayaburi Dam.
Yours sincerely:
Bank Information Center, USA
Both Ends, the Netherlands
Focus on Global South, India, Philippines, and Thailand
International Rivers, USA
World Rainforest Movement, Uruguay
[NGO signatories to be added here]