By Alex Grossman
One of the strengths of our grantmaking model is our ability to not only seed movements, but to continue to fuel them over time. Effective advocacy requires long term, sustained community organizing and leadership. And achieving crucial victories often requires prolonged investment and perseverance.
In the case of the Mekong River, a river that flows through Southeast Asia and provides livelihoods for millions of people who live along its banks, Global Greengrants has been funding efforts to protect the river against proposed dams and other threats for over two decades, awarding more than 20 grants to local organizations.
Last week, our grantees celebrated a momentous win that we are pleased to share. After decades of campaigning by communities, civil society groups, some of which are our grantees, the Thai cabinet finally terminated the Lancang-Mekong navigation channel improvement project, previously known as the Mekong rapids-blasting project.
This China-led project would channelize and dredge the Mekong River, second only to the Amazon in freshwater biodiversity, for commercial navigation – blasting a 600km stretch of the river from China to Myanmar, Northern Thailand, and Laos. It’s the first time that the Thai government has officially announced the cancellation of this project, with recognition of its devastating social and environmental impacts.
The success is a result of the tireless and fearless efforts of our grantees and partners, and the extensive network of community-led activists in the region – many funded through our partnership with International Rivers.
Global Greengrants specifically funded around the Lancang-Mekong project back in 2002, awarding $5,000 to the Southeast Asia Rivers Network to organize villagers who would be affected by the project to campaign against the proposal, as well as to campaign for the decommissioning of the Pak Mun Dam, and to restore the Mun River.
We’ve also awarded 16 grants to the Living Rivers Association, a major anchoring partner in the region, focused on protecting the Mekong from the negative environmental impacts of proposed dam projects, including extensive flooding and disruption of the river way locals depend on for food and livelihoods.
At least 11 dams have already been built on the Lancang, or upper Mekong, and there are construction plans for at three more. The rapids-blasting project is just one part of this large plan for the Mekong, turning one of the most biodiverse regions on earth into a profitable industrial corridor to benefit transnational corporations. The effects are already being felt as fish stocks have decreased, and fertile land once used for farming is flooded by the existing dams.
However, last weeks’ ruling against the rapids-blasting project gives us hope that those living on the banks of the river do have the power to change the course, leading to a future that recognizes the importance of the biodiversity and resources provided by the river, and encouraging cooperation between those who call the Mekong River Basin home and governments. Collectively civil society organizations and grassroots activists have built momentum over the past two decades, and are just now seeing the fruits of their labor. We’ll continue to support the growth of this movement, aiming for a brighter and healthier future for all in the Mekong Delta.