Environmental experts, activists, and local community members came together in Mandalay on March 13 and 14 for the International Day of Action for Rivers. Hosted by the Burma Rivers Network in collaboration with Save the Salween Network and other civil society organizations, the event included panel discussions, documentary film screenings, and cultural exchanges.
The event aimed to raise awareness of the need to let rivers flow freely and in particular, discuss the impact of hydropower projects on the Irrawaddy and Salween Rivers.
Environmentalists weighed-in on river projects such as hydropower plants. The destruction of environment and rivers and creeks is like destroying the formation of a tribe, said Dr. Myint Zaw, researcher of environmental preservation.
Dr. Myint Zaw also said many river projects are established “under the guise of development for the river, but in fact the rivers have been destroyed under these pretenses. So, we all opposed this.”
Over 300 participants from Kachin, Shan, Mon, Karen, and Karenni states and Ayeyarwaddy and Sagaing regions were present at the ceremony.
Saw Tha Poe of Karen Rivers Watch said when there are investment projects, they should be for Small Medium Enterprise (SME) projects, not the dams, since SME projects can contribute to the community.
“What our country really needs is peace, and that does not come from weapons, but from [secure] livelihoods and social welfare of the people. Building dams is not for development in the area. Only after peace is achieved, can we create long term development,” said Saw Tha Poe.
According to locals residing along the the Ayeyarwaddy River (also known as the Irrawaddy River), the river is the lifeblood of the country, and building MyitZone Hydro Power on the river is a huge challenge for the business and health of ethnic people residing along the river and relying on it for their living.
