Mekong Subsistence Peoples Over the course of millennia the Mekong river system has shaped not only the landscapes it drains but also the diverse cultures that depend upon its natural bounty. The Mekong Basin plays a central role in the supply of critical survival resources to many millions of South East Asia's poorest and most vulnerable subsistence peoples. As the regions primary provider of animal protein, organically rich sediment for agriculture, waterborne transport, drinking water and irrigation the 'Mother of Waters' can be described as nothing less than the 'life blood' of the region and its influence on the cultures of the basin is reflected by a treasure chest of diverse rituals, rights, traditions and festivals that pay homage to it's vitality.
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The sustainable management of the Mekong's resources is important for the well being of all 80 million people who live within its basin however it is the Mekong's subsistence peoples who will be forced to pay the greatest price for irresponsible governance or resource mismanagement that compromises the rivers ability to deliver its time honored bounty in the form of silt fisheries and water. As we enter the new millennia the subsistence peoples of the Mekong face a range of man made threats that have the potential to detrimentally affect their way of life with everything from increasing population pressure, pollution, environmental degradation along with a host of other factors which play destructive roles. However of all the man made threats facing the Mekong dependent subsistence peoples there are few, if any that can match the Mekong Cascade project in both the scope and scale of negative impacts generated. By flooding approximately 13% of the rivers total length under man made reservoirs and forever altering the natural flow of water, silt and fisheries between the top 40% of the Mekong's length and the bottom 60%, Chinas dam builders are literally hijacking the Mekong's natural bounty which was once spread without bias to the subsistence peoples throughout the length of the basin. The implications of these actions for millions of the Mekong dependent subsistence peoples are enormous. One of the most fundamental of all human rights is the right to survival resources, particularly irreplaceable survival resources that have shaped and sustained communities and cultures for hundreds or even thousands of years.
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The political leaders of the down stream nations have quietly voiced concerns about the social and environmental affects of the cascade for many years, however vocal condemnation from the down stream nations political leaders has largely been lacking. Analysts point out that for the smaller down stream nations, the political and economic implications of causing a major stand off with China over the cascade are simply too great to assume. Regardless of whether China’s dam builders or policy makers are willing to assume responsibility for their actions. The fact remains that the survival resources of millions of vulnerable subsistence people and their environmnents are being compromised as a result of the dams. Urgent steps need to be taken in order to address these issues. For information on the Mekong Descent Foundations awareness, concern, cooperation and action focussed initiatives please go to the initiatives page of our website. |
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