Russian Inter RAO State Company joins multintional group of "hydropowers" destroying natural riches and local livelihods in the Mekong River Basin.
According to Vientiane Times a Russian company will invest some US $850 million in the construction of the Xekong 5 Hydropower Project in Xekong province. A memorandum of understanding was signed in Vientiane on Wednesday between t he government and Russian company INTER RAO Engineering LLC, after being under study for the past 18 months. It is planned that construction will commence in 2016 and officials expect that it …

China has a bad record when it comes to water cooperation. It was one of only three countries (along with Turkey and Burundi) to vote against the UN Watercourses Convention – the only global agreement on the use of international watercourses – when it was adopted in 1997. China controls the water flowing into neighbouring countries, as it is the upstream country for most of Asia’s major rivers. Yet China has not signed any comprehensive river treaty that regulates the distribution of water. It has also been reluctant to set …

Rivers without Boundaries is thrilled to report that "Power for People" campaign we participate in has important new support from unexpected ally – the US Government!!!
Now we hope that the biggest WB donor will object to ill-concieved Mining Infrastructure Support Project(MINIS) in Mongolia that supports feasibility studies for several dams in Selenge River basin that threaten well-being of local people and ecosystem health of Selenge River and Lake Baikal. Giant Shuren Hydropower dam – an ancient idea of Soviet engineers to block the main stem of the Baikal’s main …

Earthworks urges You to tell Mongolian authorities to protect their environmental law!!!

 
 
 
 
 
 
Dear friend,
An environmental champion
In 2009, Mongolian activist and Goldman Environmental Prize winner Tsetsegee Munkhbayar successfully convinced Parliament to pass long overdue protection of Mongolia’s precious water resources from mining’s impacts.
The mining industry fights back
In response to Munkhbayar’s success, the mining industry is pressing the Mongolian Government to cancel the implementation of this law in exchange for increased gold production.
Sent to prison for 21 years for protecting the environment
Munkhbayar and 2 of his colleagues were arrested when protesting changes to …

Rivers without Boundaries finally obtained proper English translation of the  CRIMINAL CODE OF MONGOLIA  .
 According to this UN-approved copy the articles, according to  which Munkhbayar and each of his his friends were sentenced on January 21 to 21 year in prison, have the following titles:
Article 81. Act of terrorism
Article 177. Banditry-“zandalchlah” (see legal definition of this “zandalchlah”after the article)

Article 185. Illegal acquisition, preparation, keeping, carriage, distribution and
manufacture of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
However, they were fully cleared from accusations based on  Article 149. Extortion of property, because they apparently …