Dam-building industry has once again demonstrated its full neglect to human needs and rights.Monday evening, July 23, a  dam of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower project in Southern Laos collapsed causing tremendous devastation in downstream villages and floodplains. This is at least the 4th major large dam failure during 2018, and with monsoon season to last for at least another 2 months it may be not the last one yet. Reservoirs are already full to the brim in Thailand, Northern India and many other Asian countries.  We publish a short …

Agrawal starting his protest in Haridwar [image by: Tarun Bharat Sangh]
 
GD Agrawal is in the hospital, under protective custody. It has been more than a month since he has eaten, but the frail old man is ready to give his life for the river he cares for more than anything in the world – the Ganga.
Known as Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand after he took vows to become a Hindu ascetic some years ago, Agrawal is no ordinary protestor, nor a fringe environmentalist. In his past life as an academic, …

China’s National  World Heritage Committee keeps its word! Three years ago  Dr. Du Yue, secretary general of the Chinese delegation at the World Heritage Committee Session,  listened to the RwB representative lamenting that Chinese Exim Bank was about to support the Egiin Gol Hydro Project in  Mongolia which may threaten Lake Baikal World Heritage site  and joyfully responded: “Times changed, this is unlikely to happen. And if You wait for several years, You will see China itself removing dams that affect World Heritage”. Since he was laughing, we decided that …

MONGOLIA made a speech at World Heritage Committee (WHC) on July 28 afternoon.

Photo: Mongolia speaking at the 42nd Session of World Heritage Committee. Left to right: unknown person, the Head of the Division of Environmental Assessment and Auditing Enkhbat Altangerel, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Mr. Tsengel , the staff of Egiin Gol Hydro company.
LISTEN TO PODCAST HERE: https://youtu.be/HHOs7DUUJzk?t=6925

Points made by the distinguished party of Mongolia
1. Thanks to the Kingdom of Bahrain and WHC for organizing the session
2. We inform you on progress on transboundary waters …

Civil Society Organizations who have attended the 5th International NGO Forum on World Heritage at Risk organized by the World Heritage Watch on 22-23 June 2018 in Bahrain, coming from 24 countries in 6 continents, as active and concerned citizens dealing with Natural and Cultural World Heritage properties at different places, would like to bring the following to the attention of the World Heritage Committee:

Resolution

On implementation of World Heritage Committee decisions regarding Lake Baikal in the light of climate mitigation & adaptation efforts
While Mongolia still prepares for hydropower construction, …