Rivers without Boundaries

“Our Common Geopolitical Language” Sounds Scary

People from throughout the world who love Mongolia, its rivers and local communities, are truly concerned with current new push to build hydropower dams on Mongolia’s majestic free-flowing rivers. This piece republished with permission of the author – Peter Fong – is a vivid evidence of such concerns. Way back …

Call on Chinese Actors to Stop Extinction:  90 Civil Society Groups Call on China to Protect Biodiversity in its Overseas Investments

On December 15, 2022, 90 civil society groups from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the world called on Chinese authorities and actors to protect biodiversity and people in its overseas investments. As China is chairing the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP) currently …

Local people stopped Chinese drilling machinery at the site of Erdeneburen HPP construction

On October 4 a video of local herders protesting the Erdeneburen hydroelectric power plant construction in Uvs Province’s Umnogovi sum was circulated online. It shows men, women, elderly and children preventing the passage of heavy machinery despite being harassed by several policemen.  As predicted by human rights NGOs the population …

Mongolian Government Seeks to Criminalize Citizens Opposing Erdeneburen Dam Project

This story published in Novaya Gazeta reflects new ugly grimace of war. Using now very popular “Russia’s energy dependence” rhetoric and fabricated “evidence” the Mongolian proponents of large dams are trying to take revenge and silence local citizens and conservation NGOs who oppose construction of Erdeneburen Hydro by Power China …

Makhoul Dam in Iraq is threatening two World Heritage properties in one shot

The revived project of a mega-dam on Tigris river threatens to drown Ashur Historic heritage site upstream and to cause major damage to Mesopotamia Marshes nature heritage site downstream. Two river-protection NGOs prepared a report pointing to risks and suggesting alternatives. The Iraqi government is intensifying its efforts to complete …

Erdeneburen hydropower project in Mongolia contradicts “Green Belt and Road” standards

By Sukhgerel Dugersuren ,  The Third Pole  https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/energy/opinion-still-time-to-rethink-mongolias-erdeneburen-hydropower-plant/ In April, construction was due to start on Mongolia’s largest hydropower plant to date. The Erdeneburen hydropower plant is planned to be built on the Khovd River in western Mongolia, in an ecologically sensitive area of a national park. The project, which …