News Room
Since the beginning of the Mekong Alumni Program, different generations of alumni have come to the Mekong school to share their experience. They have provided invaluable support that has made both the program and the alumni network grow stronger. Through teaching sessions at the Mekong School in 2011, several alumni shared their knowledge and expertise as guest teachers. Shining from Burma (2006) held a class on peace building, while Khun Chanke (2006) and Hom Noon, also from Burma (Alumnus 2009) gave presentations on the impact of extractive industries engaged in mining, oil and gas pipeline projects in Burma. Other activities included...
Lao alumni Dorn and Somsy (alumni from 2007) worked together on a 2011 small grant project aimed at raising awareness of the impact of dam projects on the Ou River in Northern Laos. The Ou River is a major tributary to the Mekong and its rich natural resources and high level of biodiversity provides a livelihood and also serves a spiritual purpose for the people living along its banks.
There are currently more than 60 different ethnic groups in Laos, and of these the Khmu is the second largest. Dorn – herself a Khmu...
In October 2011, EarthRights alumni Siriporn Kotawinon (2007) and Phairoh Suchinphram (2008) organized a public seminar for villagers in Kalasin province as part of a local community campaign aimed at raising awareness about the impact of the government’s plans to build a nuclear power plant in the province.
The purpose of the campaign is to provide an alternative to the information campaign about the construction plans launched by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). The government’s campaign has previously been the only source of information for local residents about...
The Ta-ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO) is pleased to announce the release of two new reports on ongoing earth rights violations in Ta-ang Region of Shan State.
The first, ‘Grabbing Land: Destructive Developments in Ta’ang Region’ estimates that 63% of farming families in the Ta’ang area of Northern Shan State have lost their land to confiscation by the Burmese military. The land has been taken to be used for housing and training for the military or to generate additional income for the troops. Significant areas of land are...
Congratulations to the inaugural graduating class of the Health and Earth Rights Training (HEART) Program! The twenty new graduates recently celebrated their achievement in a ceremony marking the conclusion of the seven month intensive training program.
The HEART Program is a partnership between ERI and Dr. Cynthia...
The Karenni Social Development Center (SDC) works in Mae Hong Son on the Thai-Burma Border, with the mission of distributing knowledge and skills in human rights, environmental issues and law as well as capacity building in community development to emerging young leaders amongst local refugee and migrant communities on the border.
In partnership with ERI, SDC has recently completed its second five month Advanced Community Management Training Program. The course provides students from border communities with the opportunity to undertake intensive English language training alongside study of subjects including international law, political systems, human rights and...
In June 2011, EarthRights School Burma alumnus Nang Su San, with support from the Burma Alumni Program, participated in the International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP) conducted by Equitas in Montreal, Canada.
The IHRTP is an annual three week training program implemented by Equitas, which each year brings together approximately 120 human rights workers, educators and activists from 60 countries around the world. Participants in the IHRTP include representatives from diversely situated non-governmental organizations (NGOs), national and regional human rights institutions and government bodies. The program has now been running for 32 years and aims to deliver...
In July 2011, EarthRights School Mekong Alumni from Thailand met with a commissioner of Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission, Thai public interest lawyers and affected local people from Song Kwae district in Nan, to participate in sharing data and brainstorming with the goal of halting the construction of the Hongsa lignite mine across the border in Laos. The planned project will have significant ramifications for local communities in both Laos and Thailand.
Cheng, an ERSM alumnus from 2010, has been mobilizing the Hongsa campaign within Song Kwae district communities. In May 2011, the communities submitted a complaint letter to the National Human Rights Commission of...
Meach Mean, an EarthRights School Mekong 2008 alumnus from Cambodia, collaborated with Save the Mekong coalition – an advocate group representing the local and international communities for a free-flowing Mekong – at a regional meeting in August 2011 to discuss the campaign strategy and framework for further cancellation of the Mekong mainstream dams as well as its tributary dam projects. There is strong opposition to the dams due to the foreseeable long term impoverishment of communities and the destruction of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Many alumni, including Chhuon La and Sangthorng from Cambodia and Van from Vietnam, provided valuable input to the campaign, encouraging strong...
On behalf of the Kachin Environmental Organization and Kachin people, we would like peace and human security in Burma. Currently, the conflict between Kachin armed groups and Burmese military troops in Kachin state has been destructive of human security, and has had a tremendous effect on peoples' livelihood and natural resources. The Kachin Environmental Organization had released the report "Damming the Irrawaddy", which is the dam causing problems today. Earlier, we shared and distributed information about the human and natural resource disasters caused by projects of the military regime, which are causing conflict in the region today.
Our organization has provided a signature...