By Mingkhawan Thuemor, Decha Khambaomueang, and Tipakson Manpati
Drastic ecological change of the Mekong River is linked with hydropower development. Water fluctuations due to operation of upstream dams affects various fish species and stock has declined.
We visited two communities located along the Mekong. The first is in Chiang Khan District, Loei Province that borders Laos and is the nearest downstream area in Thailand to the Xayaburi Dam, completed in 2019. It is the first dam in the lower mainstream of the Mekong. The second community is Tamun in Ubon Ratchathani, the last province in Thailand the Mekong passes before going into Lao territory.
It is evident that both communities are struggling to make a living from the natural resources provided by the Mekong, particularly in fish which has been their main protein source as well as source of income.
It is suggested that sustainable management of the Mekong River must be inclusive and involve local people’s voices. New, proposed dams on the Mekong are under scrutiny to see if they are necessary or not at a time when better energy solutions exist such as solar, wind, and biomass.
Regional water governance is needed to ensure community rights and an equitable pathway for the people of the Mekong, especially for those who depend directly on this transboundary, shared, and common resource.
Picking berries or other wild fruits in Europe is a very lucrative job for many. It has become popular among Thai workers, especially those from Isaan. Many invested their life savings to fly to the opposite side of the world, with high hopes of turning their lives around. However, for some, they return to Thailand […]
The province of Sakon Nakhon has long been stigmatized as the “land of dog eaters.” In fact, the culture behind consuming dog meat exists across Asia. Historically, Sakon Nakhon city was the nexus of the dog meat trade with exports to neighboring countries. Dogs in the countryside were commonly traded for a water container or wash tub before being transported to other countries. The Isaan Record explores the reasons why the image of Sakon Nakhon is still tied to dog eating until today.
In Thai society, there are few Thai scholars who remain hopeful. One of them is Prof. Dr. Thongchai Winichakul, a former lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA, points to a way out for Thai society, once again in a time of crisis. The media needs to reinvent itself, and truly become professional.
It was also where locals were educated politically, and was a critical and important point in the political development in Isaan. The Isaan Record visits the site to learn about the life of those who searched for enlightenment, living as communists in the vast forest; those who reflect on what they learned after living in Dong Phra Jao.
