Burma Rivers Network: Petition to China to Halt Hydropower Investments in Burma  
Salween Watch: Take Action!

Dear friends,  

            As you all know that in Burma, China-owned corporations are rapidly raising their investment in energy sector, particularly in hydropower development projects. Indeed, those investments are not environmentally friendly, ecologically unsustainable, and the benefits would definitely flow to military regime's pocket. Moreover, there would be dramatic negative impacts to environment, society and economy of the community, where large dams are going to be built.  

Our petition is requesting the Chinese government to take such actions regarding their investments in Burma,  

1. Carrying out comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments (EIAs and SIAs) on projects abroad and make those publicly available, in order to adequately determine the feasibility of projects before concluding any agreements.  

2. Keeping affected communities informed from the outset of all plans regarding hydropower development projects and involved in decision-making regarding those projects. This includes publicly releasing dam feasibility studies, investment and financial agreements, MOUs, MOAs, and clear information regarding responsible parties.  

We, Burma Rivers Network, need your solidarity.  

Open Letter to the People's Republic of China  

Please Sign the Petition: Petition  

(Burma Rivers Network)
burmariversnetwork@gmail.com

Three parallel rivers of Yunnan protected areas

"Three parallel rivers of Yunnan protected areas" was added to Unesco's World Heritage List in 2003. The Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong and Salween (Nujiang) run roughly parallel, north to south, through steep gorges which, in places, are 3,000 m deep and are bordered by glaciated peaks more than 6,000 m high. The site is an epicentre of Chinese biodiversity. It is also one of the richest temperate regions of the world in terms of biodiversity. (World Heritage Site, 2003)
http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/parallelriversyunnan.html

Organizations from 33 countries express concern for proposed Nujiang dams

The International Rivers Network has sent a letter to the President of China undersigned by 76 organizations from 33 countries to express their concerns about the plans to develop up to thirteen large hydropower projects on the Nu River in China without consultation with downstream riparian residents. (IRN, March 4, 2004)
irn.org/programs/nujiang/nu_hujintao_letter.pdf

Petition to China from 83 organizations from Thailand/Burma on Upper Salween Dam

Eighty three organizations from Thailand and Burma petitioned China to express their concern about impending plans to approve the construction of a large hydropower dam on the Nu/Salween River at Liuku without consultation with downstream countries and communities. (SEARIN, 16 December 2003)
www.searin.org/Th/SWD/SWDletE2.htm

Yunnan Great Rivers Project

The Yunnan provincial government in 1998 invited The Nature Conservancy to help create a conservation and economic development plan for northwest Yunnan. Preparation of the plan, the first major task of the Yunnan Great Rivers Project, was a two-year endeavor involving surveys, research and feasibility studies by an unprecedented 40 public and private agencies. The plan identifies the area's richest habitats and their biggest threats and then proposes ways to abate them. (The Nature Conservancy)
http://nature.org/aboutus/howwework/about/art7002.html