BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//SEA Junction - ECPv4.9.4//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:SEA Junction
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://seajunction.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for SEA Junction
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:"Asia/Krasnoyarsk"
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0700
TZOFFSETTO:+0700
TZNAME:+07
DTSTART:20200101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID="Asia/Krasnoyarsk":20200617T220000
DTEND;TZID="Asia/Krasnoyarsk":20201231T200000
DTSTAMP:20260808T050516
CREATED:20200616T114830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200818T044413Z
UID:16522-1592431200-1609444800@seajunction.org
SUMMARY:The Mekong is Blue and Dried: Visual Storytelling of the Mekong River’s Environmental Degradation Open Call for Photo & Art Essays
DESCRIPTION: \nThe Mekong River is the most diverse in fresh water fishery in the world with the greatest biodiversity after the Amazon. It originates in the Tibetan plateau and flows through mainland Southeast Asia before emptying in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta into the South China sea. The Mekong feeds more than 60 million people who live along its entire route. Among them there are indigenous communities that depend on the Mekong for their natural resource-based livelihoods and as a source of income. Their way of life is today threatened by the ongoing dam-building race since the first dam was built on the Mekong mainstream 20 years ago. \nToday\, eleven dams are planned for the lower mainstream Mekong\, and 300 more are in the waiting on feeder waterways. Cumulative impacts have been felt by the riparian communities living downstream. The first lower Mekong dam Xayaburi in Laos operated for a test run in July 2019 exacerbated the drought in the region. The Mekong water level is at its lowest in 50 years. The second dam on the lower Mekong in Laos (Don Sa Hong) was built against concerns regarding its blocking major channels of migratory fishes to spawn upstream and in the Mekong’s tributary rivers. In particular\, it affects the migration of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins living close to the Laotian-Cambodian border where the dam is also located. \nAdding to the multiple impacts of dams\, the collapse of Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy saddle dams on Xe Kong River which is a tributary of the Mekong River in Southern Laos\, killed at least 40 people and displaced more than 4\,500 people. This was a dark reminder of the threats dams pose on people’s lives and the lack of accountability of multinational corporations. \nThe combination of upstream and downstream dams’ operations has blocked the natural rich nutrients and sediments and the water flow. In late 2019\, the Mekong turned into rare blue color instead of its usual brown. The blue color of the Mekong reflects “dead” for aquatic animals\, other animals that dwell in the Mekong riverbank and millions of people who depend for their livelihood on the biodiversity of the River. \nNetworks of environmental experts\, civil society\, media and academia tireless continue to advocate for environmentally and socially friendly measures for the Mekong River.  They raise questions about the need of such dams in view of other forms of green energy such as solar power\, the extenuating risks associated with hydropower construction\, and the devastating social and economic effects on local populations. \nThis initiative launched by SEA Junction with the support of the Samdhana Institute on 15 June 2020 for a period of three months\, aims to contribute to these ongoing efforts through the creative use of visual documentation and art. We are pleased that the Mekong Environment Forum has offered to partner with us on this and help with promoting the initiative and sharing relevant material. We hope other organizations will also join our effort. \n“The Mekong River is Blue and Dried” initiative calls all those interested and particularly photographers\, artists and organizations working with communities in the Greater Mekong Region (GMS) to share their visual stories. The photos and art works accompanied by a short essay should reflect on four main themes: \n\nEnvironmental degradation of the Mekong river.\nDestruction caused by dams and development interventions affecting the river\nImpacts on people and communities depending on the Mekong River for their lives and livelihoods.\nStories of advocacy and how networks and civil groups advocate and try to limit environmental and social damage (“history of opposition”).\n\nThe short essay can be written in English or in any of the Mekong languages (to be later translated into English) \nIf you have a story or an idea to contribute to this initiative just contact us at southeastasiajunction@gmail.com or with our Instagram and twitter @seajunction or facebook @sea-junction. \nLooking forward to collaborating with all of you for a healthier Mekong! \n  \nOrganizers:  \nSEA Junction\nSEA Junction\, established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA)\, aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions\, from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 408 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK\, BTS National Stadium)\, SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students\, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information see www.seajunction.org\, join the Facebook group:  http://www.facebook.com/groups/1693058870976440/ and follow us on twitter and Instagram @seajunction \nThe Samdhana Institute\nSamdhana\, in Sanskrit\, means healing\, uniting\, peacemaking. It was formed in 2003 by a group of individuals\, conservationists\, development practitioners\, constituting the first Samdhana Fellows; moved by the same commitment of ‘giving back’ what they know to the next generation; and bringing together skills\, knowledge\, experiences\, networks\, colleagues and friends; delivering maturity\, strength and sustainability. For more info see www.samdhana.org \n  \n
URL:https://seajunction.org/event/the-mekong-is-blue-and-dried-visual-storytelling-of-the-mekong-rivers-environmental-degradation-open-call-for-photo-art-essays/
LOCATION:SEA Junction\, Room 408\, BACC\, 939 Rama 1 Rd\, Pathum Wan\, Khet Pathum Wan\, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330 Bangkok\, Thailand\, Bangkok\, Thailand
CATEGORIES:Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID="Asia/Krasnoyarsk":20201124T163000
DTEND;TZID="Asia/Krasnoyarsk":20201124T190000
DTSTAMP:20260808T050516
CREATED:20201118T074542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201118T074542Z
UID:17572-1606235400-1606244400@seajunction.org
SUMMARY:Dialogue Forum 8 (in Thai) The Environmental Challenges under Thailand’s Constitutions: Progress and Setbacks
DESCRIPTION:Protection of natural resources and the environment as well as access to the resources have long been an issue no less critical than politics or economic issues. To say the least\, the issue itself is political. \nIn 1997\, the Constitution firmly acknowledged people’s rights to the resources and the environment as well as their rights to join the state in protecting those resources and the environment for the first time\, shifting an ownership status as well as the relationship between the state and people over the resources and the environment towards more of partnership. \nHowever\, it had hardly been enforceable and materialized due to the lack of legal mechanisms to support it up until it was scrapped due to the coup in 2006. \nThe 2017 Constitution is seen as another attempt to address the issue. This time it has tried to materialize people’s rights with more concrete approaches; be they stating firmly the rights guaranteed by the Constitution\, stating the duty of the state to fulfil such the task for the people\, stating several prime environmental issues to be tackled under the state’s policies\, and last but not least\, stating natural resources and environmental management as part of the reform’s efforts. \nAs pointed by some constitutional drafters\, all these are meant to help secure people’s rights over the resources and the environment as supposed to be. \nStill\, some flaws and loopholes are observed\, particularly the point that what addressed in the Constitution have rather steered the efforts backwards\, while failing to keep up with rapid change. \nWhen there are growing calls for a major amendment of the 2017 Constitution\, it would also be a good time for concerned parties to look back what has been attempted to as much as what has been achieved and failed\, regarding our natural resources and environment\, and find the best way to address them together for the best interests of the country and the people at large as a new opportunity is provided as such. \nThe Dialogue Forum\, therefore\, would cordially like to invite you to explore the way to address natural resources and environmental management fort the best interests of the country and the people in this challenging time in its Dialogue Forum 8: The Environmental Challenges under Thailand’s Constitutions: Progress or Setbacks at SEA-Junction 408\, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre\, on November 24\, 2020 (4.30 pm-7 pm). \nContact: \nBangkok Tribune coordinator: Piya Wong @089 920 8027/ Bangkok Tribune News FB Messenger \n**In accordance with the COVID-19 regulation\, please confirm your participation ahead of the event (limited seats available). \n***You can also watch the event live at FB Live: Bangkok Tribune News FB Page \n \nPartners \n\nThai Society of Environmental Journalists\nProject SEVANA South-East Asia\nSEA-Junction\nBangkok Tribune News Agency\n\nSupported by: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (Thailand Office) \nProgram \n\n\n\n4.30 pm \nRegistration\n\n\n4.55 pm\nBrief introduction of the forum and the topic of the forum\n\n\n5.00 pm\nOverview: Addressing natural resources and environment and community rights in Thai Constitutions; 2 decades of transition                           \n\n\n5.10 pm \nForum discussion: The Environmental Challenges under Thailand’s Constitutions: Progress or Setbacks\n\n\n6.30 pm\nQ&A session\n\n\n7.00 pm\nWrap-up and closing of the forum\n\n\n\n  \nSpeakers: \n\nProf. Dr. Jade Donavanik\, a former advisor to the 2017 Constitution’s Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC)\nProfessor Narong Jaiharn\, Faculty of Law\, Thammasat University\nApichat Sirisoontorn\, Chair of the House’s Standing Committee on Land\, Natural Resources\, and Environment/ Move Forward Party MP\nSupaporn Malailoy\, Manager\, Environmental Litigation and Advocacy for the Wants (EnLAW)\nOrapin Lilitvisitwong\, Editor\, Thai PBS’s website\, Decode\n\n
URL:https://seajunction.org/event/dialogue-forum-8-in-thai-the-environmental-challenges-under-thailands-constitutions-progress-and-setbacks/
LOCATION:SEA Junction\, Room 408\, BACC\, 939 Rama 1 Rd\, Pathum Wan\, Khet Pathum Wan\, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330 Bangkok\, Thailand\, Bangkok\, Thailand
CATEGORIES:Event
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR