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Join us next week in person at the Stimson Center or online for a catchup on mining pollution in the Mekong Region Come meet @paideetes, Kevin Woods, and @regankwan at this in person event Tuesday October 27 9:30-11am ET, 8:30-10:00pm BKK stimson.org/event/critical-m…

No wonder Bangkok is doing little to address the heavy metal water pollution issue affecting Thai communities downstream from Myanmar’s rivers. news.mongabay.com/2026/10/my…

My teammate Austin Lord discusses why disasters like the Nepal floods are happening more frequently in this commentary. He and his team have been working nonstop to provide support to authorities in Nepal since the flood hit. stimson.org/2026/a-cascading…

Rare Earth Mining and the Fouling of Southeast Asia’s Rivers. My piece for @GlobalAsiaEAF on the pollution of rivers including the Mekong, across northern #Thailand w views from @aikunming @paideetes @ThitinanP et al globalasia.org/forum/rare-ea…

My take on the new damn mega-dam announcement on the Mekong. stimson.org/2026/new-mekong-…

Join me and colleagues from the Mekong for a discussion of water, energy, and regional response to the Hormuz crisis on Wednesday July 8, 9am ET/8pm ICT. stimson.org/event/wheres-the…

🇹🇭 Toxic 'time bomb' threatens Mekong river basin Pollution in the Mekong has put the health and livelihood of Thai fisherman Somdet Singthong at risk - arsenic has been found in his fingernails and urine and the fish are contaminated.

Saddened to share the news. Robert Thurman, prominent American Buddhist scholar, co-founder of #Tibet House, author & translator, has passed away. 🙏🪷 From his book on a mountain called #Kailash to our occasional meeting, he always made me think, & smile. #RIP

Today the @StimsonCenter lost its guiding light. I’m grateful for the countless memories of my mentor, colleague, and friend of more than a decade. He was a relentless supporter of our Mekong work. Rest peacefully, Brian Finlay (1972-2026). stimson.org/2026/stimson-rem…

Mekong Dam Monitor Weekly Update for May 12-June 1: Spotlight: 2026 Dry Season Flow Would Have Been Normal. Dam releases from throughout the Mekong Basin prevented the Mekong from having a normal dry season flow pattern. From Chiang Saen, Thailand to Stung Treng Cambodia, the top of the blue bars show how monthly flow would have mostly matched the pre-dam flow conditions along the course of the Mekong for the entire dry season particularly for the critical months of March and April when the river should achieve its natural low point. Instead, dam releases for hydropower production raised the river to unnaturally high levels. In March at Chiang Saen, dam release from China doubled natural flow—from February to May overall, these releases doubled natural flow. From March to May at Nakhon Phanom, dam releases from China and northern Laos nearly doubled natural flow. These impacts carried through to Stung Treng, Cambodia where flow from March to May also doubled. Significantly higher water levels during the dry season are extremely harmful to local ecologies and natural resource provisions that rely on consistently low river levels during the dry season. Image of the Week: Most of 2026 Dry Season Flow came from China. The map shows that among the five sub-basins, China contributed 37% of dry season flow to Stung Treng, Cambodia from December 2025 through May 2026. Flow includes releases from dams and the natural flow of the river. This is slightly below average (38%) for the 2008-2026 time period when dams have significantly altered river flow. Prior to 2008, China contributed about 32% of flow to Stung Treng. Total dam releases for the dry season are estimated at 27.03 cubic kilometers. Natural flow for the dry season is estimated at 58.7 cubic kilometers— about 13% higher than pre-dam average flow of 51.3 cubic kilometers. Therefore, under natural conditions, the river would have been slightly higher than normal for the 2026 dry season, and dam releases raised the river by an additional 50%. Where’s the Water: Last week saw a mix of releases and restrictions throughout the basin with a final net change of 300 million cubic meters of water added to the river system through dam releases. Nuozhadu (PRC) was the only dam to release a significant amount of water with 280 million cubic meters. This is the time of the year when dams begin to restrict flow and fill their reservoirs, so relatively low changes to the natural hydrological cycle are expected. River Levels: Levels throughout the Mekong are between 1 and 1.5 meters higher than the long-term average mostly due to upstream dam releases still making their way through the basin. Learn more at mekongmonitor.stimson.org.

Mining in Myanmar’s borderlands is fueling environmental harm, conflict and cross-border risk. Our new policy paper—developed from an April workshop with experts and practitioners—explores why that intersection matters now. stimson.org/2026/mining-conf…

Join us tomorrow for a celebration of U.S.-Lao PDR relations! It’s more interesting than you think! eventbrite.com/e/a-decade-of…

Some of the rare earth elements in your smart phones and flat screens are sourced by slave labor in Chinese mines in Myanmar. shanhumanrights.org/?p=5051

Thai Senator Maneerat Khemawong will deliver a keynote speech at our webinar on Thursday. Senator Maneerat is one of several Thai parliamentarians fighting for clean rivers in Thailand and the Mekong. Please join us at 9am ET/8pm BKK time stimson.org/event/a-water-fe…

The flow of toxic mining pollution has reached the Mekong River. Arsenic levels ~9 times higher than the safety limit found in sediment from the Mekong. Rainy season could carry heavy metals further downstream, threatening biodiversity & human health. news.mongabay.com/2026/05/da…

Join Thai colleagues and me for a discussion about celebrating Songkran alongside a contaminated river with community leaders and experts who unpack transboundary mining impacts, cultural resilience, and what’s needed to protect shared waters. 5/14 9-10am stimson.org/event/a-water-fe…

Toxic runoff from rare earth mines in Myanmar is contaminating rivers that flow into Thailand, threatening the Mekong River and its basin's fisheries and farmland. apnews.com/article/rare-toxi…

NEW: Corpus Christi, Texas could be the first American city to run out of water. Working people face drought restrictions, but oil and gas companies guzzle water — and pay less than everyone else. Six huge corporate water users consume 3x as much as everyone in town.

The South Korean court sentenced 46 people to up to 10 years in prison for scamming Korean victims while working for a criminal ring based in Cambodia and Thailand. koreajoongangdaily.joins.com…

Unregulated rare earth mine causes landslide in Myanmar killing one person. China’s rare earth mines in Myanmar are not known to follow safety precautions. bnionline.net/en/news/landsl…