EarthRights International Opens Applications for Mekong Training Programme

EarthRights International's Mekong School is now accepting entries for its 2010 programme.

Ideal candidates are individuals who have been active on environmental, human rights, or community development issues, who are enthusiastic about partnering with other activists from the region and who have the capacity to become effective community leaders and/or advocates. The training takes place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from June to December of each year, and includes a two-month practicum in which students return to their home countries to conduct field work. Housing, transportation, and a modest living stipend are provided to successful candidates.

The seven-month long training programme focuses on the impacts of large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly hydropower dams, and how citizens are engaged in advocating for more equitable development in the Mekong region. At the school, students investigate community complaints regarding negative impacts from Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, and privately funded projects. Through a series of field visits, students examine the threats posed by various projects, such as the series of hydropower dams currently planned and under construction along the mainstream of the Mekong and its tributaries, to migratory fish stocks, local livelihoods, and regional food security.

The deadline for applications is March 10, 2010. For more information, visit www.earthrights.org. To request an application form, contact the Mekong School Coordinator at mekong@earthrights.org.