Comprehension: Dams Threaten Way of Life for Mekong Fishermen

The waters of the mighty Mekong have sustained generations of families but nowadays its fishermen often find their nets empty and fear hydropower mega-dams will destroy their livelihoods. 

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. The fishermen blame the dams in Thailand for the decline in fish.
a. True
b. False

2. There is a new dam under construction in Laos.
a. True
b. False

3. There are 11 dams planned along the Mekong River.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

This used to be a common sight, but is now increasingly rare. Every day, and most nights, fishermen search the Mekong for their increasingly illusive catch on this stretch of the river that separates Thailand and Laos. The men here say they are catching far fewer fish than ever before, and blame a series of dams that have been built upstream in China. 

"Before, the water levels would depend on the seasons but now when its low tide, all the water goes down. I think it’s because they are closing and opening the dams. And that’s why the fish numbers have gone down." 

And a new dam, in neighbouring Laos, is threatening fish stocks here even more. Conservationists say the Xayaburi dam, currently under construction, will stop fish from being able to travel up the river to breed. And that would affect the entire Mekong river system that flows from China, through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. 

"The Mekong River’s been taken over. Since the Xayaburi dam started, it's been a coup against the Mekong. They haven’t listened to public opinion." 

The builders of the billion-dollar dam have so far refused to comment, but Laotian authorities say the project has incorporated passages that fish will be able to swim up. Tens of millions of people rely on the Mekong to survive and, despite these assurances, they remain deeply concerned. Their connection to the river goes beyond a food source. 

 "There are many festival and tradition connected to the Mekong River, like the belief that the Naga, the big snake, the giant snake Naga lives in the Mekong River as a spirit to protect the Mekong River, but if the dams are built, blocking the river anywhere, this means that the Naga cannot move upstream to downstream anymore." 

The Xayaburi is the first of 11 planned dams along the Mekong in Laos and Cambodia. They will provide a huge amount of clean electricity to millions of people as well as generating millions in revenues for their respective governments. But for those who live by the banks of the river, their way of life could change forever. 

Answers:
1. b
2. a
3. a

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