Environmental Awareness through Art

Oxfam's My Mekong project encouraged people to articulate their experience of Mekong development through the use of popular and creative media.

A drawing of the Mekong River by Laotian students who participated in the Oxfam-supported My Mekong project.

The 10th largest river in the world, and in Asia third only to the Yangtze in China and Ganges in India, the Mekong River sustains over 65 million people Today, rapid economic development and conflict threaten the Mekong's rich and diverse environment, peoples'cultures and relationships with other communities, and the livelihoods of the millions who depend on the river for food, water, transport, and power. As Southeast Asia continues to develop its rich and diverse natural resources, the human settlements and waters of the Mekong River come under increasing pressure. The challenge to Mekong river communities is to develop enough political strength to defend their communities from overdevelopment and exploitation.

Oxfam America's My Mekong project encouraged people to articulate their experience of Mekong development through the use of popular and creative media. My Mekong culminated in an exhibition last October 30-November 3, 2002 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The six-month project produced a collection of photos, posters, illustrations, traditional pictographs, woodcarvings, publications, videos and local theater productions that conveyed compelling messages about the damaging impact of river development on their communities.

Participating partners of My Mekong will take their exhibitions to various campaigning, public education, and environmental awareness events throughout the Mekong countries, seeking to broaden awareness and support for more careful management of this essential international resource.