Fresh Voices from Youth – Sob Moei Children Protect the Salween River
Over 200 youth and villagers marched in Sob Moei District to protect the Salween River from dams, mining, and toxic contamination that has sickened fish and threatened community livelihoods.
Recently, the Rivers and Rights Foundation and networks of communities in the Yuam, Ing, Moei, and Salween river basins, along with Sob Moei villagers and civil society organizations, jointly organized an 'International Day of Action for Rivers.' Over 200 children, youth, villagers, and Salween River advocates participated in a march to protect the river at Sob Moei village, Sob Moei District, Mae Hong Son Province.
Students carried protest signs with messages including 'No dams for life,' 'Protect the river from toxins,' and 'No mining in the peaceful Salween watershed.' Karen elders performed traditional rituals, lit candles in prayer for river protection, and released bamboo rafts bearing community rights banners.
Youth and community representatives issued a statement on behalf of the next generation, who face impacts from state and corporate development projects including dam construction, mining operations, and large-scale water resource development. They highlighted toxic contamination in rivers like the Salween, where testing has revealed pesticides, cadmium, and heavy metals in water sources. These toxins have visibly damaged ecosystems and community livelihoods—causing fish diseases, affecting fishing practices, and threatening riverside crops—along with health concerns. While relevant agencies conduct monitoring, test results are not clearly communicated back to communities, leaving residents without adequate information for decision-making. The situation also affects local economies, with many communities still lacking access to basic services such as clean drinking water.
