Sutphuphai Wangpooklang

The Drowning River

Rock-blasting along Mekong river between Thai and Laos borders stated from China ambitious plan to open the new silk road in 2015. By getting ride of the rock along Mekong, it allow big cargo ship from China to spread their goods to Southeast Asia. However such big ambitious plan come with great consequence on local residents such as destruction of agriculture along the river banks due to unpredictable water raising, decreasing number of bird local birds due to the blasting rock which the bird nested, destruction of river shore which help to control the river. All of these consequence also led to the end of local sailing.

By blasting the rock or islets along Mekong, it also speed up the river flow, and led to erosion. The erosion affect local resident in Thailand's Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong, and Wiang Kaen Districts.

The China project on blasting Mekong to pave the way for big cargo also prohibit any activities that would obstruct cargo boats. The activity includes fishing by nets, and this restriction have a huge impact on local resident who rely on fishing. Therefore, I think that by blasting Mekong to open the way for bigger cargo boats, only China would get the profit and left local resident with environment destruction. And it not worth at all.

Therefore, I want to portray the impact from Rock-blasting on Mekong river by photographed the disappearing of life of local residents, the relationship of local residents and the river in both Thailand and Lao. I believe this livelihood is fascinating and beautiful, so I want to photograph this simple life along the river.