I am on a 5 week assignment with FBR in the jungles of Burma. I am following a team of FBR medics and a group of young FBR medical students as they train and provide medical aid to local villagers and IDP communities within the conflict zones of Burma. Despite recent political reform, increasing promise of international support and recent ceasefire agreements, the Burmese Army continues to resupply and advance on ethnic states in parts of Burma. Human rights abuses are still a daily occurrence, villages are being burned and shelled and the number of internally displaced people inside Burma continues to grow. At a perceived historically pivotal moment, many ethnic communities question whether permanent change is truly possible or only a state of political mind.

The Free Burma Rangers’ (FBR) mission is to provide hope, help and love to internally displaced people inside Burma, regardless of ethnicity or religion. Using a network of indigenous field teams, FBR reports on human rights abuses, casualties and the humanitarian needs of people who are under the oppression of the Burma Army. FBR provides medical, spiritual and educational resources for IDP communities as they struggle to survive Burmese military attacks.

The latest issue of Urban Velo Magazine features an interview with Kobby Booncoomyou on the fixed gear scene in Chiang Mai and is accompanied by a series of my photos. Big thanks to the good folks at Urban Velo, Kobby Booncoomyou and The Pedal Addict Society. You can download the magazine at UrbanVelo.org

Uniting over 320 million people across the Greater Mekong Region, it is easy to see why this majestic river has been called, “The Lifeblood of Asia”, ‘”The Soul of Southeast Asia”, ‘River of Giants” and “Mother Mekong”. Traveling through 6 countries and holding claim to the longest river in South East Asia, the Mekong supports an incredible array of life, including subsistence village livelihoods, fisheries, agriculture, the potential to supply energy to millions and the rich and complex terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem habitats that sustain a remarkable level of endemic species diversity. As millions rely on the river daily to sustain life, it’s safe to say that a healthy Mekong equates to the success of many lives in the Greater Mekong Region.

By embarking on a 3 week field course through Northern Thailand, Central and Southern Laos and on a 200km float trip down the Mekong River, students at the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDSI) aim to obtain a rich understanding of the complex multinational, regional, social and environmental interests, issues, pressures and conflicts focused on the sustainable development and resource management of the Mekong River. I met up with the ISDSI field course in Vientiane, Laos, after the students spent weeks in the classroom at ISDSI’s headquarters in Chiang Mai – Thailand, and a week investigating the village of Phrae’s ongoing 20 year struggle to protest a proposed large dam project on the Yom River in Thailand. Understanding and analyzing the roles that individual countries, multinational organizations, private stakeholders, and the local population play in preserving the Mekong’s colossal resource, natural environment, and local cultures in order to mitigate conflict and promote cooperative sustainable development was the students main task. To begin the Lao portion of the field course, the student’s first stop was at the headquarters of the Mekong River Commission in Vientiane.

The Mekong River Commission (MRC)

Attempting to sustainably develop the Mekong River has created one of the most difficult cross-boundary river resource management problems in the world today. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) is at the forefront of trying to resolve this problem. During a full day conference at the MRC, Dr. Vitoon Viriyasakultorm, an MRC Technical Coordinator Advisor, led the group in an in depth review of the MRC’s history, framework and current affairs.

In April 1995, in an effort to protect and effectively manage this vital resource, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam agreed to join forces and create the MRC. Quickly thereafter, the MRC Joint Committee designed the “Basin Development Plan” to cooperatively manage the sustainable development and economic growth of the Mekong River Basin water and related resources. Since it’s creation, the MRC’s has played a critical role in attempting to consult and regulate varying development as multinational private, public and regional stakeholders vie for a piece of the Mekong. With so much at stake, the MRC has lead the charge in assuring that an open dialogue exists between the MRC Joint Committee, China and Myanmar as dialogue partners, private stakeholders, NGO’s, regional interests and the people living within the Mekong River Basin.

Today, the single biggest threat to the Mekong’s health is the potential development of mainstream and large tributary hydropower projects in China, Laos and Cambodia. Currently, there are 3 operational dams in China, 1 under construction and 15 proposed dam projects on the mainstream of the Mekong (4 in China, 8 in Laos, 3 in Cambodia). While hydropower operations promise much needed energy for economic development, opportunities for foreign exchange earnings and multinational government growth, the massive impact and major risks that come with hydropower development are unavoidable and potentially catastrophic to lives that regularly depend on it’s seasonal and unobstructed migratory flow.

The Nam Theun-Hinboun Hydropower Expansion Project

Striving to become the battery of SouthEast Asia, Lao PDR is a hotspot for current and proposed hydropower development. Departing Vientiane, the ISDSI students set out on a 4 day road trip through the Bolikhamxay and Khammouane Provinces in southern Lao PDR, to examine the Nam Theun-Hinboun Hydropower Expansion Project.

The goal of the Nam Theun-Hinboun Hydropower Expansion Project is to increase hydroelectric potential of the pre-existing 210-megawatt Nam Theun-Hinboun Hydropower facility, ultimately generating more revenue as power is exported to Thailand.  The main components of this expansion project include the construction of the Nam Gnounang Dam and Reservoir on the Nam Gnounang River, a secondary diversion tunnel, and a secondary hydro-electric power plant, which combined, will generate an additional 220-megawatts to the existing infrastructure. The Nam Gnounang River flows into the Nam Theun/Nam Kading River system – one of many major tributary systems on the Mekong River.

As a result, water is currently diverted from the Nam Gnounang and Nam Theun/Nam Kading basins through the Theun-Hiboun Hydropower Plant tunnel system and into the Nam Hai/Nam Hinboun River basin to the south. Further downstream, the Nam Hinboun River flows into the Mekong River. Increased hydropower production at the Theun-Hinboun Power Plant increases water flow on the regulated Nam Hai River, especially during the dry season. In turn, within the Nam Gnounang Basin and along the Nam Hai River, many villages have been resettled and/or relocated by THPC due to flooding, increased water flow and infrastructure construction.

The ISDSI students spent time touring the new expansion project, visiting with officials from THPC and taking a closer look at a few of the villages and local communities that are directly impacted by the project. This opportunity to begin to analyze the political and economical decision-making across national and cultural lines gave the students a critical lens through which to better understand the possible risks and impacts that a project of this scale can create on the environment and the lives of those dependent on rivers.

Chang Khan to Nong Khai

Traveling back through Vientiane and crossing the border into Thailand, the road trip through Laos came to an end as the students transferred their gear and focus to the Mekong’s mainstream in Chang Khan, Thailand. The final week of the field course began by embarking on a 200km inflatable canoe float trip down the Mekong. During the dry season the flow of the Mekong between Laos and Thailand becomes less turbulent and easier to navigate, providing an ideal pace and platform to witness the daily life along its banks. Between Chang Khan and Nong Kai Thailand, the Mekong separates Laos and Thailand and the lives of many in two distinctly different countries. A distance of roughly 40km was covered each day as the group of 8 canoes journeyed downstream. Along the way, students experienced first hand how thousands of local Thai and Laotian people have come to rely on the river as one of their most prolific and prominent resources. Water resource related activity that was witnessed along the 200km stretch included riverbank cultivation and irrigation management, net and hook and line fishing, gold and sand mining, commercial and public navigation, water collection for hygiene and livestock and tourism.

In the end, this 5 day snapshot of the Mekong, provided the field course with an additional point of view to begin analyzing and comprehending the scale and relevance of many of the issues and challenges that are prevalent in the future sustainable development and resource management of the Greater Mekong Region.

Once the students returned to ISDSI’s campus in Chiang Mai, news came soon after that a very important decision was looming in regards to the Xayaburi Dam Hydropower Project in Laos, located on the Mekong’s mainstream. This would be the first hydropower project to be approved along the Mekong’s Lower Region and currently poses the greatest threat to river and it’s people. The impact, risks and potential issues that students had observed during the field course were now in the balance again with this major project proposal. Currently, the decision to push the Xayaburi Dam project forward has been delayed due to difference in opinion amongst the countries represented by the MRC Joint Committee. At this point, The MRC Joint Committee has requested an extension on the decision-making process, to allow for more research into the scope of the potential impact, which could forever change the landscape of this important, life-sustaining resource for South East Asia.

The International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDSI)

The International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDSI) is a recognized leader in innovative study-abroad programs.

In 2005 ISDSI’s People Environment and Development program was recognized as one of three “best practice” programs by the Institute of International Education (IIE) Andrew Heiskell Awards, and in 2006 was nominated as a UNESCO Centre of Excellence.

The International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDSI) began as an initiative of the Center for International Programs at Kalamazoo College. The Institute exists to help develop experiential educational programs with other schools, organizations or groups. In addition ISDSI’s core semester length program, People Environment and Development, the institute also hosts a number of short term (multi-week) study-abroad, service-learning and related programs.

For more information, please go to the ISDSI website.

I recently finished a one day shoot with Celeste Siam, one of Asia’s star female DJ’s. We shot on location at The Land Foundation, and were joined by a Spanish television crew from RTVE.es, who were simultaneously creating a piece on Thailand. A simple lighting set up and the fast work of my assistant, Tinnkorn Nugul, allowed us to move quick and shoot 3 set ups around the property. My primary light set up consisted of 3 Nikon SB-900′s set up on a Lastolight trihead hot shoe mount, controlled by a Nikon SU-800 commander on camera. I used a shoot though umbrella with the bottom half of the umbrella flagged to create a gradient and nice wash of soft light on Celeste. I have included a few behind the scenes shots to show the lighting set up and location. A big thanks to Celeste Siam, Carlos Llinares of WeDareAsia, Tinnkorn Nugul, Kamin Lertchaiprasert of the Land Foundation and the crew at RTVE.es for making it a great shoot.

Between the 7th and 9th of February, the Lisu and Akha villagers of Baan Sridongyen in the Mae Taeng District of Northern Thailand, celebrated their New Year. During the 3 day festival, villagers engaged in sport, song, dance and an emotional community celebration.

On November 28, 12,500 monks descended upon Chiang Mai to participate in the annual offering of alms. Hosted by Wat Dhammakaya and it’s branch temples, the monks represented 5 neighboring provinces from Northern Thailand. This year the event took place on Chang Klang Road, near the Old City and the Ping River. The offering of alms, which started at 6:30am, was part of a larger, year-long project focused on giving alms to 1 million monks throughout Thailand’s 76 provinces. People could sponsor the monks by offering alms in 10,000, 5,000, or 3,000 baht denominations. In turn, they were given a seat close to the main stage and a bucket of food to offer the passing monks. Alternatively, many folks arrived early with home cooked meals and handfuls of Baht, grabbing a spot within the procession area. The most desired spots were along the edge of the procession line, close to the passing monks. This year marked the 7th Anniversary of the offering of the alms and money donated was allocated to 226 temples, across 4 specific provinces in Southern Thailand, that were hit hard by recent flooding.

On the afternoon of December 11th,  The Land Foundation hosted Lin Yilin, one of China’s most well known contemporary artists. The Land Foundation was co-founded in 1998, by our new friends Kamin Lertchaiprasert and Rirkrit Tiravanija Atimana, in addition a few other respected Thai artists acting as advisors. Kamin is a well know and well respected Thai artist, who’s most recent project, one of many, is titled the 31st Century Museum of Contemporary Spirit. The Land Foundation is a short 20 minute drive to the South of Chiang Mai, set in a area historically dominated by rice farming. During the late 90′s rice farming was proving to be difficult and some of the land in the area was put up for sale. The land was purchased with the intention for artistic collaboration on an international scale, the growth of local sustainable community development and the management of the land in a self sustaining fashion. The project has become a success over the years, with many local and international artists, students, TLF staff and many volunteers.

As part of the Land Foundation’s mission, they host artists from around the world and invite them to make site-specific projects on the Land. We (my wife and I) were lucky enough to participate in a project created by Chinese artist Lin Yilin. His piece, titled,  WHOSE LAND? WHOSE ART? is a site-specific project meant to address and reinforce the relationship between people and to their environment. The appearance of walls is a key element that takes on metaphorical meaning in Lin’s work in general – as a wall for social participation, as a constructed showcase, as a ‘shelter’ for one to be positioned within, or presenting the dialectical pairings of natural elements (water, iron) and manufactured components (automated massage machines, money, and plastic bags). In each creation, the walls can shift in appearance, thereby transforming meaning. In this case, Yilin invited participants to come weigh themselves by sitting in a woven basket using a chinese scale. We were then encouraged to write our weight on the wall with chalk. The whole experience was really fun, and did create some kind of new baseline for communication within a varied group of participants. In this case there were people there from America, Sweden, Thailand, China and maybe more places…so the idea that we all should get to know each other based on how much physical space we take up was funny and appealing. You can check out more of Lin Yilin’s work here.

The above shots are from both events and some of my work covering Lin Yilin was published in Fine Art Magazine, “The art news magazine of Thailand”.

On the morning of Dec. 11th, I met up with some friends who were racing in the first annual “Thailand Fixed Masters” Alleycat bike race. 90 riders showed up to race 12 checkpoints throughout the city of Chiang Mai. The first rider to make a stop at all 12 checkpoints and cross the finish line first was able to claim the title. I ended up shooting the pre-event warm up and heading out on my motorcycle to catch some of the action. I was able to get a few shots of the actual race, but the racers quickly proved that they were able to navigate the city traffic and hit all the checkpoints much faster then I could cover the race. If only I could be in two places at once, a few extra bodies, assistants and remote triggers would have been nice. In the end it was a fun day and I made a few fun shots.

For the last three years I have been working with Wello,  (formerly Hippo Roller) a non-profit based in the US. Wello’s mission is to meet the needs of the billion people worldwide who do not have reliable access to water. Through the application of innovative, appropriate, and low-cost solutions to water transport, storage, and collection, we seek to improve human health and well-being, reduce poverty, and promote the sustainable use of resources. Our flagship product, the WaterWheel, is a proof that a good idea and a simple design can change the world. A WaterWheel is an innovative water transportation tool designed to alleviate the problems associated with lack of easy access to water. The WaterWheel’s smart design allows water to be placed inside its “wheel,” transforming 175 pounds of water to an effective weight of just 20 pounds (9 kg). This makes it possible to collect 20 gallons (75 liters) of water- five times the amount possible using traditional methods – in less time and much more easily.

Please help me by spreading the word and supporting Wello if you can. The above shots are images from a current campaign we recently shot while working in Rajasthan and Wello’s new website.

Thanks for your help and support!

I recently was on assignment in Rajasthan, working with the folks at Wello. I spent a quick 8 days on the road from Udaipur to Delhi, stopping in Pushkar and Jaipur along the way.

Wrapping up a project with the Watershed Agriculture Council, in Walton, NY, I recently flew over the Croton Watershed System to create the above aerial photographs.