Thai activist Sompong Viengchan leads long fight over Pak Mun Dam

Sompong Viengchan, an activist now in her mid-70s, has led community efforts against the impact of a dam upstream of her village in Thailand since 1990. Mongabay reported from Bangkok that Viengchan and her neighbors along the Mun and Mekong rivers have campaigned continuously to address the consequences of the infrastructure project. [1]

The protest focuses on the 136-megawatt multipurpose Pak Mun Dam. According to Mongabay, the dam was co-funded by the World Bank Group to deliver power, but local residents have spent decades seeking justice and proving its local effects. [1]

During her campaign spanning over three decades, Viengchan has seen 16 prime ministers and 26 cabinets serve in government. Policy makers and international institutions have increasingly acknowledged the role of women in natural resource management, noting that women often hold traditional and contemporary knowledge regarding local ecosystems. [1][4]