Human Rights and The Environment
Rivers, Dams and Local Struggles -- Political Science/Ecology

SPRING SEMESTER

Academic Focus

This course examines the linkage between human rights and the environment. The course focuses on a specific and globally significant issue--the environmental and social impact of dams. After a week in the classroom looking at the theory and background of human rights and the environment, we will be focusing our field studies on two river ecosystems--the Mun and the Yom. The Mun has been dammed, while the Yom has not yet been dammed. Both rivers have active communities working on the struggle to restore or preserve their ways of life. Dam affected peoples, members of local grassroots social movements, village elders, and the rivers themselves will be significant teachers on this course.

Learning Outcomes

• Understanding of the key issues in human rights and the environment
• Understanding the ecological impacts of dams on riparian ecosystem
• Understanding the social impacts of dams on community livelihood and survival
• Knowledge of the ideologies, history, and policies of dam construction in Thailand
• Understanding of the sociological dynamics related to river fishing in Northeastern Thailand
• Ability to conduct research on ethno-biological knowledge on river resource utilization and management
• Biological river survey methods, especially as related to river and related ecosystems
• Sociological survey methods, including competency in village-level surveys of fishermen and farmers
• Proficiency with the tools of field research, including using a GPS during river travel and village surveys, ability to carry out basic socioeconomic surveys in Thai, etc.
• Knowledge of the political struggles for community survival and people's movements against unsound dam construction in Thailand
• Proficiency in expedition skills for river studies, especially down-river canoeing and river navigation

Experiential Field Study Components

On-river studies of fish and fishing communities, extended time learning from local people and local environments about riparian and river ecology, discussions with local people about the politics and organizing around dam building and river preservation.

Living situation

Host families in Ubon (villagers affected by the Pak Mun Dam), homestays and multi-day camping on the Yom River in Phrae.

Modes of travel

Van to sites, longtail river boats, local dugout fishing boats, extensive multi-day down-river canoeing.

Location(s)

Ubon Ratchathani (Issan, or Northeast Thailand) on the Mun River, Phrae (Northern Thailand) on the Yom river.