Environment

Beadwork Born in Laos’ Most Dangerous Fields, By the Women Who Clear Them

A jewelry collection made with women who clear bombs for a living is putting Laos' unexploded ordnance crisis back in the conversation. Beneath the soil of northern and central Laos, more than 80 million unexploded cluster munitions lie buried in the fields.  They are what remains of the Secret War, the...

Thahao Reservoir Irrigation Project Set to Benefit Over 2,100 Families in Savannakhet

The Thahao reservoir and irrigation project currently under construction in Savannakhet Province is expected...

Lao Government Strengthens Rubber Industry Management with New Decree

In a renewed effort to regulate the rapidly expanding rubber industry and address growing...

Efforts Underway in Laos to End Illegal Wildlife Trade, Safeguard Ecosystems

Phetthong Inthavong doesn’t talk about passion. His work speaks for itself. As the coordinator...

Rising Bad Air Quality Levels Expose Waste Issues, World Bank Funds Major Reform

Air pollution in Laos is worsening, with PM2.5 levels across southern provinces now reaching...

Five Years Since Attapeu Dam Collapse, Some Victims Still Wait to be Compensated

Although five years have passed since the dam collapse in Attapeu province which lead to widespread destruction and displaced close to 7,000 people, victims...

Vientiane Residents Voice Concerns Over Factory Emissions, Noise Pollution

The rapid urban development of Vientiane Capital is facing challenges as emboldened residents complain of emissions from nearby factories affecting their quality of life. Amid...

Cassava Profits Conceal Alarming Environmental Threat in Laos

Cassava's lucrative short-term benefits as Laos' major agricultural export mask the devastating consequences of extensive slash-and-burn practices, putting the country's long-term ecological stability in jeopardy. Cassava has...

How South Korea’s Flash Flood Forecasting System Could Be Beneficial to Laos

A new flood forecasting and early warning system developed in South Korea could prove to be a lifesaving new technology for Laos and other...

Former U.S. Ambassadors to Laos Urge Biden to Revoke Cluster Munitions Support for Ukraine

Six former U.S. ambassadors to Laos sent an open letter on Wednesday to U.S. President Joe Biden expressing concern and disappointment on the country's...

Humans’ Impact on the Earth Began a New Epoch in the 1950s Called the Anthropocene, Scientists Say

From climate change to species loss and pollution, humans have etched their impact on the Earth with such strength and permanence since the middle...