Siphandone
นี่คือบันทึกของคนๆหนึ่งที่รักในแม่น้ำโขงและดินแดนที่ลาวเรียกว่า “สีพันดอน” ท่ามกลางช่วงเวลานับตั้งแต่เยือนครั้งแรกในปี 2000 จนถึงครั้งล่าสุด 2018 ด้วยระยะเวลาและบทบาทที่ต่างกันออกไป ตั้งแต่ครั้งแรกที่เป็นนักท่องเที่ยวไปชมน้ำตก หรือจะไปในฐานะคนทำสารคดี หรือจะเป็นบทบาทนักอนุรักษ์ สามารถพูดได้ว่าแม่น้ำนี้กำลังจะตาย ด้วยผลงานแย่งชิงทรัพยากรไปใช้ของหลายๆประเทศในรูปแบบต่างๆกัน โดยเฉพาะโครงการขนาดใหญ่อย่างเขื่อนผลิตกระแสไฟฟ้า การบันทึกด้วยภาพนี้จึงเสมือน การทำตัวเป็นผู้สังเกตการณ์ของช่วงเวลาเปลี่ยนผ่านใน 18 ปีที่ผ่านมาของแม่น้ำ ธรรมชาติ และวิถีชีวิตของผู้คน หรือการพัฒนา ทั้งสำหรับผมยังเป็นการบันทึกเรื่องราวของมิตรภาพระหว่างผู้บันทึกและผู้ที่อยู่ในภาพ ดังนั้นบันทึกด้วยภาพฉบับนี้ จึงเป็นภาพเรื่องราวในช่วงเวลาหนึ่งที่ผู้บันทึกร่วมแบ่งปันกับผู้อ่าน
이것은 2000년부터 2018년까지 다른 시기와 목적에서 메콩 강과 ‘시판돈’이라는 라오스의 땅을 사랑하게 된 남자의 일기이다. 첫 번째 방문은 여행객으로서 폭포를 보러 갔을때, 그 후엔 다큐멘터리를 찍으러 또는 환경 운동가의 신분으로 갔을 때에도 메콩강은 죽어가고 있다고 말할 수 있었다. 여러 국가들은 메콩강의 천연자원을 다양한 목적과 거대 프로젝트에 사용하려고 한다. 특히, 발전전용댐과 같은 거대한 사업. 이와 같은 나의 사진 일기는 18년이라는 시간동안 바뀐 강, 자연 그리고 사람의 생활방식 또는 발전 등의 감시자 역할과도 같았다. 그리고 나에게는 나 자신과 내 사진 속의 사람들에 대한 우정을 기록하는 것이기도 하다. 그러므로 이 사진 기록은 내가 이것을 읽는 사람들과 나누고 싶은 나의 이야기이다.
This is a diary of a man who fell in love with Mekong River and the land that called Siphandone. In the different timing and purpose, my first visit as a tourist to Khone falls, in 2000. A few years later I went there as a reporter. In a view of reporter or conservationist, I can say that the Mekong river is going to die. Most of the Mekong countries try to use natural resources from the river in various purposes and projects. Particularly, the mega-project like a dam that is potentially to change the landscape of the river and all natural resources which would never come back. My photos diary would be a story telling with an eye-witness of how Mekong change during 18 years on its’ nature, environment, way of life and along with its’ developments. It is a memory of myself as a messenger and the people in my photographs. This is a diary of my lifetime which I want to share with people from different culture. All these memories and photos are in my upcoming book on Siphandone. For more information on this book please visit me at https://web.facebook.com/suthepphoto/
The Mekong River basin supports one of the most diverse fish faunas in the world. As of March 1999, 192 fish species had been identified from Khong District. Many species seasonally migrate long distances up the Mekong River from as far away as the Great Lake in Cambodia and the South China Sea in Vietnam. Locals benefit from fishing and irrigation for farm use. Here, communities tend to be self-sufficient, growing most of their own rice, sugar cane, coconut, and vegetables, harvesting fish from the river and weaving textiles as need. Once have a word said "If people of Si Phan Don want to eat fish, they just make fire and people the pot, fish will jump to the pot."
Up until the 1950s and early 1960s fisheries practices in Khong were largely traditional. Fishing was conducted almost entirely for subsistence purposes, with the exception of a small amount of barter trade. However, as the blooming of economic and development, they face with uncertain future. Today fishing is no more for domestic consumtion, most of Mekong fish export to Thailand due to better price. Too much fishing and illegal fishing in Laos and Combodia, also the dams, navigation projects, and habitat destruction also threaten the numbers of fish. The Mekong capture fishery is one of the largest in the world—with 1.5 million tons caught annually, 16 percent of the world total—according to recent studies by the Mekong River Commission.
The Mekong River basin supports one of the most diverse fish faunas in the world. As of March 1999, 192 fish species had been identified from Khong District. Many species seasonally migrate long distances up the Mekong River from as far away as the Great Lake in Cambodia and the South China Sea in Vietnam. Locals benefit from fishing and irrigation for farm use. Here, communities tend to be self-sufficient, growing most of their own rice, sugar cane, coconut, and vegetables, harvesting fish from the river and weaving textiles as need. Once have a word said "If people of Si Phan Don want to eat fish, they just make fire and people the pot, fish will jump to the pot."
Up until the 1950s and early 1960s fisheries practices in Khong were largely traditional. Fishing was conducted almost entirely for subsistence purposes, with the exception of a small amount of barter trade. However, as the blooming of economic and development, they face with uncertain future. Today fishing is no more for domestic consumtion, most of Mekong fish export to Thailand due to better price. Too much fishing and illegal fishing in Laos and Combodia, also the dams, navigation projects, and habitat destruction also threaten the numbers of fish. The Mekong capture fishery is one of the largest in the world—with 1.5 million tons caught annually, 16 percent of the world total—according to recent studies by the Mekong River Commission.
The Mekong River basin supports one of the most diverse fish faunas in the world. As of March 1999, 192 fish species had been identified from Khong District. Many species seasonally migrate long distances up the Mekong River from as far away as the Great Lake in Cambodia and the South China Sea in Vietnam. Locals benefit from fishing and irrigation for farm use. Here, communities tend to be self-sufficient, growing most of their own rice, sugar cane, coconut, and vegetables, harvesting fish from the river and weaving textiles as need. Once have a word said "If people of Si Phan Don want to eat fish, they just make fire and people the pot, fish will jump to the pot."
Up until the 1950s and early 1960s fisheries practices in Khong were largely traditional. Fishing was conducted almost entirely for subsistence purposes, with the exception of a small amount of barter trade. However, as the blooming of economic and development, they face with uncertain future. Today fishing is no more for domestic consumtion, most of Mekong fish export to Thailand due to better price. Too much fishing and illegal fishing in Laos and Combodia, also the dams, navigation projects, and habitat destruction also threaten the numbers of fish. The Mekong capture fishery is one of the largest in the world with 1.5 million tons caught annually, 16 percent of the world total according to recent studies by the Mekong River Commission.
This Giant Catfish was caught by a Li (a kind of giant fishing trap) in Sahong channel. When villagers in Sadam village and nearby islands know that the giant fish was caught, they come to see and play with fish.
At first fishermen try to sell this fish which weight around 150 kgs to middle merchant. However, as merchant offer very low price and the elder belieave that Giant Catfish is "The fish of City spirit". Who sell them will be unlucky forever. Because of serious injured when fall from strong rapid to the Li and treatened by people who come to touch it. At the end, the fish was died on the second day and the owners decided to slaughter inside the village.
The last three years, Giant Catfishes were caught by fishermen in Sahong channel every fishing season. As Lao fishermen known that Giant Catfish is an endangered species and preserve by the law, they didn’t sell them in the market. They distributed the meat between villagers.
The Giant Mekong Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) is probably the largest freshwater fish in the world. It is endemic to the Lao, Thailand, China and Cambodia stretch of the Mekong river, where it is in danger of extinction due to overfishing as well as the decrease of water quality due to developement and upstream damming.
The newly proposed dam in Sahong channel will theaten the life cycle of many fish spicies.
South of Don Khong the Mekong River features a 13km stretch of powerful rapids with several sets of cascades. The Largest, Khon Phapheng, flows between the eastern shore of the Mekong near Ban Takho.
A shaky network of bamboo scaffolds on the rocks next to the falls are used by daring fishermen who are said to have an alliance with the spirit of the cascades.
The Li Kok Ma will construct before the monsoon coming, it will take at least two weeks for one. Fishermen use the large amount of wood and bamboo for construct. The Li Kok Ma and other similar will place into the river holding by the number of rocks that will put on two fenches on the left and right side of Li Kok Ma to keep them from the strong flow of river in raining season. The Floor is made by bamboo. It's wide on it mount and will sink underwater while at the front end will lift up. This smart fishing method will most benefit in raining season. However, the strong flow of Mekong may wipe out the trap only few day of harvesting.
The Mekong River basin supports one of the most diverse fish faunas in the world. As of March 1999, 192 fish species had been identified from Khong District. Many species seasonally migrate long distances up the Mekong River from as far away as the Great Lake in Cambodia and the South China Sea in Vietnam. Locals benefit from fishing and irrigation for farm use. Here, communities tend to be self-sufficient, growing most of their own rice, sugar cane, coconut, and vegetables, harvesting fish from the river and weaving textiles as need. Once have a word said "If people of Si Phan Don want to eat fish, they just make fire and people the pot, fish will jump to the pot."
Up until the 1950s and early 1960s fisheries practices in Khong were largely traditional. Fishing was conducted almost entirely for subsistence purposes, with the exception of a small amount of barter trade. However, as the blooming of economic and development, they face with uncertain future. Today fishing is no more for domestic consumtion, most of Mekong fish export to Thailand due to better price. Too much fishing and illegal fishing in Laos and Combodia, also the dams, navigation projects, and habitat destruction also threaten the numbers of fish. The M
The Mekong River basin supports one of the most diverse fish faunas in the world. As of March 1999, 192 fish species had been identified from Khong District. Many species seasonally migrate long distances up the Mekong River from as far away as the Great Lake in Cambodia and the South China Sea in Vietnam. Locals benefit from fishing and irrigation for farm use. Here, communities tend to be self-sufficient, growing most of their own rice, sugar cane, coconut, and vegetables, harvesting fish from the river and weaving textiles as need. Once have a word said "If people of Si Phan Don want to eat fish, they just make fire and people the pot, fish will jump to the pot."
Up until the 1950s and early 1960s fisheries practices in Khong were largely traditional. Fishing was conducted almost entirely for subsistence purposes, with the exception of a small amount of barter trade. However, as the blooming of economic and development, they face with uncertain future. Today fishing is no more for domestic consumtion, most of Mekong fish export to Thailand due to better price. Too much fishing and illegal fishing in Laos and Combodia, also the dams, navigation projects, and habitat destruction also threaten the numbers of fish. The Mekong capture fishery is one of the largest in the worldâ€â€with 1.5 million tons caught annually, 16 percent of the world totalâ€â€according to recent studies by the Mekong River Commission.
The Mekong River basin supports one of the most diverse fish faunas in the world. As of March 1999, 192 fish species had been identified from Khong District. Many species seasonally migrate long distances up the Mekong River from as far away as the Great Lake in Cambodia and the South China Sea in Vietnam. Locals benefit from fishing and irrigation for farm use. Here, communities tend to be self-sufficient, growing most of their own rice, sugar cane, coconut, and vegetables, harvesting fish from the river and weaving textiles as need. Once have a word said "If people of Si Phan Don want to eat fish, they just make fire and people the pot, fish will jump to the pot."
Up until the 1950s and early 1960s fisheries practices in Khong were largely traditional. Fishing was conducted almost entirely for subsistence purposes, with the exception of a small amount of barter trade. However, as the blooming of economic and development, they face with uncertain future. Today fishing is no more for domestic consumtion, most of Mekong fish export to Thailand due to better price. Too much fishing and illegal fishing in Laos and Combodia, also the dams, navigation projects, and habitat destruction also threaten the numbers of fish. The Mekong capture fishery is one of the largest in the world—with 1.5 million tons caught annually, 16 percent of the world total—according to recent studies by the Mekong River Commission.
At first fishermen try to sell this fish which weight around 150 kgs to middle merchant. However, as merchant offer very low price and the elder belieave that Giant Catfish is "The fish of City spirit". Who sell them will be unlucky forever. Because of serious injured when fall from strong rapid to the Li and treatened by people who come to touch it. At the end, the fish was died on the second day and the owners decided to slaughter inside the village.