1. Our Rivers, Our Life Campaign Update June, 2011
By the Regional Working Group on Bio-diversity in South East Asia, Terre Des Hommes-Germany
Our Rivers, Our Life Campaign Update June, 2011

2. Our Rives Our Life Campaign was established in 2007 by the Regional Working Group on Bio-diversity in South East Asia, Terre Des Hommes-Germany initiated network.
The regional campaign has been developing to strengthen children and youth network to promote “Ecological Child Rights” (ECR) in order to raise children voices and participation on rivers and biodiversity conservation in the region.

3. In recent, the Ecological Child Rights concept will be used to highlight ongoing campaign, Our Rivers Our Life, with more collective action in regional level which is undertaken by 7 countries;
Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR., Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, in coordinating with OROL secretariat team.

4. OROL Campaign Activities
January-June, 2011

5. 5 major activities;
OROL Short Films
OROL weblog
OROL Channel on YouTube
South East Asia Rivers Day
Stocktaking of Rivers Information for OROL campaigning

6. (1) OROL Short Films hit 917 views on YouTube
OROL short films are available online on YouTube and OROL weblog
Indonesia (short film project)
Indonesia (VDO clip from February 22, 2011 event which organized on March 12, 2011)
Laos (short film project)
Laos (VDO clip from February 22, 2011 event)
Thailand (short film project)
Vietnam (short film project) no subtitle
Philippines (short film project) no subtitle
Burma (VDO clip from February 22, 2011 event in Karen State)
Burma (VDO clip from February 22, 2011 event in Thailand-Burma Border)

7. (2) OROL web blog http://ourriversourlife.blogspot.com/

8. (3) OROL Channel on YouTube http://www. youtube

9. (4) South East Asia Rivers Day http://ourriversourlife. blogspot

10. South East Asia Rivers Day
February 22, 2011 in 7 countries
The Our Rivers, Our Life Campaign was launched officially on February 22, 2011 as a remarkable movement of children participation in rivers conservation in 7 countries.
OROL network has been calling for the South East Asia Rivers Day for children and youth and highlighted the rights of a child to enjoy a clean and safe environment.

11. SEA Rivers Day in 7 countries

12. Children and Youth raise voices over Salween Dams,
In Burma:
Children and Youth raise voices over Salween Dams,
"We don't want the dam to be built, we use the Salween river for our food, water, transportation and other multi purposes, if they build dams on it, we will have problems with our needs" said Naw Po Po, a young girl from Ee Tu Hta refugee camp.

13. In Cambodia:
In Svay Rieng, the child peer educators declared on their concern for the degradation of local bio-diversity and river pollution in Vayko River, Svay Rieng province.
The program opened with traditional rituals “praying for river” by Buddhist monks following by the declaration of Santi Sena about Our Rives Our Life campaign in SEA regional. The highlight was the children’s voice on Ecological Child Right Declaration then response speech by district governor on commitment of local authorities to protect the river and promote local law for ecological preservation.
The event was covered on local newspaper, such as Koh Santipheap Daily and Rasmey Kampuchea Daily, anyway its also broadcasted through the daily news by Cambodia Television Network (CTN) and Bayon TV.

14. In Indonesia:
The student conservation club of Harapan Bangsa High School and RMI-the Indonesian Institute for Forest and Environment were join to commemorate the 1st SEA-River Day (22 February) and World Water Day (22 March). More than 258 individuals (students from 15 school aged 9-15 years old, teachers, media, local authority, companies) were actively involved in the activity held in Harapan Bangsa High School located in Cigombong Subdistrict, Bogor District, West Java Province.

15. Lao PDR.:
The activity was created for children in 2 schools to draw 2 pieces of picture of each group which relate to link with children rights to ecology, environmental preservation and promote the protection and conservation of Xedone River

16. In Philippines:
In Philippines, the orientation on OROL campaign and some guidelines were given to the participants while children were joined as news reporters which bring people to investigate on the current situation of rivers.

17. In Thailand:
Arrange an event to promote Children and Community Participatory in Conservation of Kok River, Chian Rai in response to the Ecological Child Rights and South East Asia Rivers Preservation, this event was launched on February 22, 2011 at Kaew Wua Dum village (Karen Community)

18. In Viet Nam:
In Ho Chi Minh City, about 100 children from Tan Phu School were brought to join activities at Sai Gon River to learn about rivers situation and pollution, drawing competition to raise awareness of river protection.
Children wrote and sent 2 reports related to Dong Nai, Sai Gon rivers to website of Ho chi Minh Agricultural Extension Center, and Voice of Ho chi Minh’s People.

19. Additional activities relating to OROL
The Special Forum on Mekong was held at Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) in Bangkok on Thursday 24 February, OROL Secretariat was invited to give a remark after panel discussion.
At the forum, the Salween River was linked with the Makong in order to share the situation as OROL Burma has been working to stop construction of the Salween dams. The final remark was urging all civil society and people who concern about environment impacts act against dams.
Additional activities relating to OROL

20. World Environment Day (June 5, 2011) in Karen State,
Eh Thu Ta IDPs camp
Children created postcard to address their rights to ecology and expressed the impacts of development projects in Burma

21. Thank You! OROL Secretariat
(5) Stocktaking of Rivers Information for “Our Rivers Our Life” (ongoing project):
The project aims to study and synchronic river information of 15 rivers in 7 South East Asia countries. The research is framed to develop database on 3 main issues such as pesticides, extractive industries and climate change and water issues developed and made accessible. The baseline information will be produced in booklet for advocacy purposed and campaigning.
Thank You!
OROL Secretariat