Comments on: Mekong reflections http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/05/01/mekong-reflections/ New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:28:26 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Resource Management in Asia-Pacific News · Resource Management in Asia-Pacific http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/05/01/mekong-reflections/comment-page-1/#comment-554896 Resource Management in Asia-Pacific News · Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:13:11 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/05/01/mekong-reflections/#comment-554896 [...] Ltd consultant Ian Campbell, whose work on the Mekong River was recently blogged on New Mandala, told the ABC on Friday that if the sediments dry out and are exposed to oxygen, the sulphur will [...] [...] Ltd consultant Ian Campbell, whose work on the Mekong River was recently blogged on New Mandala, told the ABC on Friday that if the sediments dry out and are exposed to oxygen, the sulphur will [...]

]]> By: Paul Sidwell http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/05/01/mekong-reflections/comment-page-1/#comment-79699 Paul Sidwell Wed, 02 May 2007 20:08:02 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/05/01/mekong-reflections/#comment-79699 Note Campbell's alarming sentence: "Fish catch per unit effort has declined over the past decades, as have catches of large fish, but total fish catch has increased" - this is precisely the state of affairs that precedes a major fisheries crash. Note Campbell’s alarming sentence: “Fish catch per unit effort has declined over the past decades, as have catches of large fish, but total fish catch has increased” – this is precisely the state of affairs that precedes a major fisheries crash.

]]> By: Jon Fernquest http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/05/01/mekong-reflections/comment-page-1/#comment-79467 Jon Fernquest Wed, 02 May 2007 09:55:52 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/05/01/mekong-reflections/#comment-79467 "This results from a lack of capacity in many government agencies and the Mekong River Commission, where there are **high staff turnover** rates and a **dependence on short-term experts** with limited experience in the basin." People on the ground, with long-term involvement, doing participatory development, with their eyes open, with a direct line to Bangkok that bypasses local rentseeking interests, would seem to be the key element that makes stats in well designed studies meaningful. I'm frankly dizzy from, for instance, stats on climate change or US income inequality. Both sides bowling you over with stats, and you almost need a PhD to tell which side is calling your bluff. Thanks for the beautiful photo. “This results from a lack of capacity in many government agencies and the Mekong River Commission, where there are **high staff turnover** rates and a **dependence on short-term experts** with limited experience in the basin.”

People on the ground, with long-term involvement, doing participatory development, with their eyes open, with a direct line to Bangkok that bypasses local rentseeking interests, would seem to be the key element that makes stats in well designed studies meaningful.

I’m frankly dizzy from, for instance, stats on climate change or US income inequality. Both sides bowling you over with stats, and you almost need a PhD to tell which side is calling your bluff.

Thanks for the beautiful photo.

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