Mekong School Networking Event with Waterkeeper and Issan Groups. Seven Directors of Waterkeeper Alliance member organizations, two Goldman Prize winners, and 10 organizers, lawyers, and academics from the Issan Provinces of NE Thailand met in Chiang Khong, from 24-26 January 2023. Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand representatives met to share about community relationships with the Mekong River system. They met with local community members, learned about Mekong School projects, and shared their own contexts. The group of activists, young academics, and lawyers from the Mekong provinces of Northeast Thailand facilitated a joint statement supporting local people’s rights in decisions about big infrastructure projects. Sirisak Sadouk, Coordinator of The Mekong Waterprotector, Issan, said this was the first time their network shared knowledge about the Mekong River with Waterkeeper Alliance members, and networked nationally, within the Mekong River region, and worldwide at the same time. Thai Green News Network recorded interviews with the two Goldman winners and Northeast Thai community leaders. Activities included visiting the Muang Choum community forest on the Ing River. Flood season brings upstream rains from Phayao, and downstream floods from the mainstem Mekong to the seasonally flooded forest. Fish grow quickly on the abundant insects and other food in the forest. Modern irrigation and other development upstream, and mainstem Mekong dams are altering the seasonal flood pulse and the livelihoods and way of being of local people. The group visited Kohn Pi Long rapids, which were planned to be exploded to clear a channel for 500-tonne barges. Local communities fought for 20 years to stop this project. Niwat Roykaew (Kru Tee) was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize on behalf of Mekong communities along the 97km Thai-Lao border for protecting this critical ecological and cultural system. Youth from Pong Khong village participate in Mekong Youth, and Mekong Water Protectors programs. They explained the local ecology, economy, and water quality monitoring project. A trip to Chiang Saen and the Golden Triangle clarified the history of this important area, the mainstem Mekong and the rich plains of the Kok and Ing River confluences. Thai lawyers and the Bangladesh Waterkeeper network shared a discussion about the rights of rivers movement. Indonesian Waterkeeper shared microplastic monitoring and campaign strategies. Nepali Waterkeepers proposed a Himalayan river network. They brought prayer flags to bless the Mekong School. Cambodian Waterkeepers proposed a youth exchange with Mekong School community partners. Based on centuries of cultural interchange and millennia of ecological development, Mekong School welcomed river people from across Asia to develop faith in human equality and respect for Nature. This independently organized event was made possible by the Rotary Club of Portland, Goldman Environmental Prize, Waterkeeper Alliance, WWF, USAID Mekong For the Future (MFF)