Outlining: Sample outline

Social Ecological Impact of Irrawaddy Hydropower Project

Should it be continued?

Paragraph I: Introduction

Overview

Idea 1: Where and what is Irrawaddy? How important is Irrawaddy in Burmese life?

Idea 2: Overview of dam project: who, aim, cooperation, location, size

Paragraph II: advantages

Idea 1: employment opportunity

2600 job opportunities –

Comment 1, very minor

Idea 2, foreign currency from sale of electricity

Comment 1, in what sector and how it will be used?

Comment 2, any transparency to show it benefits the public sectors?

Idea 3, increasing power availability locally

Comment 1, how much proportion of total?

Comment 2, any allocation decided?

Idea 4, Improve relationship

Comment 1 counter economic sanctions and get a back-up in UN?

Comment 2, mutual benefits.

Comment 3, care for people or just political game?

Paragraph III: disadvantages

Idea 1, effect on navigation system,

Link 1 to size, Comment 1, several islands appearing,

Comment 2, changes in flow path and bank erosion, comment 4, more gorges may appear. All comments resulting in navigation lock

Idea 2 effect on irrigation

Link 1 to idea 1 and Link 2 to size, Comment 1, smaller floodplain

Comment 2, a large body of sea water may sweep inland at the river mouth,

Comment 3, resulting in soil quality degradation,

Comment 3, big negative social and economical impact since Burma is an agricultural land.

Idea 3 effect of contamination

Link 1 to aim, many gold mines along Irrawaddy river bank with waste thrown directly into the river.

Comment 1, river will be contaminated by wastes from construction works and gold mine.

Comment 2, result in degradation of freshwater species, which is a main food supply for most Burmese.

Comment 3, including the Irrawaddy dolphin which is a rare species, lower tourism income

Idea 4 force dislocation

Link 1 to size, mass dislocation by force one of the most serious human right abuses.

Comment 1, result in more intense public disbelief in the government,

Comment 2, more tensions between KIO and the government

Paragraph IV: conclusions

Idea 1, advantages overweighs.

Comment 1, Burmese government should be more transparent while both governments should be more responsible for the social and ecological lives.

Comment 2, before proceeding, there should be a complete review of the project with a lot of negotiations with local people and dialogue with all parties such as environmentalists, political oppositions concerning the long life of Irrawaddy.