The Laos' Xayaburi Dam project could have a serious negative impact on communities downstream that depend on it for fishing and agriculture...Laos has drawn criticism…for beginning construction without completing a consultation process…The World Bank…has often argued that in building dams…jobs are provided, incomes increased and local and national economic development enhanced. But…[i]n Asia…it is impoverishing those who are affected… [L]arge dams have forced as many as 80 million people from their lands. Indigenous, tribal and peasant communities have been particularly badly hit… [O]ther people are affected downstream…Many have lost access to clean water [and] food sources…Critics of large dams have…called for water and energy planning to be made transparent, comprehensive, participatory and accountable….[In addition,] social impacts are often cross-border and present real possibilities for conflict.