New publication: Preserving Plenty: the beauty, achievements and struggle of the people of Sambor

by Jonathan Cornford and Chhuon La
Published by Manna Gum/Oxfam Australia

Preserving Plenty, a joint publication by Manna Gum and Oxfam Australia, is the story of the people of Sambor District in northeastern Cambodia. Written by Jonathan Cornford from Manna Gum and Chhuon La from Oxfam Australia’s Cambodia Team, with photography by Glenn Daniels, Preserving Plenty explores the changes and challenges of Sambor through the stories and life experience of the people who live there.

Like much of Cambodia, the district of Sambor is at a cross-roads, faced with momentous choices which will have a significant bearing on the future lives of its people. Plans to dam the Mekong River for hydropower, and the rapid conversion of land to large-scale agribusiness plantations have meant that for many in Sambor, a spectre now looms on the horizon of an otherwise hopeful future. As the book shows, for some, the good life has already evaporated into desperate hardship.

Preserving Plenty is an attempt to put a human face on development issues which are often discussed in abstract terms, and to challenge some preconceptions about poverty and ‘the good life’ and the role of development and economics in relation to these. It is also a modest attempt to contribute in some way to the ongoing struggle of the people of Sambor, and the Mekong region in general. We hope that you too can enter into this story.

Download Preserving Plenty