UNESCO wonders July 9, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Archaeology, VoteFor 7 NewWonders.trackback
The United Nations Organization for Culture yesterday blasted a private initiative that drew nearly 100 million internet and telephone voters to choose seven «new» wonders of the world.
«This campaign responds to other criteria and objectives than that of UNESCO in the field of heritage,» said Sue Williams, the spokeswoman for UNESCO, the UN cultural body that designates world heritage sites. «We have a much broader vision,» she told AFP.
Voters chose the Great Wall of China, India’s Taj Mahal, the centuries-old pink ruins of Petra in Jordan, the Colosseum in Rome, the statue of Christ overlooking Rio de Janeiro, the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, and the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza in Mexico. Short-listed sites that missed the final cut included the Acropolis in Athens.
In the meantime, Greece, France hit out at ‘new’ seven wonders.
Greece and France hit out on Monday at the naming over the weekend of seven “new” wonders of the world after neither the Eiffel Tower nor the Acropolis made it onto the list.
“Monuments do not have to parade on a podium like in a beauty contest,” Greek Culture Minister Georgios Voulgarakis told a news conference.
The private initiative, voted on by 100 million people around the world by Internet or phone ahead of a huge ceremony on Saturday in Portugal, “has nothing to do with the true value of monuments,” Voulgarakis said.
A French foreign ministry spokeswoman said that France preferred the way UNESCO, the UN body for culture, chose its world heritage sites.
“France prefers the conception of UNESCO, which has included on its world heritage list 851 sites including 31 in France,” spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said.
Apart from the Acropolis and Eiffel Tower, among the other monuments that did not make the final list are the Easter Island Statues, Britain’s Stonehenge and New York’s Statue of Liberty.
EDITOR’S COMMENT > If and in case the Greek Acropolis was voted among the “new” 7 wonders, it is true that being a human I would feel much Pride.
However, the Ancient and original 7 Wonders of the World, including the Greek Acropolis, have lost nothing to their charm nor to their title as the 7 Wonders of the World. And they are still here, in this modern world of ours, at least all those still standing and living, no matter of what they have gone through the ages since their original foundations.
Being a Proud Greek (please do allow me to use this phrase), with a rich Greek Heritage, I know one thing. That is >
Everyday, I have the priviledge to pass-by the Acropolis, and admire what my ancient ancestors built and left us as a legacy.
Greece and the Acropolis, may have not made it to the new, modern list but I know this fact does not matter or affect Acropolis charm. Acropolis will always be standing there, on the Sacred Rock, with Parthenon emitting its Light to the whole mankind, to the whole world. Acropolis is emitting its Bright Light showing to the world, that, this country, Greece is the craddle of Democracy and Civilization.
What it matters to me and the Greek Nation is to be able and keep that Light emitting through the ages to come. To respect that Light and be able to pass it over to the world, in the correct way, like an Olympic Games Torch, and to show and to share with the world, that, we, the modern Greeks respect our ancient ancestor’s history and legacy. And we learn from it. So that, we shall be leaving our own legacy to the generations to come.
grhomeboy
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