Holy City Demands UNESCO Heritage Status

The local NGO Amritsar Vikas Manch has demanded from Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to bring pass a resolution in the state Assembly asking the Centre to approach UNESCO for heritage status to the 'holy city' of Amritsar.

Heritage status to the holy city Amritsar

In a letter written letters to Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and a copy to local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, the NGO asked them to bring the resolution in the upcoming budget session of Vidhan Sabha. Charanjit Singh Gumtala President of the Manch said Chief Minister had given a public statement in 2009 promising that his party would bring this resolution in the Assembly, and after getting approval in the house it will be forwarded to the Centre with request to grant heritage status to the holy city. But even after lapsing of so much time no headway had been made'', stated Gumtala.

"It seems, Badal and Sidhu have forgotten the mater and the city is dying for want of basic amenities and chaos rules the roads here'', he said. He said the Parliament had rejected a forceful demand for declaring Amritsar a heritage city on December 11, 2009, as the government said there was no legal provision to do so either in India or under the UNESCO rules." It however did concede Amritsar's religious, historic and tourist significance, he said.

Punjap Golden Temple

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UNECSO includes the Lenskie Stolby Natural Park

UNECSO has included the natural park "Lenskie Stolby" in Yakutia (a region in Siberia) in its World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. This decision was taken after 10 years of inspections. This is already the 25th site in Russia that has been included in this list.

The "Lenskie Stolby" Natural Park

The name of the park, "Lenskie Stolby", means "pillars on the river of Lena". These are lime rock pillars of a peculiar form, up to 100 meters high, which line the bank of Lena. The site, which attracts many tourists, is situated in about 100 kms from the city of Pokrovsk. The "Lenskie Stolby" natural park occupies nearly 500,000 hectares.

This park is situated in Khangalassky uluss, 100-200 kilometers south of Yakutsk. It covers an area of 485 thousand acres and has 868 thousand acres of buffer zone. Tourist lodges "Buotama" and "Verhniy Bestyah" are located on the territory of the park.

It is a perfect place for those who love nature and unique experiences. Lenskie stolby is a masterpiece shaped by water, heat, and cold. It is a jewel of the Lena River. Ancient rock has been turned into what seems like columns, towers, arches, cathedrals, walls; and unexpectedly, in the middle of the taiga, one can see sand dunes called tulkans. The park is a habitat for many rare animals and plants. It is a place where the remains of mammoth, bison, and other fossil animals are still found.

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Ancient dwellers of this place left a vast variety of hyroglyphs. Samples of old Turk runic writing can also be seen.

The landscape adds a unique touch to hiking, water touring, and other activities.

The Lenskie Stolby Natural Park

An existing trip can last three to five days. It is a great place for fishing due to a variety of back-waters and former river-beds. The Basin of Buotoma River – its downstream part – is a habitat for the great Manchurian deer.

The rout begins at a place called Kuonan. Tourists can get to Kuonan by the Yakutsk-Niever road. All information about rafting and safety precautions, as well as an overnight stay at a huntsman lodge, are offered to tourists at Kuonan. There are two stops along the route, first at Kueh-Khaya place where tourists can take a rest in a cabin, and second at the mouth of the Buotoma River. Here tourists can take a rest in cabins and in tents at a camp ground. The destination is the village of Kachikatzy. The park offers guide services, tents, rubber boots, and safety vests.

Vacation at tourist lodge by the mouth of Buotoma River

This is a good place to enjoy nature, fishing, and swimming. Buotoma Motor-ship takes tourists to the camp, where camping, bedding, and kitchen utensils are available, but food is self-served.

Vacation at tourist lodge Verhniy Bestyah

Tourists can get here by car. Summer cabins, bedding, kitchen (as well as kitchen utensils), self-serve food, music, dancing, water and fishing equipment, are all offered at the lodge. Extra services include bar, rowing, sauna, and transportation to Yakutsk.

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Peruvian Andes Climate Project Completed Successfully

Negotiated with the support of the World Heritage Centre, this 3 year Swiss government financed project entitled "Local Capacities for climate change adaptation and risk management: Manu National Park in - World Heritage Site" was brought to a successful close earlier this month. Fully implemented by the UNESCO Lima office, the project was founded on a strategic alliance with 's National Protected Areas Service.

Communities improve their understanding of climate change

The project recognized the close link between the conservation of this vast natural World Heritage site, and the well-being of neighbouring communities. It worked on two distinct fronts – the first on the development of a climate change adaptation plan for the Manu National Park (also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), and the second on helping neighbouring communities improve their understanding of climate change, its implications on their livelihoods, and on the possible measures they could take to be prepared for it.

Over 4,400 students received information on this issue, and 60 teachers were trained. Municipalities considered vulnerable to climate change benefitted from the development of manuals on climate change risk management.

As climate change and its effects on World Heritage sites are increasingly understood, projects such as these help stakeholders from community to intergovernmental levels come to terms with the real implications in terms of livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.

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The World Heritage Centre is currently developing a "Climate Change Adaptation Field Guide for Natural World Heritage Site Managers" in an effort to help prepare the world's most outstanding natural areas deal with the effects of climate change.

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China's success in UNESCO Heritage Sites

China has successfully listed 43 world heritage sites with the United Nations, the third-highest number in the world, an official said at a conference on the topic on Tuesday.

China has established a legal system for cultural relic's protection

With more than 500 legal documents coming into play, China has established a legal system for cultural relic's protection, said Li Xiaojie, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage at the event, held to mark 30 years since the country's first law for cultural relic's protection was enacted.

In the past three decades, the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics has laid the legal foundation and played an important role in the cause of cultural heritage, said Li.

He also provided a series of statistics related to China's government-backed cultural development. The number of museums around the country has added up to 3,415 as of 2012. Only Italy and Spain have more UN-recognized world-heritage sites than China, which is the only country to have successfully applied for heritage sites each year in the past decade.

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Lu Yongxiang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, called for more efforts to protect cultural relics.

Chinese experts have warned that many such items and sites are still not being protected and some are being destroyed in the process of urbanization. Some ancient tombs have been raided, and smuggling of antics has become quite common.

According to statistics from the latest national archaeological survey conducted from 2007 to 2011, China has more than 760,000 registered unmovable cultural relics and 2,384 state-owned museums with 28.6 million relics.

The survey also revealed that more than 40,000 unmovable relics have vanished in the past 30 years, with half of them destroyed by construction work.

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Pandit Ravi Shankar was a National Treasure India’s cultural heritage

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday condoled the passing away of legendary musician Pandit Ravi Shankar and described him as a national treasure and global ambassador of India's cultural heritage.

Pandit Ravi Shankar passed away

In his condolence message, Dr. Singh said: "An era has passed away with Pandit Ravi Shankar. He was national treasure and global ambassador of India's cultural heritage." "The nation joins me to pay tributes to his unsurpassable genius, his art and his humility," he added.

Pandit Ravi Shankar, who was admitted in the Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla for breathing difficulties, passed away in San Diego on Tuesday at the age of 92.

The sitar maestro had been admitted at the Scripps Memorial Hospital on December 6.

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The sitar exponent was responsible for making Indian classical music popular in the West and was also India's musical ambassador.

He had collaborated with several international artists including George Harrison of 'The Beatles', which had garnered him fame all over the world.

He was active as a professional musician till the end and was one of the contenders for the next Grammys.

Panditji is survived by his wife Sukanya and musician daughters, sitar player Anushka Shankar and singer Norah Jones.

Ravi Shankar was born as Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on April 7, 1920 and was referred by the title Pandit

Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent his youth touring Europe and India with the dance group of his brother Uday Shankar.

He gave up dancing in 1938 to study sitar playing under court musician Allauddin Khan.

After finishing his studies in 1944, Shankar worked as a composer, creating the music for the Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray, and was music director of All India Radio, New Delhi, from 1949 to 1956.

In 1956, he began to tour Europe and America playing Indian classical music and increased its popularity there through teaching, performance, and his association with violinist Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison.

Shankar was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1999, and received three Grammy Awards.

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Israeli separation wall threatens world heritage site of Battir

Israeli separation wall threatens world heritage site of Battir: The future of an ancient agricultural landscape, incorporating extensive stone-walled terraces and a unique natural irrigation system, could be decided on Wednesday when a petition against the planned route of Israel's vast concrete and steel separation barrier is heard by the high court.

Battir terraces to be World Heritage

The terraces of the Palestinian village of Battir, near Bethlehem, are expected to be declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural body, in the coming months. But, Friends of the Earth, which filed the petition, says Israel's decision to construct the West Bank barrier through a valley running between the terraces threatens to inflict irreversible harm to the landscape.

The case has been bolstered by a last-minute U-turn by Israel's nature and parks authority, which called on the court on Tuesday to accept the petition, saying the "special and valuable area" should be protected in the public interest. The authority argued there was no longer an emergency security environment requiring environmental considerations to be cast aside.

According to Gidon Bromberg, of Friends of the Earth Middle East, Battir is "one of the earliest examples of terraced agriculture, and continues today in basically the same state. Around half a billion stones were collected generation after generation, repaired after every winter season, expanded over time."

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The wall of Separation

The trees and crops planted on the terraces, which stretch for more than 325 hectares, are fed by a natural irrigation system dating from the Roman era, which channels water from seven springs and is worked as a co-operative by the eight main extended families of the village.

Battir's terraces straddle a valley through which the 1949 armistice line, separating Israel from the West Bank, runs. The village buildings and some terraces are on the West Bank side of what is known as the Green Line; most of the terraces lie within Israel. In 1949, Israel's famous military leader Moshe Dayan gave permission for Battir's villagers to tend their land on the Israeli side of the line.

But 10 years ago Israel began building the barrier wall in response to a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings. In a statement, the Israeli defence ministry said: "The security fence has helped to reduce the number of attacks and fatalities. However, there are still natural entries, through which tens of illegal infiltrators are intercepted every day.

"It is for this reason that the final parts of the Jerusalem envelope (the southern section) must be completed. Without these sections, Jerusalem remains vulnerable to terror."

The original route near Battir had already been changed after objections from nature and environmental groups, it added. Villagers would be able to access their land on the Israeli side of the barrier through two gates, and the irrigation system would not be affected, it said.

The stretch of the barrier close to Bethlehem has faced a number of legal challenges, including one from villagers and Christian monks and nuns in the nearby Cremisan valley. The present route of the 800km-long barrier, which is about two-thirds complete, transfers almost 10% of West Bank land on to the Israeli side.

"The barrier will destroy the cultural and natural heritage of Battir," said Bromberg. "International and Israeli experts believe this area is worthy of protection. It's all about preserving the way things have been done for thousands of years."

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We must not destroy our Heritage

We must not destroy our heritage: Last week saw the announcement by Development Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po of the government's acceptance of the redevelopment of a historic mansion by its owner, as well as the reversal of a previous decision to demolish the west wing of the Central Government Offices for redevelopment.

Perhaps the joint announcement was made to give the public some good news, in respect of the conservation of the west wing, to compensate for the distressing news of the impending destruction of Ho Tung Gardens on The Peak.

The latter is a Chinese Renaissance mansion built by Sir Robert Hotung, the celebrated Eurasian tycoon and philanthropist, for one of his wives. Following an expert appraisal, the government had provisionally declared it a monument and had been negotiating with its owner to preserve it.

Unfortunately, however, owner Ho Min-kwan, granddaughter of Sir Robert, had supposedly rejected all government proposals, including a land swap, to preserve the building, being determined to redevelop. Sir Robert is a renowned figure in Hong Kong's history and Ho Tung Gardens is the last remaining one of his houses. The public, however, would have had little awareness of it, other than from photographs or TV, as Ho Tung Gardens was in private ownership and has a rather secluded location on Peak Road.

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However, it was the government itself that aimed to turn the west wing into a 32-storey office tower. The west wing is a critical part, together with the central and east wings, of the former government offices, and a critical part of the historic Government Hill area, long associated with the British period in Hong Kong.

The west wing was designed to have a frontage facing Queen's Road and formed the public face of the government; it was the wing that the public had most connection with. Many voices from within professional, academic and conservation circles were raised against its redevelopment, and the community warmly supported their efforts.

Government Hill, which has been described as being perhaps Hong Kong's last remaining true heritage precinct, includes not only the former government offices, but Government House, the Zoological and Botanical Gardens and St John's Cathedral. The loss of the west wing would have critically diminished the historic area.

Points that can be learned from the tussle over these two heritage sites include their owners' (this includes the government) disappointing attitudes towards heritage conservation, the weakness of Hong Kong laws to protect its remaining heritage, as well as the government's poor conservation policy.

In Britain, for example, many owners of historic buildings have presented them, together with their contents, to the National Trust for the enjoyment of future generations. This was done before in Hong Kong, when Sir Catchick Paul Chater donated his home, Marble Hall, to the government following the death of his wife. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire.

Unlike in Hong Kong where a historic building is given proper protection only after it has been declared a monument, in Britain, public good is given priority over owners' rights. This means that if a building is listed as one of architectural or historic interest, or it is in a conservation area, the owner has to apply for consent before making any changes to the building, much less demolish it.

It is being increasingly recognised in Hong Kong, following the destruction of Queen's Pier and Wan Chai Market, as well as the more recent case of Ho Tung Gardens, that heritage buildings and areas must be given greater protection.

It is surely inappropriate also for heritage in Hong Kong to come under a bureau which until now had made every effort to demolish the west wing and redevelop it under a faux public consultation. Heritage issues should be the concern of a discrete heritage authority.

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Norway Plans to nominate parts of the Svalbard archipelago to UNESCO

The inclusion of Svalbard in UNESCO's World Heritage list could hamper the Arctic Archipelago's role in future energy projects, industry representatives argue. According to Teknisk Ukeblad, Norway plans to nominate parts of the Svalbard archipelago to the prestigious UN protection list. In addition, a new management plan for the area includes expanded environmental regulations for the area.

Strict Environmental Regulations

Oil industry representatives now voice skepticism about the status of the islands, which are located in strategic Arctic waters. Stricter environmental regulations could affect future development of local oil and gas-related logistics, bases and supply facilities, they argue. "The protection of the waters east of Svalbard would conflict with important Norwegian geopolitical, industrial and economic interests, Johan Petter Barlindhaug, Board Chairman of the North Energy company, says to TU.no.

In connection with the plans for a Unesco nomination, the Norwegian Ministry of Energy and Petroluem is now starting up an assessment study on the islands' potentials in future oil and gas projects. If the northern parts of the Barents Sea are opened for drilling, Svalbard might be strategically well situated for base functions.

As previously reported, Norway's Minister of Petroluem and Energy has on several occasions expressed interest in expanding drilling "to the North Pole".

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Polar areas are currently little represented in the UNESCO's World Heritage list. So far, only the Wrangle islands and the Ilulissat Isfjord are on the list, the UN organization informs. The Norwegian Ministry of Environment in 2007 proposed to include Svalbard in the UN tentative list of new protection sites.

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu Receives UNESCO Human Rights Award

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has received the UNESCO/Bilbao human rights prize for contributing towards a "universal culture of human rights. Tutu was on Monday awarded the prize for "his exceptional contribution to building a universal culture of human rights at the national, regional and international levels".

The jury highlighted the role he played in building the new non-racial South Africa and his contribution as head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to national reconstruction which became a model for other post-conflict societies, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said in a statement.

Tutu's daughter was in the UN cultural organisation's Paris headquarters to receive the award on behalf of her father. The biennial UNESCO/Bilbao prize was established in 2008 after an endowment from the city of Bilbao in Spain. It includes a $30 000 cheque, a diploma and a bronze trophy.

Tutu and two other Nobel Peace laureates last month wrote to the Nobel foundation in protest at the decision to award the 2012 prize to the European Union.

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The "EU is clearly not 'the champion of peace' that Alfred Nobel had in mind when he wrote his will," they said in an open letter.

The letter was also signed by Northern Ireland's Mairead Maguire, who won the prize in 1976, and Argentina's Adolfo Pérez Esquivel in 1980.

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Rehabilitation in Victoria Falls World Heritage Site

GOVERNMENT has released over K2.3 billion for rehabilitation of infrastructure at the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site in Livingstone as the country steps up preparations for hosting the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly in August next year. Livingstone and Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe will from August 24 to 29 co-host the prestigious global tourism general assembly which is expected to attract over 4,000 delegates.

Tender Process Begun

National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) executive director Collins Chipote said the rehabilitation works will include the fencing of the site from the Victoria Falls Bridge to Sun International Hotels and rehabilitation of trails. Mr Chipote said this in response to a press query. The NHCC has already begun the tender process and the works are expected to be completed within three months after contracts are awarded to contracts.

"The commission has received K2,390,000,000 towards rehabilitation of infrastructure at the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site."This is to ensure that our infrastructure meets international standards especially that the country is preparing to host the UNWTO general assembly. Part of the money will go towards the construction of a new ablution block," Mr Chipote said.

He commended government for releasing the funds and that he is confident the rehabilitation works will not only improve the image of the site but will also attract more tourists.

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Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe

The Zambezi Sun International Hotel, one of the official venues for the prestigious tourism event, is situated in the heart of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.

"As a commission, we're proud that the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, the beacon of tourism promotion in Zambia, will host this international event and it is our humble view that more such events should be taking place near such places so that the outside world appreciates the country's natural endowments.

"The commission, through Ministry of Tourism and Arts, is grateful about the release of the funds. The infrastructure which will be put up will in the long-term help to improve the image of the site," he said.

Mr Chipote urged tourism stakeholders to take advantage of the hosting of the high-status tourism event to showcase the country's unique natural and cultural heritage and help to attract international tourists who will in turn bring revenue that will go towards revamping the tourism sector.

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Education for girls is the best strategy to defeat Taliban

Pakistan's President Zardari tells UNESCO event in Paris that providing education for girls is the best strategy to defeat Taliban. The President pledged $10m (£8m) for girls' education to UNESCO on Monday in the name of a Pakistani schoolgirl shot by the Taliban, saying sending girls to school was the best way to combat extremism.

The October attack on Malala Yousufzai

The October attack on Malala Yousufzai sparked worldwide condemnation of Taliban efforts to deprive girls of education in Pakistan, which has seen a surge in Islamist militancy over the past decade. At a "Stand Up For Malala" advocacy event at the Paris headquarters of the United Nations' cultural arm, Zardari said he was "deeply moved" to have met the teenager during a visit on Saturday to the British hospital where she is recovering. He reported her progress as "satisfactory".

"I have no doubt that our resolve to provide education to all, in particular to the millions of schoolgirls, is the best strategy to defeat the forces of violence," said Zardari, who wore a badge with Yousufzai's face on his lapel. He gave no further details about the education fund, nor where the money would come from.

Yousufzai had campaigned for girls' education for years in the Swat valley, north-west of Pakistan's capital of Islamabad, before being shot at close range while leaving school.

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The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assassination attempt, calling her efforts pro-western.

Some 61 million primary school-age children around the world do not attend school and two-thirds are girls, UNESCO said. In Pakistan, nearly half of females from rural areas do not attend school, it added.

The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, told the UNESCO gathering that an education would mean girls were less likely to become child brides and could better contribute to their families' livelihoods.

"Closing the education gap is a powerful prescription for economic growth. But all over the world girls still face enormous obstacles to getting an education," Clinton said in a video message to the gathering.

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Persian musical instrument ‘Tar’ is UNESCO’s representative list

Traditional Persian musical instrument 'Tar' is slated to be registered on UNESCO's representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanities.

Persian Tar

Following the recent registration of Azerbaijani Tar on the world heritage list, Iran will offer the proposal for registering Persian Tar on the list. "The name of instrument 'Tar', within the collection of traditional Iranian music 'Radif' along with other instruments such as 'Kamancheh' and 'Ney', was registered on UNESCO's list in 2009, but now we are planning to register the name separately", said the director of the Regional Research Center for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia, Yadollah Parmoun.

Azerbaijani Tar is different from the Iranian Tar in terms of form, size, number of strings, technique of performance and tones; however, the original 'Tar' is rooted in Iran, he added while attending the seventh session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO which kicked off on December 3.

Persian Tar as a long-necked lute was shared by many cultures and countries such as Afganistan, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, albeit with some changes.

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Iranian ritual of carpet washing (Qalishuyi) held in Mashhad Ardehal was also registered on the UNESCO's list during the year's session.

The committee examined about 60 candidacies for registration during its seventh session at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, registering 16 elements from different countries including, Iran, Iran, Italy, Hungary and Ecuador.

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Will Pashupatinath Temple Recover from Endanger List?

Will Pashupatinath Temple Recover from Endanger List? UNESCO, the watchdog of world heritage sites, has warned it will keep the Pashupatinath Temple, one of the World Heritage Sites believed to be more than 25,000 years old, on its endangered sites’ list for failure of government authorities to close the road that passes through the heritage site area.

UNESCO Warned Many Times

“Despite UNESCO’s warning to keep the temple on its endangered list, the Pashupati Area Development Trust has not cooperated with other authorities to shut the road that cuts through the area,” said Bhesh Narayan Dahal, director-general at the Department of Archaeology. “We have received UNESCO’s verbal warning with the threat to put the shrine on the endangered sites’ list many times,” said Sushil Nahata, member-secretary at the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT). “Operation of a public road in the heritage site area is the reason behind this warning,” he said.

“We are ready to cooperate with the government bodies to save the heritage site,” Nahata said, terming the charges of non-cooperation for closure of the road a mere blame-game.

The government had decided to open the Tilganga-Guheshwori road when Hisila Yami was Minister for Physical Planning and Works. Four months ago, the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Authority decided to shut the road for public vehicles, but implementation was a far cry. It again decided to shut the road four days ago. But this decision has also remained on paper with locals standing in protest.

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Pashupatinath Temple

Centre of faith in poor shape

Every month, the Pashupatinath temple earns about Rs 10 million through devotees’ offerings. But the temple is in a bad shape. Nahata said PADT is allocating budget this year for preparation of a renovation plan. He said the government should also cooperate with the temple authority for temple renovation. On his part, Dahal said, “If the temple authority comes up with a proposal for renovation, we are ready to cooperate with it.”

According to the PADT, the last time the temple was renovated was during the reign of King Bhupalendra Malla (in the 17th century). Three years ago, the PADT came up with a renovation plan, but it failed to materialise due to a fund crunch and disagreement among the temple’s caretakers, storekeepers and priests.

A Few Images from Pashupatinath Temple

Images from Pashupatinath Temple

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The Director-General of UNESCO paid tribute to Oscar Niemeyer

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, paid tribute to the great Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer, who died on Wednesday, 5 December, at the age of 104.

Universal Artist

"Oscar Niemeyer helped define the 20th century and lay the foundations for the 21st -- for all this, he deserves the title of universal artist. As a founder of modern architecture, he gave the cities he loved iconic buildings, hundreds of monuments, recognizable among all, in Paris, Sao Paulo, Rio and of course Brasilia, a masterpiece of urban planning and modern architecture, inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1987.”

"Oscar Niemeyer used to say that he did not care for tributes," continued the director-general, "and he remained active until the very end. He was passionate about work and convinced that architecture, before becoming fine arts, had to contribute concretely to living better together in the city and must embody the values of inclusion, solidarity and cooperation.

The United Nations is an emblem of these values, and he designed and built the Headquarters in New York. UNESCO salutes the memory of a great humanist who was so strongly committed to the concerns of the city and an advocate of humanity. I send my sincere condolences to his family, the people of Brazil and the Brazilian government for this great loss,” said the Director-General.

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Oscar Niemeyer's Design Brasilia

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On December 13 Three Malta Heritage Sites open for free

On December 13 Three Malta Heritage Sites open for free. Heritage Malta will be opening the Inquisitor's Palace, Ggantija Temples, and Ta' Kola Windmill for free on Republic Day - Thursday next week.

Inquisitor’s Palace, Ggantija Temples and Ta' Kola Windmill

Situated in the heart of Vittoriosa, the Inquisitor’s Palace is an architectural gem. During the Open Day, visitors will also have the opportunity to view a number of exhibitions including Peasant Costumes: Insights into Rural Life and Society, an exhibition of popular attire of the late 18th, 19th and early twentieth century and their pictorial representations. Another exhibition, Folk Music Exhibition, highlights traditional popular music as an integral part of Maltese identity. Folk instruments on display include: iz-Zaqq, iz-Zafzafa, it-Tanbur, il-Flejguta, iz-Zummara as well as guitars and their moulds. A guided tour of the Inquisitor's Palace will commence at 15.00hrs.

Guided tours will also be organised at Ta' Kola Windmill and the Ġgantija Temples in Xagħra, Gozo. The tour of Ta' Kola Windmill will commence at 10.00hrs while that of Ggantija Temples at 11 a.m. Ta' Kola Windmill is located within walking distance of Ġgantija Temples and therefore visitors can proceed from Ta' Kola to the Ggantija Temples after the tour.

Ta' Kola Windmill is one of the few surviving windmills on the Maltese Islands dating back to the Knights’ period. It is a fine example of the rural economy and domestic life of Gozo in past centuries, and houses original milling mechanism, miller’s tools, as well as the blacksmith’s and carpenter’s workshop.

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Inquisitor's Palace Malta

During the Open Day, those visiting these three sites will have the opportunity to become a member of Heritage Malta at a reduced price. Membership benefits includes one year free admission to Heritage Malta museums and sites (Hypogeum tickets for members at half the original price), free members-only events, and discounts on other special events organized by Heritage Malta throughout the year.

Ggantija Temples Malta

Doors will be open from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m., last admission at 4.30 p.m. For further information on Heritage Malta exhibitions and events please visit: www.heritagemalta.org

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UNICEF and UNESCO Launched Global Online Conversation

UNICEF and UNESCO launched today a “global online conversation” to ensure that education is effectively addressed as a priority in the post 2015 development agenda.

Quality Learning around the globe

The consultation aims to bring together youth, civil society, NGOs, academia, governments and the private sector to contribute their experiences and ideas on how to reach better, wider and more equitable access to quality learning around the globe.

As we approach 2015, there is an urgent need to review progress towards the Education for All and Millennium Development Goals and discuss new options on how they can be achieved.

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The main themes that will be discussed are:

Equitable Access to Education

Quality of Learning

Global Citizenship, Skills and Jobs

Governance and Financing of Education

Each of the discussions will run for two consecutive weeks from December 2012 to February 2013 and participants are encouraged to participate in any or all of the consultations.

A final summary report will then feed into the High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, as well as to the inter-governmental debate on the post-2015 development agenda at the 2013 UN General Assembly.

How to participate: On the public, open-access discussion forum you are welcome to discuss education-related issues you think should be a priority in the next development agenda. You are encouraged to post your ideas and thoughts as an individual or a group and share the voices of the people, organizations or communities you represent.

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About UNICEF

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org

Browse All UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The original Source File!!!

Malaysian Government Eager to get Danum Valley Heritage Recognition

The state government is prepared to pay the necessary cost to ensure Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon (DaMaI) get recognised as a World Heritage Site (WHS).

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the issue of money was secondary to the protection of the three sites which housed many of Sabah’s endangered animal species such as the elephant, orang utans, Sumatran rhinos, banteng and an array of bird species endemic to Borneo.

“Money can be found but once these treasures are destroyed, it will be gone forever. There will be no replacement. We need to ensure they remain protected,” he said during the workshop on the nomination of DaMaI as a WHS at a resort near here yesterday.

Earlier during the workshop, patrons were told that the cost of nominating a site for WHS would probably reach millions of ringgit.

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Maliau Basin

“The state government is very keen to protect the three sites because there are none that are as wonderful as these, not just in Malaysia but in the entire world. We need to look beyond our own life in order to safeguard this,” he said.

He also mentioned that a lot of outstanding issues still needed to be resolved and that the journey towards getting DaMaI listed would be a tough one

“It was easy with Mount Kinabalu — there are still a lot of things to prepare. UNESCO has also become more selective, strict, and those with WHS status has to be of exceptional quality. This means it is going to be more difficult to ensure we get nominated,” he said.

As for the issue of getting the three sites nominated as a national heritage site, Masidi said it should not be a problem for the state.

He added that the National Heritage Department would not manage or own the sites recognised as a national heritage site. “There will be no change in the way it is managed. It is just an accreditation.”

Meanwhile, Masidi said the state’s quest for WHS recognition for DaMaI was good for Sabah and for the country.

“If Sabah is out of Malaysia, it will have no Mount Kinabalu, it will have no Sipadan. About 22 per cent of Malaysia would be lost,” he said.

He also mentioned that getting DaMaI recognised would put the country and Sabah on the world map.

“We are not well known. Some people think Malaysia is in Africa. And Sabah is always related to Kuwait. We need to be known.”

Meanwhile, National Heritage Department director general Professor Emeritus Dato Siti Zuraina Abdul Majid said DaMal would not be listed as a World Heritage Site prior to 2015.

This is because Malaysia has become a WHS committee since last year, she said in her speech during the DaMaI WHS nomination workshop held at a resort near here.

“A country remains in the committee for four years and during that period, it is disallowed from nominating any site within its own territory,” she explained.

She added that only 20 countries were selected to become a committee for the WHS.

“This experience shall be beneficial for us as it will assist in gaining WHS nomination,” she said.

Siti Nuraina also said that the criteria to be selected as a WHS were now stricter.

Among the requirements were that the site nominated must have world significance, and have legal protection.

Additionally, the site must be recognised as a national heritage site.

“There are 962 World Heritage Sites in 2012, 69 per cent of which are cultural sites, and only 20 per cent are nature sites. Lembah Lenggong is one of the country’s newest sites to be recognised as a World Heritage Site,” she said.

She added that Malaysia was classified under Asia Pacific Region and there were only four World Heritage Sites listed within the region.

Browse All UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia. The original Source File!!!

NGO Opposing the proposal to grant World Heritage Status in Shimla

Opposing the proposal to grant world heritage status to Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu district, an environmental NGO has written a letter to UNESCO demanding rights of local people to be addressed first.

Inclusion Not Possible in 2013 World Heritage List

Himalayan Niti Abhiyan, in a letter to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Switzerland, have said that they oppose the move since locals, who are forest dwellers, depended on the area for their livelihood. Experts from IUCN had recently visited Great Himalayan National Park for its possible inclusion in 2013's World Heritage List. Coordinator of the Abhiyan, Guman Singh, said the NGO's local group had also spoken regarding the matter to the IUCN team which had visited the national park in October this year.

"They had met the team under the leadership of Dila Ram and questioned the stake of some outsider NGOs in the park and expressed the concerns of local communities, who are enjoying forest rights here since centuries," he said. He said that the NGO had asked the UNESCO team led by Graeme L Worboys regarding what will be the locals' stake if the national park is given world heritage status.

"What will happen to their traditional forest and cultural rights in the park area and what benefits will be provided to us after this world heritage status", he said. Local people are struggling for the protection of our traditional forest, cultural rights, he said.

Great Himalayan National Park

Browse All UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The original Source File!!!

UNESCO Supports $2.26million to Conserve Historic Sites in Libya

Libya’s rich cultural heritage is being supported by UNESCO a $2.26 million two-year project to conserve historic sites, establish conservation laboratories and train more security staff to protect the country’s treasures.

UNESCO Million Dollar Project

Roni Amelan, a spokesman for UNESCO, told Libya Herald that projects would focus on training for the benefit of heritage professionals, including support staff and, in particular, security guards. “Priority will be given to the physical protection of cultural heritage sites and museum collections,” Amelan said.

Improving the protection of Libya’s heritage sites and valuable collections of antiquities is of pressing importance. There has been a number of incidents of vandalism and theft from archaeological sites and museums. Such thefts were ongoing long before the revolution. In 2006 the BBC reported that at least 90 important items had been stolen from Tripoli Museum since 1988, due to inadequate security. Two valuable statue fragments have been returned to Libya from Europe this year, having been recognised as stolen.

Libya has five UNESCO World Heritage sites: Cyrene, Leptis Magna, Sabratha, the ancient town of Ghadames, one of the oldest Saharan cities still standing, and the rock-art sites of Tadrat Acacus.

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The Ancient Town of Ghadames

This latest project, however, will extend to local museums and artefacts. “Activities will centre on museum management, conservation of built heritage, conservation of movable property, site protection and management,” Amelan said, adding that conservation laboratories would also be established in the country.

Amelan said that the comprehensive programme, jointly-funded by the Libyan and Italian governments, would be run over the course of two years, in cooperation with the Department of Antiquities.

Browse All UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Libya. The original Source File!!!

$4.8billion Claim Plan of Navitus Bay Jeopardise Heritage Status

Local officials in southern England claim plans for the $4.8bn Navitus Bay offshore wind farm could jeopardise their area's Unesco World Heritage status.

Navitus Bay project

Dorset County Council’s planning committee backed the findings of a local impact report on the Navitus Bay project suggesting that the visual effect of the wind farm could hit tourism, and see the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site placed on a Unesco ‘at risk’ register. It is England's only natural site with the designation.

Up to 333 turbines could be installed in an area between Swanage in Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

French utility EDF and Dutch power company Eneco have formed a 50/50 joint venture to develop the UK Round 3 project, which is set to deliver between 900MW and 1.2GW of capacity.

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Project Company Navitus Bay is consulting on the plan until February 2013, when it says it will produce a “comprehensive and informed response” to feedback from the community.

The UK government’s planning inspectorate will make the final decision over whether and in what form the wind farm project can go ahead.

Browse All UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The original Source File!!!