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The new wonders of the world
POR RENE CASTAÑO
OF
the seven wonders of the ancient world, six have
ceased to exist for some time now as a result of
erosion, natural phenomenon and human barbarity. Of
the monuments honored with this title 200 years
before our time, we have lost the Alexandria
Lighthouse, the Temple of Artemis, the statue of
Zeus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Hanging Gardens of
Babylon and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Only the
pyramids of Giza in Egypt are still surviving.
Swiss Bernard Weber – aviator, explorer, museum
curator and film director – has organized a
worldwide vote via the Internet to bring these
marvels up to date.
The
new wonders will have an advantage over their
predecessors: the existence of UNESCO and Cultural
Heritage, which should prevent the loss of these
monuments considered to be symbols of art or
history, even when the occupational invasion of Iraq
and the bombardments of the Lebanese people is
depriving the world’s historical memory of valuable
architectural treasures.
Under the slogan “Our heritage is our future”, a
people’s survey has been established on the Internet
(www.new7wonders.com),
the profits of which will be destined to the
restoration of monuments, including the Buddhas of
Bamiyan in Afghanistan. On the website are works
that may be submitted to a vote, proposed by the
project itself, and others that have been included
by popular acclaim.
Everyone who votes (paid in advance) has the right
to register themselves as a member of the Society of
the Seven New Wonders, an organization established
to globally promote the understanding of culture and
nature on the planet.
In the tradition of the seven wonders of the ancient
world many other lists have been proposed, filled
with human achievements and natural marvels.
However, there is no general consensus on any
enumeration in particular.
CANDIDATES
Of the hundreds of monuments located in diverse
latitudes around the world, 21 candidates have
finally been selected for the new list. In Europe,
highlights include the Acropolis in Athens, Greece;
La Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain; the Coliseum
in Rome, Italy; the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia; the
Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany and Stonehenge in
Amesbury, England.
The American continent is represented by the
Chichén-Itza city-temple in Yucatán, Mexico; the
Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil; the Easter Island statues, Chile; the Inca
city of Machu Picchu in Peru and the Statue of
Liberty, in New York, USA.
The Taj Mahal in Agra, India; the Kyomizu temple in
Japan; the Great Wall of China; the Angkor temple in
Cambodia; the Santa Sofia cathedral in Istambul,
Turkey and the city of Petra in Jordan, are the
Asian candidates.
For Africa there are the Pyramids at Giza in Egypt,
and the city of Timbuktu in Mali. The Sydney Opera
House is the only proposal for Australia.
The jury scheduled to anounce the most
representative monuments of the world on July 7,
2007 will be presided over by Federico Mayor
Zaragoza, former director of UNESCO and, besides the
number of votes received, will take into account the
architectural and cultural interest of the
candidates.
The controversy over such a “selection” was not
long-awaited. For some it is unforgivable not to
have included on such a select list monuments such
as the Tower of Pizza or the Nazca figures. Others
do not accept that works erected with definite
technological rigor such as the Eiffel Tower and the
Statue of Liberty have been taken into account.
Whatever the result may be, more than a few
specialists believe that seven is a very small
number to pay tribute to the many wonders, still
standing, that belong to the history of humanity.
(Taken from Granma daily)
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