 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Nairobi (AFP) Nov 15, 2010 UNESCO on Monday urged Tanzania not to put development, notably a controversial highway planned to cut through the iconic Serengeti national park, before the safeguarding of its cultural heritage. The Tanzanian government next year wants to kick off construction on a road that will cut through a 50-kilometre (30-mile) swathe of the Serengeti park classed as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Conservationists say it will have a devastating effect on the local ecology, in particular wildlife migration patterns. "Modern economy should not by any means be at the expense of nature, or at the expense of culture," UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova told journalists. "I know that the pressure of modernity is very high," she said. "Countries must make a balance between preserving their heritage sites and still developing their economy." Referring to a port project in neighbouring Kenya, Bokova said UNESCO's world heritage committee had received "assurances" that it will not affect neighbouring Lamu island, the UN-listed showcase of Swahili culture off the coast. But she added, "The world heritage committee is following very closely the developments, and should it consider that they may endanger the site, we will immediately alert the government." "We have such a good relationship with the government of Kenya that whatever concern we may have we can share it with the government and find a solution," Bokova said. An intergovernmental committee started meeting Monday in Nairobi to decide whether to inscribe up to 51 cultural practices from around the world on the Convention of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Those being submitted range from Meshrep, the harvest festival ceremony of northwest China's Turkish-speaking Muslim Uighur people, to French gastronomic cusine, oil wrestling in Turkey's Kirkpinar region and falconry in 11 countries. The convention, separate from the one governing sites of cultural value or great natural beauty, was first signed in 2003 and has so far been ratified by 132 countries. Some 178 cultural practices are already protected by UNESCO.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Africa News - Resources, Health, Food
Separatists attack Angolan army convoyLuanda (AFP) Nov 12, 2010 Cabinda separatists attacked a military vehicle tasked with guarding Chinese miners in northern Angola this week, resulting in the deaths of between two and 12 people, government and separatist sources said Friday. "Unidentified elements on Monday attacked an Angolan military vehicle responsible for the security of Chinese workers, between two villages in the northern province of Cabinda, ne ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook
