The Global List

Hello Everyone:

Another lovely summer day for Blogger.  The only thing intruding on an otherwise lovely day was acting (like the) director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Ken Cuccinelli's mind numbing attempt to re-write Emma Lazarus' welcoming poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty.  Instead of

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...

Mr. Cuccinelli suggested replacing the last phrase with stand on their own two feet  (cnn.com; date accessed Aug. 13, 2019).  Cue the gagging noise.  On to something far more enjoyable, shall we go on a trip around the world?

The Barnsdall House/ Hollyhock House
Frank Lloyd Wright
Hollywood, California
laconservancy.org

Every year the United Nations Economic, Scientific, and Cultural Organization' World Heritage Committee nominates of sites of cultural and natural to its annual list.  UNESCO then meets to whittle down the list to a select group that is inscribed on its World Heritage List.  This year the organization met in Baku, Azerbaijian (Ibid) to select 29 sites (whc.unesco.org; date accessed Aug. 13, 2019) were selected to this list that now includes 1,121 sites (Ibid) of outstanding universal value.  Blogger is delighted to announce that eight buildings by American modern master Frank Lloyd Wright, including the Barnsdall House in Los Angeles, California, were selected to join the list.  Why have a look at some of the elite 29 sites that made were inscribed on the list.

The volcano region Vatnajokull National Park
Iceland
tripadvisor.com

Vatnajokull National Park was deservedly included on the list of natural sites with its breath taking landscape as were the historic city of Sheki in Azerbaijian and Liangzhu City archaeological ruins in southeast China.  One mixed site--part cultural, part natural--the Paraty and Ilha Grande in Brazil (cnn.com; date accessed Aug. 13, 2019).

One of the more interesting sites is the Jodrell Bank Observatory (jodrellbank.net; date accessed Aug. 13, 2019) in Manchester, England.  The Jodrell Bank Observatory is home to one of the leading radio astronomy telescope.  The observatory dates back to 1945 and its research on cosmic rays, meteors, the moon, and astral phenomena is credited with giving humanity a greater understanding of our universe.  The UNESCO World Heritage Organization also approved the extension of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of Ohrid region in North Macedonia.

Sheki, Azerbaijian
azernews.az

In order for a site to join the World Heritage site list, it has to meet one of 10 criteria including representing a masterpiece of human creative genius or exceptional natural beauty or "being an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement (whc.unesco.org; date accessed Aug. 13, 2019).

UNESCO began adding sites to the list in 1978, with a group of 12 sites (cnn.com; Feb. 4, 2015; date accessed Aug. 13, 2019).  The original list included Yellowstone Park, the United States, the Galapagos Island, Ecuador; and the Island of Goree, Senegal.

Bohai Bay meets the Yellow Sea
tour-beijing.com

Not all natural and cultural heritage sites make the annual list.  A "no" vote does not mean a site is designation-worthy now or in the future.  A country can spend years developing pitch for inclusion, in an effort to attract the cultural capital, tourist, and resources in order to raise the money needed for restoration and protection.  Countries must also convince UNESCO that they are committed to protecting and financially supporting their site or sites.  For developing nations, this can be quite formidable task but sometimes, the investment pays off. In some cases, countries have a fraught relationship with UNESCO because of international politics.

Archaeological ruins of Liangzhu City
China
chinadaily.com.cn

In January of this year, member nation the United States announced it was leaving the organization citing that it was anti-Israel because it accepted a Palestinian bid for membership and listed several places as Palestinian World Heritage sites (whc.unesco.org; date accessed Aug. 13, 2019).  Israel followed suite by also announcing its departure.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said the U.S.'s withdrawal from the organization was a loss to UNESCO in 2017 after the United States filed its intentions to leave.

La Moncloa at Risco Caldo
Gran Canaria, Spain
lamoncloa.gob.es

Designation on the World Heritage list can also bring greater awareness to sites that are in danger.  In addition to naming new places, UNESCO also publishes a List of World Heritage in Danger (Ibid).  The Place of Nativity in Bethlehem was removed from the endangered list (en.unesco.org; July 2, 2019; date accessed Aug. 13, 2019)  UNESCO commended  the restoration on the Church of Nativity, the decision not to dig a tunnel under Manger Square, and the management plan with the site's conservation.  The Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works in Chile was also taken off the Endangered List (whc.unesco.org; July 2, 2019; date accessed Aug. 13, 2019) thanks to protection measures over the course of 15 years.

You can check out the full list and more at whc.unesco.org. Enjoy