Sacred-Sites International Blog » World Heritage Sites http://sacred-sites.org/wordpress Cultural Appreciation and Preservation Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:57:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Guatemalan Sites Damaged After Severe Weather http://sacred-sites.org/wordpress/2010/06/11/guatemalan-sites-after-severe-weather/ http://sacred-sites.org/wordpress/2010/06/11/guatemalan-sites-after-severe-weather/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:32:50 +0000 Nancy http://sacred-sites.org/wordpress/?p=148 We have received word from the UNESCO World Heritage Center that sacred sites in Guatemala have been seriously impacted by the recent tropical storm. Severe torrential rain has resulted in flooding and mudslides across much of Guatemala, causing death, destruction and the evacuation of thousands of people. Tropical Storm Agatha, the first of the Pacific hurricane season, made landfall on 29 May 2010 in Guatemala and left much of Central America covered in mud and muck.

Quirigua Glyphic Rock

The Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua is the World Heritage site that has been the most affected. The Motagua River, which crosses the Motagua Valley, has more than doubled in size as a result of tropical storm Agatha. The Archaeological Park has been left covered in mud and water.

Quirigua Stele Glyph Detail

Tikal National Park, another World Heritage site, has not been severely impacted by the flooding.

Mayan Temple at Tikal

The World Heritage Center and the UNESCO Office in Guatemala are working in close cooperation with the Government of Guatemala to assist local and national authorities in dealing with the crisis and the restoration of damaged historic sites.

]]> http://sacred-sites.org/wordpress/2010/06/11/guatemalan-sites-after-severe-weather/feed/ 0 Destroying the Sacred Earth http://sacred-sites.org/wordpress/2009/07/09/destroying-the-sacred-earth/ http://sacred-sites.org/wordpress/2009/07/09/destroying-the-sacred-earth/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:11:06 +0000 Nancy http://sacred-sites.org/wordpress/2009/07/09/destroying-the-sacred-earth/ Why is it that development companies think they can chose remote locations around the earth and mine them, put roads through them, build hotels on them? Do they believe they can get away with it without opposition? Fortunately, there are people who care deeply about the sanctity of nature in far-flung areas of the earth.There are two projects that we have recently learned about from Sacred Sites members and colleagues. 

The first is in Alaska and is known as the Pebble Project where engineers with the Northern Dynasty mining corporation have found what they believe is half a trillion dollars worth of gold, copper and molybdenum. This project, if approved, would create the largest open pit mine in North America! Two organizations, among others, have organized to oppose this project. Please the group, Stop Pebble Mine by clicking here and the non-profit organization, Renewable Resources Coalition by clicking here.  Another project is located in Russia in a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Western Caucasus Heritage Site .  The money behind this development road project is Gazprom, the world’s largest gas company. Gazprom has a new development, a mountain resort, ski slopes and lifts, as well a complex for the 2014 Olympic Games. IUCN, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, has worked with UNESCO & Gazprom to alleviate some of the project’s impact, however, Gazprom still plans to complete the road through the World Heritage Site to the Olympic Village. Please visit the, Environmental News Service, to learn more. 

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