Sacred Uluru

Uluru or Ayers Rock, in Australian, is sacred to aboriginal owners, as a place that figures prominently in their origin history. Despite this fact, the Board of Uluru-KataTjuta National Park has decided against a ban on climbing the rock. There is, however, a new management plan that includes the option of closing the rock in the future should the percentage of visitors who climb the rock decline. The government ruled that the rock’s popularity with tourists should have precedence over the aboriginal’s preference against climbers.

There were many protests by aboriginals who wanted their wishes to be honored, however, unlike the case of Devil’s Tower or Mato Tipila (Bear Lodge in Lakota), located in Wyoming, there was no compromise. The rock is part of the United States National Park System. Devil’s Tower is sacred to Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne and Kiowa as a place where two young girls being chased by a bear were rescued by the Great Spirit who raised the ground to protect them. The rock that was formed still shows the claw marks of the bear. There is a voluntary ban on climbing at Mato Tipila during the month of June when sacred ceremonies are conducted at the rock.

World Heritage Site Threathened by Subway

Esphahan (Isfahan), Iran is one of Iran’s great historic cities with important architetural buildings such as the Hasht Behesht Palace and the Chahar-Bagh School. Some of the sites are sacred such as the Mosque of Sheykh Lotfollah which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Meidan Emam.

Recent subway construction has endangered sites, some dating to the 15th Century. There is concern that vibration from the subway movement and its construction could cause collapse of historic sites.

Isfahan’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization has filed an official complaint against the city’s metropolitan railway authority and UNESCO has sent official representatives to conduct a site inspection.

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.