openPR Logo
Press release

UNESCO has no Links with New 7 Wonders List

07-05-2007 01:45 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research

Press release from: BITS Pilani

Prof BR Natarajan

Prof BR Natarajan

In the case of News, one should always wait for the sacrament of confirmation.

In a news titled Bollywood Roots for the Taj, attributed to IANS Indo-Asian News Service and published in Khabrein.info, Mangalorean.com, Monsters and Critics.com, NewKerala.com, Daily News & Analysis (DNA), Kalinga Times, NowRunning.com, NEWSpost India etc, it is stated that UNESCO is expected to announce the new 7 wonders list July 7 in Portugal's Benfica Stadium. This gives the impression that UNESCO is closely connected with the new 7 wonders selection venture.

However as per Author(s):Press Release No. 2007-66 Source:UNESCOPRESS 20-06-2007, it is stated "In order to avoid any damaging confusion, UNESCO wishes to reaffirm that there is no link whatsoever between UNESCO’s World Heritage programme, which aims to protect world heritage, and the current campaign concerning “The New 7 Wonders of the World”.

The new 7 wonders campaign was launched in 2000 as a private initiative by Bernard Weber, the idea being to encourage citizens around the world to select seven new wonders of the world by popular vote. Although UNESCO was invited to support this project on several occasions, the Organization decided not to collaborate with Mr. Weber.

There can be no comparison between Mr Weber’s mediatised campaign and the scientific and educational work resulting from the inscription of sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The list of the “7 New Wonders of the World” will be the result of a private undertaking, reflecting only the opinions of those with access to the internet and not the entire world. This initiative cannot, in any significant and sustainable manner, contribute to the preservation of sites elected by this public.

Few years back, Time magazine had asked visitors to its Web site to cast their votes for the greatest men and women of the century. When the votes for the "Warriors and Statesmen" category were tallied every minute or so, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was often at the top of the list. He was also tops in the "Entertainers and Artists" category, as well as in "Leaders and Revolutionaries."

In fact, most Internet polls -where you surf to a Web site and then cast your vote with a click of the button-are good for a few laughs, but little else. Only when you can calculate the probability of any given person being sampled for a poll can you say a poll is representative of every one's opinion. Since there is no such probability function when people choose themselves to vote in an online poll, the results reflect absolutely nothing.

In the light of above, public must wake up before and after the announcement of new 7 wonders list on July 7, 2007 at Lisbon irrespective of whether Taj Mahal is in the list or not.

Looks like its time to replace the word statistics by website polls and SMS in the famous quote Lies, damn lies and statistics.

Dr BR Natarajan is Professor and Dean at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani Rajasthan which is one among the top ranking universities in India today offering degrees in Engineering, Management, Economics, Pharmacy, Sciences, Engineering Technology, Information Systems, General Studies, Finance, etc presently at Pilani, Dubai, Goa campuses and in the near future at Hyderabad campus as well as an array of work integrated learning programmes for HRD of a vast spectrum of Indian corporates.

Dr BR Natarajan
Professor & Dean
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Pilani (Rajasthan) 333031 India
Phone 91-1596-242210
Fax 91-1596-244183
brnt@bits-pilani.ac.in

This release was published on openPR.

Permanent link to this press release:

Copy
Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.

You can edit or delete your press release UNESCO has no Links with New 7 Wonders List here

News-ID: 23551 • Views:

More Releases from BITS Pilani

Prof Nirupama from BITS Pilani invited to attend UNESCO International Mother Language Day Symposium at Paris
Prof Nirupama from BITS Pilani invited to attend UNESCO International Mother Lan …
It is known that we dissect nature along lines laid down by our native language and that language is not simply a reporting device for experience but a defining framework for it. Language is the armory of the human mind, and at once contains the trophies of its past and the weapons of its future conquests. No one has any doubt that language shapes the way we think, and determines
Groundbreaking Passion Quotient for Alma Mater by BITS Pilani 75-80 Batch Alumni
Groundbreaking Passion Quotient for Alma Mater by BITS Pilani 75-80 Batch Alumni
Alumni of BITS Pilani firmly believe that when a mission is taken up with passion, there are no dreams too large, no innovation unimaginable and no frontiers beyond reach. BITSians have always been known for their passion in whatever they do and the noble gesture by the BITS Alumni of 1975-80 batch goes to reiterate the same. This batch had their silver jubilee at Pilani in October 2005 and set
BITS Pilani Rajasthan Green and Sustainable Chemistry National Conference Concludes
BITS Pilani Rajasthan Green and Sustainable Chemistry National Conference Conclu …
There is no doubt that the issue in hand is all about maintaining a state of harmony between humans and nature and remembering Mahatma Gandhi's saying "There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed." Green and sustainable chemistry is an important interdisciplinary area of innovation aimed at conservation of natural resources and the protection of environment. Sustainable development has become the accepted goal
Green Globe Foundation YUVA Award for BITS Pilani Chemical Engineering Student Raghav Mimani
Green Globe Foundation YUVA Award for BITS Pilani Chemical Engineering Student R …
It is known that Climate change not only impacts the ecology but has far-reaching consequences for the society, culture, and politics of the nations. Youth who bear the brunt of the negative impacts of climate change, also symbolize a great force in combating it and carry immense potential to be the flag bearers of change. Youth have the potential to be the change-makers, who through their knowledge, observations and action, can

All 5 Releases


More Releases for UNESCO

Autostrade joins UNESCO World Engineering Day 2025 campaign
Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2025/04/1743763638.jpg Autostrade, as a leader in sustainable motorway management, has been selected as an official partner for UNESCO World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (WED) 2025, which was launched at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 4 March 2025. London, UK - 4th Apr, 2025 - WED is jointly operated by UNESCO and the World Federation for Engineering Organizations (WFEO), which spans some 100 countries and represents more than 30 million engineers.
Torishima joins UNESCO World Engineering Day 2025 campaign
Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2025/03/1742565603.jpg Torishima, as a leading voice in water pump technology, has been selected as an official partner for UNESCO World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (WED) 2025, which was launched at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 4 March 2025. London, UK - 21 March, 2025 - An International Day proclaimed by UNESCO General Conference and open to everyone, WED is jointly operated by UNESCO and the World Federation for Engineering Organisations
Egis joins UNESCO World Engineering Day 2025 campaign
Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2025/03/1742393370.jpg Egis, as an international player active in architecture, consulting, engineering and mobility services, has been selected as an official partner for UNESCO World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (WED) 2025, which was launched at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 4 March 2025. London, UK - 19 Mar, 2025 - WED is jointly operated by UNESCO and the World Federation for Engineering Organizations (WFEO), which spans some 100 countries and represents
PROCOMER joins UNESCO World Engineering Day 2025 campaign
Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2025/03/1741786271.jpg PROCOMER, as the official agency for foreign direct investment attraction to Costa Rica, has been selected as an official partner for UNESCO World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (WED) 2025, which was launched at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 4 March 2025. An International Day proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference and open to everyone, WED is jointly operated by UNESCO and the World Federation for Engineering Organisations (WFEO), which
Amiblu supports UNESCO World Engineering Day 2025 campaign
Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2025/03/1741306413.jpg WED is jointly operated by UNESCO and the World Federation for Engineering Organizations (WFEO), which spans some 100 countries and represents more than 30 million engineers, and is an International Day proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference and open to everyone. London, UK - 7 Mar, 2025 - Amiblu, as a leading manufacturer of glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes, has been selected as an official partner for UNESCO World
Flower features in UNESCO World Engineering Day 2025 campaign
Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2025/03/1741306261.jpg An International Day proclaimed by UNESCO General Conference and open to everyone, WED is jointly operated by UNESCO and the World Federation for Engineering Organisations (WFEO), which spans some 100 countries and represents more than 30 million engineers. London, UK - 7 Mar, 2025 - Flower, as a leader in battery storage optimization and trading, has been selected as an official partner for UNESCO World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development