Malacca and Georgetown - Entry in World Heritage List

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http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/National/2288206/Article/index_html

Local News
2008/07/08
George Town and Malacca join World Heritage List

QUEBEC CITY: A Hindu temple in Cambodia, historic Malaysian towns and an agricultural site from Papua New Guinea were added to Unesco's World Heritage List yesterday.
Honoured were the 11th century Preah Vihear temple site, perched on a mountaintop on the Thai-Cambodia border, Malacca and George Town in Malaysia, and the Kuk Early Agricultural Site in Papua New Guinea, marking the country's first entry on the list.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage Committee has been meeting in this oldest of Canadian cities to consider adding to its list of protected architectural and natural wonders.

Forty-five sites are vying for inclusion on this list this year, but few more controversial than the Preah Vihear temple.

Last week, Cambodia deployed riot police to protect the Thai embassy for fear that a border dispute over the temple could spark protests. Security forces were also mobilised to protect Thai-owned businesses in Phnom Penh.
Thailand had initially endorsed Cambodia's plan to seek World Heritage status.

But the deal sparked a political controversy in Thailand, and last week Cambodia closed the mountaintop temple after more than 100 Thais marched to the compound to protest the deal.

A Thai court then forced the government to suspend its endorsement of the plan. -- AFP

End of News.

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World Heritage is investigating\re-evaluating Edinburgh - due to the ridiciulous "developments" being planned or started without their involvement - where the Council pull down old buildings and build modern glass boxes.

A llarge majority of Edinburgh residents wrote  to object, particularly on Carltongate, but as usual were ignored....  I hope we do lose it - may just teach the Council a lesson....  Scottish Heritage certainly approves of the investigation.

....and I will not start on the "carbuncle" of a Parliament which we now have - nor the new tram system which is costing a fortune, nor the John Lewis Centre, Leith Docks and 17 Storey Hotel at Haymarket replacin the old Station.  It seems the Council in the last 10 years have been working in order to lose the World Heritage status!

What on earth is the mindset of Councils that approve these plans ----  money no doubt.  Ggrrrr   :-(

p.s. Please about Georgetown and Malacca

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I attended the World Heritage concert and firework display last evening. It was a pretty good bash with a great display depicting the heritage of Penang acted out by Uni students. It seems that apart from one flash of the Union Jack the British were never here and certainly never contributed to the heritage of the Island. Thats a strange thing considering that the majority of heritage buildings, parks, sewers, political system, commerce, education and legal systems were directly or indirectly attributable to us horrible colonisers. I really was disappointed that the current government of Penang feel it necessary to write us out of their history. If Malaysia wants to be truly multi cultural we Brits need to be included. One of the reasons that I left the UK was due to slimy politicians apologising to the world for our existence. I was hoping for better in this freindly land.

If I ever meet the governor I will tell him exactly that.

Bob ( having a whinge)