We would like to wish our North American readers a Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving 2018
Tag: USA
Happy Thanksgiving 2017
We would like to wish all our North American readers a very Happy Thanksgiving.
The Value(s) of UNESCO
One of the many roles for UNESCO has been the recognition of World Heritage Sites around the world. The news that both the US and the State of Israel will be withdrawing from the funding of UNESCO raises deep concerns.
The 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property has had a major impact on the way that countries can protect their cultural property in the face of organised looting and damage. Over 300 items have been returned to Italy from North American public and private collections as a result of this benchmark for cultural property. (The value of this Convention is discussed on “Looting Matters“.)
Among the WHS locations in the USA is the Statue of Liberty that was inscribed on the list back in 1984. As UNESCO states, the statue “endures as a highly potent symbol – inspiring contemplation, debate, and protest – of ideals such as liberty, peace, human rights, abolition of slavery, democracy, and opportunity”.
- NY Times: “U.S. Will Withdraw From Unesco, Citing Its ‘Anti-Israel Bias’“, October 12, 2017.
- US State Department Press Release
- BBC News: “Israel to join US in quitting Unesco“, October 12, 2017.
Remembering migrants
The luggage in the hall of Ellis Island is a poignant reminder of approximately 12 million migrants who passed through this entry point for the United States in the hope of a better life. It contains the National Museum of Immigration as part of the National Park.
Ringing the bell for liberty
The grave of William Hurry who rang the bell to proclaim liberty, 1776. This is found in Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Proclaim Liberty
One of the abiding heritage images from the USA is the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia with its message, ‘Proclaim Liberty Throughout All The Land Unto All The Inhabitants Thereof’, a quotation from Leviticus 25:10.
The text is a reminder about all, not some, of the people, and in all the land, not just in parts of it.
The bell is preserved by the National Park Service. It dates to 1753 (MDCCLIII).
Heritage Futures 