What is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is an official landmark or area that has universal value to humankind. The sites that are on the list have some outstanding significance - culturally, historically, scientifically, or otherwise. Think of the places on the list like museums out in the wild. There are 1,073 sites in 167 countries. These World Heritage properties bear witness to the history of the world and humanity.
Protection of our world heritage comes from a revolutionary idea. The protection and preservation of extraordinary cultural achievements and unique natural phenomena should be placed in the hands of the whole human race.
What does being a UNESCO World Heritage site mean?
These sites are noted and protected in order to bring significance to their historical or physical contribution to the world. An example of a place on the list is the Great Wall in China. The Wall was built between 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD as military defense of China. Another great example is the first spot enlisted, The Galapagos Islands. Here, because of the islands’ isolation and unique location in the ocean, the development of animal, marine and plant life happened in a completely unique manner.UNESCO World Heritage Site: a place for discovery
The great significance of these places and the fascination and admiration that they inspire beckon us to contemplate the greatness of our planet and the centuries of humankind before ourselves. We journey through time and relive stories that shaped Earth.
What does UNESCO stand for?
UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The organization fosters and maintains intellectual solidarity across the globe. UNESCO promotes peace and security through collaboration.
What does UNESCO do exactly?
The goals of the organization are to advance mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, to give excitement to education and the spread of cultural understanding, and to help maintain, increase and disseminate knowledge.
In simpler terms, the mission is to encourage peace and understanding across political borders through learning who we are culturally and spreading knowledge of our earth, our origins and our history to everyone. If people have equal education and have a similar understanding of where we come from and the origins of our earth we will live in a more peaceful and secure world. I certainly want to live in a more peaceful and secure world.
It is my mission to photograph all of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I'm an artist, a photographer and I want to use my skills and intuition to make beautiful images of each and every one of these locations. I want to share them with the world in hopes of elevating the understanding of how wonderful our planet is.