Inscription bid of the Nile on UNESCO's World Heritage
By Dr Laila Abdel Aal
Alghalban
Professor of
linguistics & Chairperson of the Department of English
Faculty of Arts
Kafrelsheikh University
Inscription season
Being a huge fan of
human heritage conservation, this week has been exceptional. I have been busy
meticulously and enthusiastically following the 43rd session of the UNESCO's
World Heritage Committee, underway at Baku (Azerbaijan) from June 30 to July 10,
and chasing the news of sites inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage list.
The lucky sites are granted world fame and protection against ongoing and
likely dangers. What is special about the ongoing session is the abundance of the natural sites
listed in comparison to the cultural and mixed ones: Iceland's volcanic
Vatnajokull national park, the French Austral lands and seas, a house for
different species of birds and marine life, the mountainous landscape of the
Erzgebrige region shared by Germany and the Czech Republic, China's
archaeological site Liangzhu, Iranian Hyrcanian forests, and the list is likely
to go on and on.
Meanwhile, other
cultural and mixed nominations have also been added to the
internationally-esteemed list: the German city of Augsburg for its over
800-year-old water management system, Alberta’s Writing-on-Stone monument
in Canada, the Indian Walled City of Jaipur, known for its iconic architectural
legacy, Myanmar’s ancient capital of Bagan, a hotspot of Buddhist temples, Iraq's
ancient city of Babylon, Paraty and Ilha Grande in Brazil, among others. The
landmarks added to the UNESCO's World Heritage list are considered to have
exceptional significance to humanity.
Why not?
Many natural
sites all over the world such as lakes, mountain ranges, hills, forests,
islands, oases, bird nesting and watching sites, coral springs and reefs have
found their way to the World Heritage list for their value to humanity every
year. "It is great that these natural landmarks are given due recognition,
respect and protection against the unprecedented threats posed by over-
urbanization and climate change," I thought to myself every time I get
updates on the meeting." But what about the iconic rivers that sustain
communities and feed all their cultural and natural heritage? Aren't they
worthy of being regarded as world heritage sites?" I wondered.
The nation with the
richest history
Since the dawn of time,
the River Nile has been deeply seated in hearts, history, myths, tales and
legends. The eternal river, which originates in the heart of Africa and
Ethiopia, and flows northward through
Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt, carves its way into the desert
and brings life to one of the driest areas on the planet. Being an Egyptian, I will write about what it
means to be an Egyptian and how that is defined by the Nile. In a survey on the
country with the richest history, the 21 000
participants selected from around the globe have picked Egypt. This
means that the world cannot imagine Egypt without the Nile, and that the
Egyptian civilization could have never survived
nor thrived without it. However, the Egyptians must be proud of
themselves as the Nile runs through other places without inspiring their
peoples that deep.
The gift of the Nile
" l didn't pollute
the waters of the Nile," was one of the things a deceased person would say
before gods. Ancient Egyptians went to great lengths to respect and even
worship the Nile. An ancient legend says that a beautiful girl called "the
bride of the Nile" was thrown every year in the sacred Nile as a
sacrifice.
Cruising through the
River Nile is absolutely one of the most memorable and romantic experiences one
can ever have. It is time travel. The quiet, deep and rich waters that have
long blended with the alluring stories, secrets and wisdom of the past are
matchless. You pass by an endless stream of communities. Like its waters,
people are flowing through the valley and Delta. It is a lifeline thrown into
the dead land, pouring food, peace and creativity, and turning it into a
cultural hotspot and the cradle of the most vibrant and inspirational
civilization ever.
Blowing the sirens
Due to the unscrupulous
urbanization, inefficient drainage systems and dam-construction mania, the
imminent threats to the Nile and other rivers worldwide sometimes have irreversible impacts. Every time I travel across the Nile
Delta and watch the predatory urban
sprawl provocatively and viciously killing the most fertile land in the world,
turning it into ugly and suffocating blocs of concrete, my head spins and my
soul goes down. " How could we foolishly and aggressively be that sinful
to our only means of survival?" I used to ask myself. And when you head northward, to the lakes
overlooking the Mediterranean Sea ( Burullus, Manzala, Maryut, Idko, etc.), you
find another treasure urgently in need of protection. The lakes, wetlands, are
homes of many plant, animal and bird species.
A very modest share
The number of treasures
on the World Heritage list across Egypt now is just seven, a very modest share
of a nation with the richest history and culture. Six of them are cultural
(e.g. Historic Cairo, the Pyramid fields from Giza to Dahshur, Ancient Thebes and St. Catherine) and only one natural ( Wadi Al Hitan or the
Valley of Whales in Fayoum).
Take care of the Nile
and everything will take care of itself
To me when a temple, a
city, a lake, a valley, plains or delta gets world protection, this
would be a bit patchy. Safeguarding rivers against the negative effects of land
use changes, dam construction and other human activities should come first. Our
most cherished Nile, if considered for nomination and inscription would be the
first river to get such a fully-deserved
spot on World Heritage list. So let us go the extra mile to start
nomination procedures. The River Nile has a special reverence in the hearts of
Egypt's lovers everywhere. The first step is to take serious policies and measures
to safeguard it and launch a successful PR campaign prior and
during the nomination bid. Dams
definitely affect locals' lives and in many parts of the world, giant dam
construction companies were forced to halt construction work due to the mounting
ecological awareness of the local communities and universal pressures.
Finally, the
inscription on World Heritage list sometimes comes after decades of advocacy by
locals, civil societies and governments. Let us summon our utmost efforts
on conservation, environmental education and management of the River Nile so
that this treasured heritage remains forever.
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق