Group 4 Articles

Matt's New Seven Wonders of the World
The Seven Most Amazing Human Creations on the Planet
By Matt Rosenberg, About.com Guide
Feb 8 2007
There are lists of both ancient and modern Seven Wonders of the World and there is even (as of the time of this writing) a website devoted to selecting a new set of Seven Wonders on July 7, 2007. With the interest in the Seven Wonders of the World, I present my list of the Seven Wonders of the World, from the perspective of a modern geographer.
All of these Wonders (and traditional lists of the Seven Wonders of the World) only include human-constructed or developed Wonders and thus natural features of the planet are not included.
Egyptian Pyramids
The Great Pyramid of Giza, built thousands of years ago, is the only ancient Seven Wonders of the World that still remains. The Egyptian pyramids in general are an incredible architectural and technological achievement of ancient society and deserve a spot on this Wonders of the World list. The About.com Ancient/Classical History site has much more about the pyramids.
Space Exploration
From Sputnik 1 in 1957 to human space flight to lunar landings to space stations and the Space Shuttle, human exploration of space has been an incredible achievement. At the About.com Space/Astronomy site, you can explore this topic in great depth.
Channel Tunnel
Completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (also known as Chunnel), connects the United Kingdom and France by train. It is a 31 mile-long (50 km) tunnel that took seven years to construct with crews working simultaneously from France and from the United Kingdom. Passengers and freight trains pass through the tunnel, easing transportation across (or under) the English Channel.
Israel
The creation of the modern state of Israel is nothing short of a miracle. For nearly 2000 years, the Jewish people were exiled from their home; shortly after the development of the United Nations the international community paved the way for the creation of the Jewish State. In the few decades since 1948, the small (about the size of New Jersey) nation-state has built a modern and democratic country against tremendous odds and many wars against its neighbors just to maintain its right to exist. An incredible achievement for any country, Israel is ranked 23rd on the United Nations' Human Development Index, above developed countries like South Korea, Portugal, and the Czech Republic. You can learn more about Israel at the About.com Judaism site.
Telecommunications and Internet
From the telegraph to the telephone to radio and television to satellite communications and to the development of the Internet into a global network of communication, information, and education is most definitely a Wonder of the World. Where would we be without our modern system of communication that enables almost instant communication around the world?
Panama Canal
Built from 1904 to 1914, the Panama Canal was a major achievement in transportation technology, opening not only the Pacific Coast of North America but also the remainder of the Pacific Rim into the world economy, which helped to create the highly competitive countries that exist around the Pacific Rim today.
Increase in Life Expectancy
During Roman times, life expectancy was around 22 to 25 years of age. In 1900, it was not much better - about 30 years of age. Today, life expectancy is more than double that of just over a century ago, about 66 as of this writing. Life expectancy as a Wonder of the World represents all of the public health and medical technology improvements that have accumulated to make life for most, although certainly not all, far more healthy and long lasting than it ever was. Read more about life expectancy right here on my site.

http://geography.about.com/od/lists/a/7wondersmatt.htm

ARTICLE POSTED BY: JERICO YVES CAMARADOR

New7Wonders sharing the Olympic spotlight for the 4th time

From February 12th to 28th 2010, the Olympic Games in Vancouver will have the world’s attention. While the elite of the sporting world compete, the Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign is making waves in Vancouver and abroad as the 28 Finalists compete for their own special gold medal
Zurich/Switzerland, February 11, 2010—This is the fourth Olympic presence for New7Wonders, which made a splash in Sydney in 2000 with the New7Wonders seaplane and awed visitors in Athens in 2004 with the New7Wonders hot-air balloon. In 2008, official Olympic greeters in Beijing recommended that visitors visit the Great Wall of China, one of the Official New 7 Wonders of the World that were declared on 07.07.07 thanks to more than 100 million votes.
Atlantic Canada House to showcase Fundy, Canada’s New7Wonders of Nature Finalist
Atlantic Canada House, which features exhibitions about Canada’s Atlantic provinces, expects 35,000 visitors daily throughout the two Olympic weeks. They will be able to experience Bay of Fundy through exhibits and collectible postcards, and to vote in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign using digital codes for mobile scanning.
Two phenomenal adaptations of concepts born in Ancient Greece
The Olympics are, like New7Wonders, the successful modern revival of an ancient Greek concept designed to bring people together in a positive competition. New7Wonders, thanks to another Greek invention, democracy, continues to create Global Memory as the world’s citizens join together to honor our common heritage. As athletes from across the globe are celebrated in Vancouver, New7Wonders encourages Olympics fans to also celebrate the diversity of our natural world by participating in the campaign.
As is so often the case in the sporting world, New7Wonders is also in the process of topping its own record, the phenomenal success of the first global election—the current race is on track to get more than 1 billion votes worldwide.

http://www.new7wonders.com/n7w/news/new7wonders-sharing-olympic-spotlight-4th-time

ARTICLE POSTED BY: MARK YAN

Santa Claus visiting New7Wonders of Nature finalist Grand Canyon
Hualapai tribe welcoming Christmas visitor with native dances and traditions
Zurich/Switzerland, Dec. 17, 2009 - While many famous faces have supported the New7Wonders campaigns over the years, Santa Claus visiting the Grand Canyon right before Christmas is a special tribute to this Official Finalist. Having moved from the North Pole to an authentic wickiup, or Native American one-room home, in the Arizona heat, Santa is listening to wishes of children from around the world. His sleigh and reindeer are parked right outside his wickiup.

Instead of reindeer games, Santa joining in cowboy games this year
Santa will be making his final preparations for Christmas in warmth this year, staying at the Grand Canyon until Dec. 24. To celebrate Santa’s visit, local Hualapai Indians are performing traditional dances and showing Santa Claus and visitors around the Native American village representing the Hualapai, Hopi, Navajo and Plains Indian cultures.

Santa is also taking advantage of his stay in the Wild West to enjoy a bonfire and hot chocolate with some local cowboys at Hualapai Ranch, an authentic Old West town. Cowboys will let St. Nick (and perhaps even Rudolph?) participate in cowboy games and then temporarily trade in his sleigh bells for a horse-drawn wagon ride along the Western Rim.

Santa Claus says: vote and help us celebrate our amazing natural world!
Santa Claus, one of the early believers in worldwide action, encourages all good boys and girls around the world to vote for their favorite Finalists in the Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign. The campaign’s motto is right up Santa’s alley - “If you want to save something, you first have to really appreciate it.”

http://www.new7wonders.com/n7w/news/santa-claus-visiting-new7wonders-nature-finalist-grand-canyon

ARTICLE POSTED BY: VON REVILLA


5
PIA Press Release
2009/12/07
Enhanced integrated tourism program gets underway in Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa City (7 December) -- The city government recently launched its Enhanced Integrated Tourism Program in a bid to make Puerto Princesa City as the country's premier eco-tourism city destination.
Ms. Araceli Villanueva, City Tourism Consultant presented the program to more than 100 tourism industry players citing the components of the program as frontrunners of the "enhanced" package.
The components include arrival and departure amenities; tourist international and assistance centers; community/barangay ownership of projects; and, enhanced systematic working arrangements for the Underground River tour, the Honda Bay Tour, and city tour with appropriate sectors both public and private.
Ms. Villanueva also underscored the importance of adhering to the Global Code of Ethics which sets the frame of reference for responsible and sustainable development of world tourism.
In a related news, Mr. Jamas Mendoza, Project Manager of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean National River (PPSNR) said that there is a remarkable increase in the visitors to the park this year as compared to the same period last year.
As of November, there are already 131,942 park visitors while there were only 93,438 total registered visitors in 2008. Of the total park visitors this year, only 14.6% were foreigners. The summer months of March to May registered the most number of visitors.
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean National River is the Philippines lone entry to the search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p091207.htm&no=40

ARTICLE POSTED BY: MILAIZA JOY PARAS

Nov 13th 2008 - New7Wonders event at the Dead Sea
New7Wonders highlights the Dead Sea as one of the most symbolically powerful nominees in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign with a symbolic event.
Three children representing the future
New7Wonders highlights the Dead Sea as one of the most symbolically powerful nominees in the New7Wonders of Nature global campaign with a riveting event

Three children representing Israel, Jordan, and Palestine sailed together in a wooden boat on the Dead Sea. To honor and respect nature and the Dead Sea as one of the best-recognized New7Wonders of Nature nominees that also lies in an area of great historical and political tension, New7Wonders asked the children representing the nations bordering the Dead Sea - Israel, Jordan and Palestine - to set sail together in its salty waters. The event was provided with the support of and help from the Societies for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Palestine and Jordan.


MEDIA: For high-resolution versions of these photos, please go to the Press Area
Powerful Symbolism
It is also a call to the world for a new, overarching level of communication and incentive for peace - in the Dead Sea region and around the globe. Not only must we work together to ensure that our planet survives and flourishes, but also to guarantee peace and opportunity for all people.

New7Wonders of Nature recognizing the power of the Dead Sea
The event underlines the significance of the Dead Sea’s nomination in the global New7Wonders of Nature campaign. It is one of the best-known multi-national nominees worldwide with an important historical background. This is in addition to both its context of being in a politically sensitive area and the fact that the Dead Sea faces an urgent and dire environmental threat of drying up (It loses 1 meter of sea level every year!) that can only be mastered by a concerted effort from all of the parties involved.

About the New7Wonders of Nature campaign
The New7Wonders of Nature campaign follows the successful New 7 Wonders of the World campaign that culminated in the unveiling of the new man-made wonders in a spectacular event in Lisbon on 07.07.07. More than 100 million votes created Global Memory in the world’s first-ever global election. Now, the world is voting for our natural wonders, with over 1 billion votes forecast.

“Nature does not know nor recognize the boundaries and limits that we humans have drawn in our minds”
Bernard Weber, Founder and President, the New7Wonders Foundation

http://www.new7wonders.com/n7w/news/nov-13th-2008-new7wonders-event-dead-sea

ARTICLE POSTED BY: ABRAHAM JUAN

Forests more important for German economy than cars
German forests employ 1.3 million people. The Black Forest is one of the elite 28 Official Finalists in the global election of the Official New7Wonders of Nature
Zurich/Switzerland, January 26, 2010 - A number of recent articles, such as Stern Magazine (issue 48/2009), have cited the Nov. 3, 2009 “German Forestry and Timber Cluster Study:” German forests directly or indirectly employ about 1.3 million people—compared to 750,000 in what many Germans see as their primary industry, cars, and compared to 810,000 in electronics and 465,000 in the chemical industry. It’s time that German industry and politicians wake up and smell the sap!
Germany has the highest volume of tree wood (3.4 billion cubic m) of any European country, though Finland, Sweden and Austria may be better known for their woods. This resource is extremely valuable for the environment and precious for many industries, such as tourism and timber. Yet experts warn that the situation is critical and up to 20% of all trees in German forests are sick. The past has shown that political and popular action can make a difference—in the 1980s, people reacted strongly to the news that acid rain was killing the Black Forest and drastic action helped the situation dramatically.
A vote for the Black Forest can help save it
The Black Forest is one of the elite 28 Official Finalists in the global election of the Official New7Wonders of Nature. The first New7Wonders campaign chose the man-made Official New 7 Wonders of the World, thanks to more than 100 million votes in the world’s first-ever global vote. The winners and participants have noted record levels of increased tourism and economic benefits—with rises of up to 70% in some cases. New7Wonders calls upon German politicians, business leaders and the media to raise awareness amongst Germans, Europeans and people worldwide of the importance of the largest European forest. Often referred to as “Europe’s green lungs,” these ancient woods must be protected and preserved.

http://www.new7wonders.com/n7w/news/forests-more-important-german-economy-cars

ARTICLE POSTED BY CARLITO JACINTO

Palawan river in new 7 world wonders finals
By Redempto Anda
Inquirer Southern Luzon

First Posted 10:44:00 07/22/2009

Filed Under: Good news, Philippines - Regions, Environmental Issues, Nature

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Advertisement PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Underground River of Puerto Princesa City has made it to the final 28 in the ongoing global search for the new seven wonders of nature.

After competing with over 400 nominees in an Internet-based voting process that was started two years ago by a Swiss-based organization where over 1 billion Internet votes were cast, the island province's main tourist draw has hurdled the final selection process that will determine the official new Seven Wonders of the World.

"This is an extraordinary achievement and the eyes of the planet will be upon the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Philippines for the next two years. We look forward to an exciting and record-breaking final race, with the whole world coming together to choose the Official New Seven Wonders of Nature," Bernard Weber, founder and president of New7Wonders Foundation said in a statement released Tuesday night.

Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn vowed to bring the city government's campaign to solicit votes for the Philippines’ lone entry to the international level, tapping into Filipino communities abroad and seeking support from multilateral agencies that have supported the underground river.

"This is the crucial stage of voting and we have made it this far even with very little resources and relying only on friends and visitors who have seen the underground river. Now is the time to rally behind our country's best bet to be included in the new Seven Wonders of the World," Hagedorn said in a text message sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A panel of experts chose the 28 finalists from 77 nominees that were selected in the previous stage.

The panel of experts includes: panel president Prof. Dr. Federico Mayor, Dr. John Francis (United States environmentalist, social activist, author, and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador to the World's Grassroots Communities), Simon King (Kenya/United Kingdom documentary filmmaker), Ana Paula Tavares (Brazil/US senior vice president and vice president of development of the Rainforest Alliance), Bernard Weber (Canada/Switzerland global voting campaign expert, photographer, filmmaker, and author), Prof. Jan Zima (Czech Republic biodiversity scientist) and Rex Weyler (Canada environmental journalist, activist, and founder of Greenpeace).

The underground river is the main feature of a vast protected area that was declared a World Heritage Site as early as 1995. Located 50 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa City, it features a two kilometer navigable river underneath a karst (limestone) mountain formation with centuries old stalactites and stalagmites.

Organizers said that as one of the 28 finalists, Puerto Princesa's Underground River will be included in an international road show that will seek to draw global attention to the place and encourage people all over the world to vote for their choice.

ARTICLE POSTED BY: JOMAR ENTAC