The absurdity of the World Cultural Heritage

"812 sites are officially recognised as World Heritage Sites. Why so many ? Why so few ?" Johan Schloemann asks, and questions the logic behind the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which is currently holding a conference in Vilnius. "While the UN's real international policies are in tatters and while the true greatest threats to the world's cultural heritage, namely war, destruction of the environment and overpopulation, are rampant, the international cultural community is busy with its inconsequential historicising of the world at a far-away location – and all the regional cultural managers are forced to cooperate. Now, by the way, the 'world's oral and immaterial cultural heritage' is also to be protected. Vedic singing, Sicilian puppet shows and Madagascan wooden sculptures are already included in the measures. The Swabian-Alemannic carnival, the joke-telling of the Lower Rhine and the woodcarvers of the Erz Mountains are still awaiting their elevation to immortality."

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