UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

For our Geo Quiz today we’re searching for some intangible cultural heritage. That’s how the United Nations cultural body UNESCO refers to traditions around the world worth protecting. These range from Mongolian calligraphy to Armenia’s water festival to Sumatra’s Dance of a Thousand Hands.

US Response to Palestinian UNESCO Membership

The United States’ response to the Palestinian Authority getting full membership into UNESCO is to cut off funds to the UN agency. Cartoon by Swiss Lebanese cartoonist Patrick Chappatte, International Herald Tribune.

UNESCO Admits ‘Palestine’ As Full Member

The Palestinian Authority is calling the decision a symbolic victory because what they really want is full membership in the United Nations.

Gazans Consider Palestinian Bid for Statehood

The overall push for UN membership has the support of many Palestinians, but some don’t see the bid making much of a difference.

French landmark and wind power

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The Geo Quiz is making a pilgrimage of sorts. We’re looking for a tiny, tidal island, right off the coast of Normandy in France. It’s famous for its breathtaking setting and is crowned by an abbey whose foundation dates back to the 8th century. A government plan to erect wind turbines nearby is now threatening its status as a World Heritage Site. Download MP3

Istanbul’s world heritage sites in neglect

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Julia Rooke reports on the sorry state of many of Istanbul’s historic treasures. The city linking Europe and Asia features architectural gems dating from Roman times to the Ottoman empire. But many are in such bad shape that Istanbul may lose its status as a UN World Heritage Site. Download MP3

Turkey’s World Heritage sites
Istanbul’s Unesco World Heritage status under threat

Langkawi Island

The island that figures in today’s Geo Quiz just experienced an invasion of sorts. Langkawi Island was taken over last week by helicopters, warships, and surface-to-air missile launchers.

Gaddafi’s translator and Nazi slogans in English

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In the latest World in Words podcast, the top five language-related stories from the past month. Among them: the sad tale of Muammar Gaddafi’s translator at the United Nations; the quixotic tale of the real estate mogul who is trying to export Korean Hangul script to Indonesia; and a German court’s decision to permit Nazi hate speech, so long as it’s not in German.

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World Digital Library goes live (3:00)

A UNESCO project went online today. It’s the World Digital Library. It’s a collaboration among libraries and cultural institutions around the world that are making some of their treasures available on line. The World’s Alex Gallafent has the story. http://www.wdl.org/en/