> Forwarded: call for submissions for WAC...
>
> For those interested in the Tara issue, this is a superb opportunity. Read
on...
>
> Stiof
>
> #####################################################
>
> Call for submissions on Hill of Tara / M3 motorway for Sixth World
> Archaeolocial Congress. Deadline 12th June.
>
> TaraWatch recived notification on Thursday 5th June, from the World
> Archaeological Congress (WAC), Committee on Ethics, that we had been
> recognised as stakeholders in the ongoing Hill of Tara / M3 issue for
> the upcoming Sixth World Archaeological Congress, (WAC-6) to be held at
> University College Dublin, from the 29th June to 4th July.
> http://www.ucd.ie/wac-6/
>
> We would like to extend the invitation to the public, and are offering
> to submit individual and group submissions, on their behalf. WAC have
> approved this process, and are anxious to hear from all converned
> parties. Submissions need to be made as soon as possible. Please send
> them to info@...
>
> TaraWatch yesterday received the exciting news that WAC-6 is going to
> address the Hill of Tara/M3 motorway issue at a round table session,
> which is being organised by the WAC Standing Committee on Ethics.
> http://www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org/site/active_stan.php
>
> This is a massive boost for the Tara campaign, as it will be an
> opportunity for heritage experts and professionals from around the
> world will be looking at it from an objective and ethical standpoint.
> It is absolutely critical that this process is used to the utmost, to
> make the case for Tara, while there is still a whisper of time left to
> save it.
>
> This notice is designed to share that news, and serve as a public
> consultation, under the laws principles and principles of Agenda 21,
> and sustainable development, which all public bodies, NGOs and
> stakeholders in the envionmental arena (including media outlets) are
> required to follow. Everyone has a stake in this issue, and a right to
> have their opinions heard. National surveys have shown that 70% of
> people want the M3 re-routed and an Irish Times survey showed that 82%
> of people surveyed think Tara should be a UNESCO site. Minister Gormley
> has responded that he will declare Tara a World Heritage Site, but with
> the motorway through it. We are campaigning to have UNESCO dcline that
> offer, and insist that the M3 is re-routed first.
>
> Given the enormity of the issue, and the multiple events that have
> occurred over the last ten years, in relation to this project,
> compiling a complete dossier is a mammoth task, particularly when laws
> like the World Heritage Convention and the National Monuments Acts are
> applied to those facts, in an attempt to formulate arguments that are
> coherent. Expert affidavits, and technical reports make the mater all
> the more challenging. We are lucky to be working with some heritage
> experts, in this regard, but we need all of the information available,
> and as much co-operative assistance as possible. Hopefully, like with
> our successful World Monuments Fund - 100 Most Endangered Sites List
> nomination, we will get the job done.
> http://wmf.org/watch2008/watch.php?id=S8351
>
> The shortage of time in this matter is not our doing. We only received
> notice yesterday, that this issue would be raised and that we hold
> stakeholder status. Submissions need to be submitted in time for all
> the participants in the round table to have time to read and understand
> them - which is a week before the event, at a minimum. So, we are
> setting June 21, the Summer Solstice, as our date of submission. In
> order for us to process third party submissions, and integrate them
> into our own, we need to receive them at week before then, which brings
> us back to the 14th of June. So, we have a week to hear from as many
> people as possible.
>
> We are going to schedule a public event very shortly, which will
> explain the process in detail. In the meantime, there are a number of
> things you can do if you want to communicate your opinion on this
> matter to WAC-6, and indeed UNESCO and ICOMOS. If you prefer to stay
> anonymous, we will pass along the material as we are given it.
>
> 1. Please write a concise account of your opinions or experiences, in
> relation to this the Tara / M3 controversy. Address issues such as:
> - why do you consider yourself a stakeholder/ why is Tara important to
> you?
> - what is wrong/right with the M3 motorway, in relation to Tara?
> - is this an indigenous rights, religious, philosophical,
> environmental, political, moral, economic, practical issue for you?
> - what specific experiences have you had in relaiton to Tara?
> - what specific experiences have you had in relation the authorities?
> - what laws do you think apply?
> - what solutions are available?
> - how did it come to all this?
>
> 2. Either write it into the onlone petition, as a comment, or mail it
> to info@...
>
> TaraWatch launched an online petition on Wednesday, addressed to
> UNESCO, ICOMOS and WAC-6 attendees. It was designed as a method of
> trying to raise the Tara issue with the WAC-6 delegates, as we were
> unaware that we would be invited to make a submission. Now, that
> peition is going to serve as a key part of our submission. It makes it
> easy for people to participate, and make their views known.
> http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savetara/
>
> 3. If you feel you want to assist further, there is a lot of work to be
> done compiling the full dossier. If you are interested in law, the
> environment, heritage, globalisation etc, and want to play a key role
> in making the case for Tara, on a world stage, please come and help us.
> - please forward this notice to anyone you think might be a stakeholder
> - please forward the petition link to all your contacts
> - please try and attend the upcoming meeting, which will be noticed
> here
> - please drop a line, and we'll find something for you to do.
>
> This story has broken on the main news outlets, during the course of
> the day today. Please see:
> http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0606/breaking74.htm
> http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hWz-ZP6Uz-FvkHz7Cr5AdFYien1Q
> http://www.meltontimes.co.uk/latest-irish-news/Archaeologists-discuss-Hill-
of-Tara.41620
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Save the Hill of Tara from the M3 Motorway!
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