[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 45 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2055-S2056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 126--SUPPORTING THE MISSION OF UNESCO'S WORLD 
  HERITAGE CONVENTION AND CELEBRATING THE 2011 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR 
                          MONUMENTS AND SITES

  Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Nelson of Florida, and Mr. Udall of New 
Mexico) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 126

       Whereas the United States was the primary architect of the 
     Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural 
     and Natural Heritage, done at Paris November 23, 1972 
     (commonly known as the ``World Heritage Convention''), and 
     the following year became the first of the now 187 countries 
     to ratify the convention;
       Whereas the World Heritage Convention is the most widely 
     accepted and effective conservation mechanism for the world's 
     most significant natural and cultural sites, and the only 
     international convention focused on both nature and culture;
       Whereas the Word Heritage Convention exemplifies the United 
     Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's 
     (UNESCO) goals of promoting peace through cultural dialogue;
       Whereas the ideals set forth in the Convention reflect the 
     commitment of the United States to conserving its national 
     parks and other forms of natural and cultural heritage;
       Whereas the United States has served four terms on the 
     World Heritage Committee, most recently from 2005 through 
     2009;
       Whereas the World Heritage List currently contains 911 
     cultural and natural sites, 21 of which are located within 
     the United States, including Florida's Everglades National 
     Park, whose Ten Thousand Islands area composes part of the 
     largest stand of protected mangrove forest in the Western 
     hemisphere; Wrangell-St. Elias and Glacier Bay National Parks 
     in Alaska, which contain some of the world's longest 
     glaciers; California's Redwood National and State Parks, home 
     to some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world; Grand 
     Canyon National Park in Arizona, which retraces geological 
     history over 2,000,000,000 years and represents the four 
     major geologic eras; Independence Hall in Pennsylvania, where 
     both the Declaration of Independence and the United States 
     Constitution were signed; and Taos Pueblo, in New Mexico, one 
     of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the 
     United States, and the only living American community 
     designated both a World Heritage Site and a National 
     Historical Landmark;
       Whereas, in 2010, for the first time in 15 years, the World 
     Heritage Committee inscribed a site in the United States, 
     Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, onto the World 
     Heritage List, a site that is a natural and cultural treasure 
     for Hawaiians and is rich in marine biodiversity and pristine 
     natural beauty;
       Whereas UNESCO and its World Heritage Centre play a vital 
     role in the safeguarding

[[Page S2056]]

     of monuments and sites in times of crisis, war, or natural 
     disaster;
       Whereas, in an age of increasing conflict and volatility, 
     the World Heritage Convention is more important than ever in 
     ensuring the protection of priceless historical treasures;
       Whereas the recent upheaval in Egypt, which threatened 
     artifacts from the antiquities museum in Cairo, and mounting 
     concerns about the destruction of the Roman ruins of Leptis 
     Magna and other ancient cites in Libya serve as reminders of 
     the crucial role UNESCO plays in promoting protection and 
     conservation;
       Whereas, through its List of World Heritage in Danger, 
     UNESCO seeks to work with national governments to preserve 
     natural and cultural sites under duress, by raising 
     international awareness and providing local authorities with 
     the support they need;
       Whereas, in Afghanistan, UNESCO's safeguarding campaign is 
     premised on the belief that a shared cultural heritage can 
     strengthen national identity and create a common sense of 
     ownership over the country's past and future;
       Whereas the United States Government provides considerable 
     assistance to World Heritage sites around the globe through 
     programs such as the National Park Service's World Heritage 
     Fellowship, which provides site managers from developing 
     countries with training at World Heritage sites in the United 
     States, including Everglades, Grand Canyon, Hawaii Volcanoes, 
     and Olympic National Parks;
       Whereas the World Heritage Centre has formed innovative 
     partnerships with several private organizations in the United 
     States, including new interactive tools that allow users to 
     virtually tour UNESCO World Heritage sites from their 
     computers;
       Whereas April 18th has been endorsed by the UNESCO General 
     Conference as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, 
     also known as World Heritage Day; and
       Whereas the 39th anniversary of the day in 2011 reflects a 
     long-standing commitment to the celebration and preservation 
     of natural and cultural sites around the world: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the mission of UNESCO's World Heritage 
     Convention;
       (2) acknowledges the 39th anniversary of the International 
     Day for Monuments and Sites; and
       (3) commends UNESCO and its role in preserving and 
     celebrating natural and cultural sites worldwide.

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