Message
from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the
occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous
People, 9 August 2007
Indigenous knowledge systems represent an invaluable and irreplaceable
resource and a critical component of sustainable development. The
worldviews of most indigenous peoples, which recognize the inextricable
links between culture and nature, clearly resonate with UNESCO’s
efforts to protect and promote cultural as well as biological diversity.
This is a matter of growing concern to many indigenous communities
around the world and constitutes the essence of their recent call
for “development with identity”...
UNESCO. Director General. Messages. France.
Publicated: 20-08-2007
Director-General
visits Elche, home of Spain’s first Masterpiece of the Oral
and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
From 12 to 14 August 2007, the Director-General, Mr. Koïchiro
Matsuura, paid his first visit to the city of Elche in the Alicante
province in the Valencian Community in Spain. At the invitation
of the Mayor of Elche, Mr. Alejandro Soler Mur, the Director-General
attended the festivities of the “Mystery Play of Elche”
proclaimed in 2001 as Spain’s first of two Masterpieces of
the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
UNESCO. Office of the Spokeswoman. Flash
Info N° 106-2007. Publicated: 17-08-2007
Message
from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the
occasion of the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave
Trade and its Abolition. 23 August 2007
Since 1998, UNESCO has been reminding the international community
of the importance of commemorating 23 August, International Day
for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. This date
not only commemorates the historic night in 1791 when the slaves
of Santo Domingo rose up to break their chains and launch the insurrection
that eventually led to the Haitian revolution, it also serves to
pay tribute to all those who worked collectively and individually
to trigger the irreversible process of the abolition of the slave
trade and slavery throughout the world. This commitment and the
strategies of action used that were conducted to fight the inhumane
system of slavery were to have a considerable impact on the human
rights movement.
UNESCO. Messages. Publ: 2007; 2 p.; DG/ME/ID/2007/012.
France. Publicated: 16-08-2007
Director-General
opens 2007 UNESCO Children’s Performing Arts Festival of East
Asia in Shenyang
On 2 August, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura,
opened the 2007 UNESCO Children’s Performing Arts Festival
of East Asia in Shenyang, China.
UNESCO. Office of the Spokeswoman. Flash
Info N° 105-2007. France. Publicated: 16-08-2007 |
