edinburgh castle
A picture is worth a thousand words. But in this age of infamous consumption of information , which only superficially touches consciences but does not penetrate, of visual gluttony and unfiltered absorption, sometimes something more is needed . Something that really shakes us in the face of real problems to go beyond the like, the emoji of sadness and sharing on social networks. That is why Google Arts & Culture , In collaboration with CyArk and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) , throw ' Heritage on the Edge' (heritage in danger).
The objective: to show which places face an uncertain future and to show how these places of great cultural interest are coping with the climate emergency . How? With five examples: the moais of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) , the great city-mosque of bager hat in bangladesh , the city of adobe Chan Chan in Peru , the edinburgh castle in scotland Y Kilwa Kisiwani in Tanzania.
Gif about the deterioration of Edinburgh castle
'Heritage in danger' makes available to anyone with an Internet connection "50 videos and documents, 3D models, virtual routes and professional interviews and local communities about emblematic places that are threatened by the climate crisis", as stated in the official statement of Google Arts & Culture.
Through a very visual format, we can 'travel' to the problems of these five places as an example of what is happening in the rest of the world. In the case of Edinburgh Castle, we can see how the increasingly abundant rains erode the land causing the instability of the slopes of the adjoining space . But in addition, data and comparisons are shown on the rise in sea level and its effects in Scotland, awareness of the risk of overcrowding tourism...
Edinburgh
But in addition to graphics, videos and statements, it is important to point out in this initiative, the presence of locals that explain how they live and what are the effects of the climate crisis in your enviroment. For example, in Tanzania , where the oldest mosque on the eastern African coast is located, endangered by coastal erosion, the impact of the climate change in natural water sources and the increase in poverty levels for this reason.
A complete vision that helps to understand that beyond the material damage (cultural and historical), the social balance is broken before the lack of natural resources.
Kilwa Kisiwani in Tanzania
"Our 10,000 members — architects, archaeologists, geographers, urban planners and anthropologists — scattered around the world share a common vision of protection and dissemination of world cultural heritage . The recent youth demonstrations for the climate have highlighted the urgency of the climate crisis, which will also have a devastating effect on our cultural heritage and our historic monuments if we don't act immediately.
Who sentence is the Doctor Toshiyuki Kono , President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, and Distinguished Professor of Private International Law and Property Law at Kyushu University, Japan.
Dr Toshiyuki Kono speaks crudely about the reality of these five sites without beating around the bush. He announces the possible future fall to the sea of the moai , the danger to the Kilwa Kisiwani Mosque from rising sea levels, as well as the destruction of Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the world (in Peru) due to torrential rains.
Chan Chan, Peru
"This project is a call to action. The effects of climate change on our cultural heritage are a clear reflection of the impact it has on our planet as a whole and require a serious response Dr. Toshiyuki Kono continues.
That is why 'Heritage on the Edge' is based on two pillars: the first, on the graphic and scientific demonstration of what happens in these places; the second, on the different projects that are already on the table and in action to prevent the future ravages of the climate crisis.
In the case of bager hat in bangladesh , the so-called "mosque of the nine domes", from the Google Arts project the following question is raised: "This medieval city has survived more than 600 years, how can it adapt today to the consequences of climate change?".
In the last decade, Bangladeshi has applied the National Adaptation Plan, that is, a trust fund that is entirely destined to implement "community action strategies" to avoid, as far as possible, the effects of climate change.
An initiative that, with concrete examples, helps whip minds and raise awareness about that quasi-apocalyptic future that 'is already here'. But that also sheds flashes of light, highlighting the efforts to preserve a heritage that yes, that is already in danger.
Bagherhat, Bangladesh