Activists are fuming after UNESCO decided not to list Stonehenge as an endangered site. It’s like giving a thumbs-up to the government’s crazy plan to build a road and tunnel right next to this ancient wonder.
According to Gizmodo on Saturday (July 27, 2024), this isn’t just about a simple road expansion. Imagine having construction trucks rumbling past your thousand-year-old rocks. How’s that for an ancient headache?
Stonehenge is already showing signs of wear and tear, and archaeologists are worried they’ll lose crucial parts of this prehistoric puzzle. It’s like losing the corner pieces of your jigsaw—total nightmare!
Last Wednesday (July 24), UNESCO shot down the idea that Stonehenge should be on the endangered World Heritage site list. If it had been, the British government might have been forced to rethink their bulldozing plans.
Johns Adam, the head honcho at Stonehenge Alliance, said it was a gloomy day for Stonehenge. He believes this decision is a recipe for disaster for the iconic site in Wiltshire and all of England.
Adam said it’s a hollow victory for the UK government because the project will cause permanent, irreversible damage.
The Conservative Party gave the green light to the road plans, but Adam is crossing his fingers that the Labour Party will step in and slam the brakes on this ill-conceived project.
The President of the Stonehenge Alliance called it a justice catastrophe. He blasted the government’s frantic cover-up attempts, saying it’s a shame if Labour ministers are also involved.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Anna Nsubuga, cheered the UNESCO committee’s decision. She claimed the tunnel won’t endanger Stonehenge, which has been a World Heritage site since 1986. Yeah, right. Because nothing spells “heritage protection” like a giant hole in the ground.
The UK government is eager to push forward, insisting the project will bring peace and quiet to the site. Sure, nothing says tranquility like construction noise and heavy machinery.
Stonehenge has had its fair share of facelifts, the latest in 2021. The top stones were fortified with some fancy, weather-resistant cement.
The true purpose of Stonehenge (built around 3700 BC) is still anyone’s guess. Was it a burial site, a place of worship, or an ancient calendar? Nobody knows for sure, but its historical significance is undeniable.
While the government sees this as progress, many view it as a step back in preserving one of the world’s most mysterious and beloved historical sites.