Protecting our intangible' cultural heritage2
1 In today's ever-changing global landscape, most
of us recognize the importance of preserving
our own unique cultural heritage.In this age of
rapid globalization, when fewer young people are
interested in learning about the customs of their
ancestors, it may already be too late to preserve
much of our diverse and precious cultural heritage.You may
already know of UNESCO's famous list of World
Heritage Sites, consisting of places selected for
special protection because of their value to the
world, such as the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt or
the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.5 Both Jeju Haenyeo and falconry illustrate the
tremendous range of cultural practices which the
ICH list was created to preserve.'intangible (adj) something which exists although you cannot
touch it
2heritage (n) traditions, languages or buildings belonging to the
culture of a particular society which were created in the past
and still have importanceThese include languages and
spoken traditions (such as storytelling and poetry),
performing arts, traditional crafts and local
knowledge and beliefs.Falconry is practised around the
world from France to Mongolia to the United Arab
Emirates, which is home to the world's first falcon
hospital and each year hosts a falcon 'beauty
contest'.2 The answer, according to UNESCO (United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization),
is yes.That is why in 2008 it published its first
Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list.And yet, while
most of us would agree that UNESCO's efforts
are valuable, I find myself questioning the fairness
and usefulness of the ICH list.Its purpose is to record living
customs and traditions which are endangered
by globalization.Two recent entries
show us just how rich and varied are the practices
selected for protection.All of these are significant, but
what about our songs, stories, ceremonies and
traditional practices?