Unesco
UNESCO is an agency of the United Nations. The name is an acronym for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. It was founded in November 1946.
Its stated aims are to build peace in the minds of men through Education, Social and Natural Science, Culture and Communication.[1]
UNESCO's own description of its role: "(UNESCO) is working to create the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect for shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture. This role is critical, particularly in the face of terrorism, which constitutes an attack against humanity. The world urgently requires global visions of sustainable development based upon observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which lie at the heart of UNESCO’s mission and activities."
Some of the organisations Millennium Develeopment Goals were:
- To halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty in developing countries by 2015
- To achieve universal primary education in all countries by 2015
- To eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005
- To help countries implement a national strategy for sustainable development by 2005 to reverse current trends in the loss of environmental resources by 2015.
World Heritage Sites
UNESCO lists 830 properties throughout the world which are regarded as having great cultural or natural heritage which the World Heritage committe considers to have universal value.[2] These 830 items include 644 cultural, 162 natural and 24 mixed properties in 138 different countries or associated states. The countries with the greatest number of entries are :
41 - Italy 39 - Spain 33 - China 32 - Germany 30 - France 27 - United Kingdom 26 - India, Mexico 23 - Russia 20 - USA 17 - Brazil 16 - Australia, Greece 14 - Sweden 13 - Canada 12 - Czech Republic 10 - Peru 9 - Belgium, Bulgaria, Turkey 8 - Argentina, Austria, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iran, Morrocco, Tunisia