New7Wonders of Nature
New7Wonders of Nature (2007-2011) was an initiative started in 2007 to create a list of seven natural wonders chosen by people through a global poll. It was led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber[1] and organized by the New7Wonders Foundation,[2] a Swiss-based foundation. The initiative followed the New7Wonders of the World, which attracted 100 million votes from around the world.
Voting ended in Nov. 11, 2011.[3]
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[edit] Stages of the campaign
The New7Wonders of Nature campaign started in 2007, immediately after the campaign to elect the man-made New7Wonders of the World, in which more than 100 million votes were cast. From over 440 participants representing over 220 countries and through a national qualification and race to become one of the Top 77, as well as the recommendations of the Panel of Experts led by Prof. Federico Mayor, the list of 28 "Official Finalist Candidates" was determined. Voting until November 2011, during which time the New7Wonders World Tour planned to visit each of the finalists to allow them to present themselves to the voters across the globe.
[edit] Criticisms
Indonesia's Vice-Minister for Tourism said the company running the New7Wonders campaign used underhanded tactics, threatening to remove Indonesia's Komodo National Park from the list if Indonesia refused to host a declaration ceremony for $35m.[4] Nothing in the New7Wonders voting procedure prohibited repetitive voting, making the results subject to government and tourism industry campaigns to vote often for local sites with the financial incentive of increased tourism. Philippine president Benigno Simeon Aquino III, in his speech during the official proclamation launch of the Puerto Princesa underground river as one of the 28 finalists, urged the country's 80 million cellphone subscribers to vote PPUR via text. "We send two billion text messages a day, all we need is one billion text votes for the Puerto Princesa Underground River so (we can accomplish) that in half a day," the President said. "I urge everyone to vote to the maximum for the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature" he reiterated.[5]
[edit] Declared winners
| Site | Country | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Jeju Island |  South Korea |
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| Puerto Princesa Underground River |  Philippines |
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[edit] Provisional winners
| Site | Country | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Rainforest and River |  Bolivia,  Brazil,  Colombia,  Ecuador,  France (French Guiana),  Guyana,  Peru,  Suriname,  Venezuela |
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| Halong Bay |  Vietnam |
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| Iguazu / Iguaçu Falls (National Park) |  Argentina, Brazil |
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| Komodo Island (National Park) |  Indonesia |
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| Table Mountain (National Park) |  South Africa |
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[edit] Other finalists
[edit] The 28 finalists
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The project founder Bernard Weber - A Short History
- ^ The New7Wonders Foundation & Campaign
- ^ new7wonders.com, Voting procedure for the New7Wonders of Nature
- ^ aljazeera.com, Controversy mars Seven Wonders of Nature list
- ^ gmanews.tv, Aquino leads online voting for Puerto Princesa underground river
[edit] External links
- New 7 Wonders of Nature
- TV segment on "Canada AM" where travel expert Loren Christie explains the voting procedure
- 28 semi-finalists Wonders of Nature
