Voting On Nature's New 7 Wonders Underway

Swiss Non-Profit Pushes For Public Input On The World's Most Wondrous Sites

(AP)  The Grand Canyon, Mount Everest and Loch Ness will vie with more than 200 other spectacular places in the next phase of the global competition for the New 7 Wonders of Nature, organizers said Wednesday.

The 261 nominees from 222 countries include some of the most famous mountain peaks, lakes, and other attractions, such as the Great Barrier Reef and Niagara Falls.

Over a billion people are expected to join in Internet voting that will nominate 77 semifinalists for the top natural wonders, which will share in the glory already enjoyed by the seven man-made wonders chosen 18 months ago.

"We are calling on people all over the world to actively show their appreciation for our ... natural world by joining together to celebrate the most extraordinary sites on our planet," said Tia Viering, spokeswoman of the New 7 Wonders campaign.

The Swiss-based nonprofit foundation collected 441 nominations over the Internet since it opened the selection process in 2007.

The foundation then chose the top vote-getter from each country, making a list of 222 sites. The overall list rose to 261 with the inclusion of sites shared by two or more countries - such as Niagara Falls and Lake Superior between Canada and the United States, and the Matterhorn, between Switzerland and Italy.

Votes can be cast until July 7. Registration on the Web site aims to prevent people from voting twice.

The quarterfinalists include some lesser known sites, such as Yasur Volcano on the south Pacific island of Vanuatu or Nigeria's Zuma Rock, a giant monolith in the middle of the African country.

A panel of experts in nature, chaired by Federico Mayor, former chief of UNESCO, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, will reduce the list to 21 finalists in July.

The seven winners will then be chosen in another round of public voting lasting until 2011, this time by Internet, telephone and text messages.

Around 100 million people voted in the selection of the seven man-made wonders. The winners were the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt; the Colosseum, Italy; the Great Wall of China; the Taj Mahal, India; Petra, Jordan; Christ the Redeemer Statue, Brazil; Machu Picchu, Peru; and the Pyramid at Chichen Itza, Mexico.

"The enthusiasm for the campaign, which brought culture out of dusty corners and back to life on front pages, TV screens and computers everywhere, crossed all social and economic lines," said Viering. "Everyone from schoolchildren to entrepreneurs eagerly participated."

Choosing world wonders has been a continuing fascination over the centuries. UNESCO keeps updating its list of World Heritage Sites, which now totals 878 places.

The New 7 Wonders campaign led by Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber aims to promote cultural diversity by supporting, preserving and restoring monuments and natural sites. It relies on private donations and revenue from selling broadcasting rights.

[erasmus606]

Hussey.

Posted by AJMarine111 at 03:40 PM : Jan 08, 2009


Tell me about it stud!

I got chills.
They''re multiplyin''.
And I''m losin'' control.
''Cause the power
you''re supplyin'',
it''s electrifyin''!

You better shape up,
''cause I need a man
and my heart is set on you.
You better shape up;
you better understand
to my heart I must be true.


You''re the one that I want.
(you are the one i want), o,o, oo, honey.
The one that I want.
(you are the one i want want), o,o,oo, honey.
The one that I want
(you are the one i want want), o,o, ooooo
The one I need.
Oh, yes indeed.

From "You''re The One That I Want" lyrics

:)

[ajmarine111]

Posted by AJMarine111 at 08:36 PM : Jan 07, 2009

They most certainly are!


Posted by erasmus606 at 11:22 PM : Jan 07, 2009




Hussey.

[erasmus606]

I think things are good now.

Posted by AJMarine111 at 08:36 PM : Jan 07, 2009

They most certainly are!

[ajmarine111]

I think you have lost me again.

Posted by erasmus606 at 08:11 PM : Jan 07, 2009



I think things are good now.

[erasmus606]

I think you have lost me again. I have sent the second paragraph. I asked you if you wanted me to just go ahead and send the third one.

[ajmarine111]

Well that''''s an improvement.


Posted by erasmus606 at 06:46 PM : Jan 07, 2009



I think I just got part three,.......either that, or its a new exercise program.

It had 6:41 on it.

[erasmus606]

Posted by AJMarine111 at 06:39 PM : Jan 07, 2009

Well that''s an improvement.

[ajmarine111]

When did you send the "Ta gra agam duit"? I just got it a few minutes ago.

Posted by erasmus606 at 06:33 PM : Jan 07, 2009


6:04, I just received your ditto too it.

[erasmus606]

"I have been deleting e-mails as I go, to keep them from building up."
"I just got this."

I didn''t send this one THAT long ago, I don''t think.

When did you send the "Ta gra agam duit"? I just got it a few minutes ago.

[erasmus606]

I still have no part 3 or other mail. I am going to try and send you something.

Posted by AJMarine111 at 05:58 PM : Jan 07, 2009

Usually this doesn''t last for so long. I''m just wondering if "hotmail" is having a problem. Like too much traffic or whatever you call it. Or maybe your place is having a lot of traffic. Maybe a lot of e-mails going in and out.

[ajmarine111]

Posted by erasmus606 at 05:52 PM : Jan 07, 2009


You and I forgot to mention Hudson Bay too, it''s got a lot of history.


I''ve been to the Grand Canyon, but everyone talks about it or has it on some kinda list somewhere. I''ve never been to the Badlands. I have been in Phoenix, Ariz.

I still have no part 3 or other mail. I am going to try and send you something.

[erasmus606]

I would like to see the Grand Canyon. And didn''t someone mention that the "Badlands" were not included in the "Nature''s Wonders"? I''d really like to see that.

[erasmus606]

Your frozen North, your Coast lines, the Middle of the Country, and the Great Lakes count toward this too.

Posted by AJMarine111 at 05:23 PM : Jan 07, 2009

Yes, the north is something to see. I saw pictures of it on "Planet Earth". I like the east coast line, like Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. They have all the rocks on their coast line.

[ajmarine111]

Should I try sending part #3 again, or wait a little longer?


Posted by erasmus606 at 05:32 PM : Jan 07, 2009


Go ahead and try.

Talking about Niagara Falls, they are beautiful. I like Horse Shoe Falls on the Canadian side the best. You can go to a restaurant that is 200 feet in the air and revolves. You get great views of both falls.

[erasmus606]

My computer froze up again. I checked to see if it was on it''s own breaker this morning. It is.

Should I try sending part #3 again, or wait a little longer?

[ajmarine111]

Posted by AJMarine111 at 05:13 PM : Jan 07, 2009

I have never seen Niagara Falls, but I guess they would probably be considered a "wonder".

Posted by erasmus606 at 05:20 PM : Jan 07, 2009



Your frozen North, your Coast lines, the Middle of the Country, and the Great Lakes count toward this too.

[erasmus606]

I must say, part 2 was quit moving. It might even rate with the top Nature things.

Posted by AJMarine111 at 05:18 PM : Jan 07, 2009

Hahahahaha

[erasmus606]

That''''s why I put Canada on my list.

Posted by AJMarine111 at 05:13 PM : Jan 07, 2009

I have never seen Niagara Falls, but I guess they would probably be considered a "wonder".

[ajmarine111]

Every time I went to answer your post another e-mail comes. All your replies are from e-mails I sent awhile back.


Posted by erasmus606 at 05:17 PM : Jan 07, 2009


That''s why I said we need to stop and get ourselves fresh.

I still don''t have part three.

[ajmarine111]

I got your message about getting part 2, looong after I sent it.


Posted by erasmus606 at 05:15 PM : Jan 07, 2009




I must say, part 2 was quit moving. It might even rate with the top Nature things.