On November 16, 1972, the World Heritage Convention was adopted by UNESCO‘s General Assembly. Over the past 50 years, it has become clear that world heritage sites are not only a vital asset for humanity but also a source of resilience and innovation, which is celebrated internationally this year under the name “The Next 50” to foster discussions on sustainable development and how we should preserve our shared world heritage, which today numbers 1,154 sites.
From the ruins of World War II emerged the idea that the world’s cultural and natural heritage must be protected from destruction, as they represent different chapters in the story of Earth’s and humanity’s history. World heritage sites are crucial building blocks for creating and maintaining peace, promoting inclusion, and fostering unity among people regardless of national borders.
In connection with the anniversary, Grimeton Radio Station joins Denmark’s creative idea to encourage everyone they know to create the World Heritage logo using their own imagination.
– We like this idea initiated by Kongernes Jelling and Christiansfeld in Kolding. The World Heritage emblem symbolizes the interdependence between culture and nature, where the square in the center represents the result of human creativity while the circle stands for nature’s creations. Spreading the call for creativity and awareness to preserve world heritage sites is a brilliant idea, says Camilla Lugnet, CEO of the World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station.
Across social media, various imaginative images are now tagged with the hashtags #thenext50 and #shapeunescoworldheritage50. Everything from hands in formation to historical coins from the Viking era forming the World Heritage logo. Grimeton Radio Station’s history is about wireless communication, and even today, the large and nearly hundred-year-old radio station can transmit Morse code to the entire world, so a World Heritage logo in Morse code was fitting. It highlights the beginning of the message in the Danish world heritage sites’ call. The call reads:
The World Heritage belongs to us all
This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of The World Heritage Convention
We invite you to make your own World Heritage logo and share on social media #shapeunescoworldheritage50
Only together can we protect The World Heritage
On November 16, Alexander Friends Association will also start the long-wave transmitter SAQ to send a message formulated by Lena Sommestad, chair of the Swedish UNESCO Council and former environment minister and governor of Halland County. The message is expected to be a call to protect the valuable and irreplaceable world heritage sites – from the world’s first national park Yellowstone, USA, the Acropolis in Athens, or nearby sites like the Hanseatic town of Visby and Grimeton Radio Station.
– Being able to send her message to the world with our unique transmitter in Grimeton feels good and important, especially in these troubled times, says Camilla Lugnet.
Sommestad’s message will also be published on Grimeton Radio Station’s website and social media in connection with the broadcast after it has hopefully been received worldwide by enthusiastic radio amateurs. During this broadcast, the transmitter hall is not open to visitors, but the entire broadcast will also be streamed on the friends association’s YouTube channel for those who do not have a receiver radio at home. The YouTube broadcast starts at 4:25 PM CET and the long-wave transmitter broadcasts at 5:00 PM CET.
Lena Sommestad sends a message from the World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station on November 16, 2022, in connection with the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention.
