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VenerableBottyBurp V
VenerableBottyBurp Jun 7, 2007 18:46:08
Replying to nigelswift

First off I wasn't defending the time capsule at all. Secondly, while the UNESCO rule change may have something to do with the suggestion of a time capsule, I don't know enough about it to comment. What I can say is the education initiative was a goal long before the hole was noticed in Silbury and it is part of a number of initiatives that are vital to the future safeguarding and recovery of history of the site. Which should be clear from the next point.

Lastly, I hope I need say no more to underline the unique importance of getting the local community onside than relay some stop press. Representations re the time capsule suggestion, have been made by locals. Who to and how many I can't say, but I do believe the source I heard it from, so don't lets snipe at the best positioned allied troops eh ?

Living in the WHS doesn't do much for locals, but like JFK ask yourself what they might do for their country.

VBB

L Littlestone
Littlestone Jun 7, 2007 19:48:17
Replying to VenerableBottyBurp

Representations re the time capsule suggestion, have been made by locals.
Thanks for that VBB. I'm assuming that these representations by the locals are representations against the idea of a time capsule not for one. If so more power to local elbows ;-)

Thanks also to Nigel who says, "Further, let it not go unchallenged that openness and community sharing is merely something recently required or originates only from UNESCO. It has been called for by the public, owed to them and withheld from them for 7 years."

Well said as always Nigel. Time, however, waits for none of us, and the anger against English Heritage's lack of transparency and bizarre time capsule idea seems to be mounting. There are now whispers and rumours of a possible mass demonstration at Silbury during this year's summer solstice. Principal demands seem to be similar to those expressed here -

1) Full, accurate and up-to-the-minute progress reports by English Heritage on their activities at Silbury.

2) The immediate halting of English Heritage's plan to leave a time capsule in Silbury.

3) On completion of English Heritage's conservation project, a simple non-intrusive ceremony open to all and culminating in the sealing of Silbury once and for all.

N nigelswift
nigelswift Jun 8, 2007 04:35:32
Replying to VenerableBottyBurp

Aye, good points VBB. As you will know I'm sure, my "come off it" wasn't aimed at you but at EH. Engaging the locals is right and overdue, I just feel it shouldn't be used to divert from the fact that there are an awful lot of other stakeholders that have fundamental natural rights to be kept informed - and the duty to do so ought to have been recognised without any need for prompting either from the stakeholders themselves or from international conventions.
After all, we're all taxpayers. That should have been a bit of a clue.