Election of new 7 wonders of the world: deadline approaching
{{date|June 25, 2007}}
[[Image:Pyramide Kheops.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Of the original seven wonders of the ancient Greeks, the [[w:Great Pyramid of Giza|Great Pyramid of Giza]] is the only one remaining. The other six on the list are:<br/>
- the [[w:Hanging Gardens of Babylon|Hanging Gardens of Babylon]],<br/>
- the [[w:Temple of Artemis at Ephesus|Temple of Artemis at Ephesus]],<br/>
- the [[w:Statue of Zeus at Olympia|Statue of Zeus at Olympia]],<br/>
- the [[w:Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus|Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus]],<br/>
- the [[w:Colossus of Rhodes|Colossus of Rhodes]], and<br/>
- the [[w:Lighthouse of Alexandria|Lighthouse of Alexandria]].]]
The New Open World Foundation will announce the results of the [[w:New Seven Wonders of the World|New Seven Wonders of the World]] election on July 7, 2007 (or 07.07.07). The ballot itself will close on midnight the day before. The Foundation proposes a revision of the ancient [[w:Seven Wonders of the World|Seven Wonders of the World]], of which only the [[w:Pyramids of Giza|Great Pyramid of Giza]] still exist.

Among the 21 candidates left over after the previous election round ended on January 1, 2006, the [[w:Acropolis|Acropolis ]] and the [[w:Maya civilization|Maya]] archeological site of [[w:Chichen Itza|Chichen Itza]] were doing well in earlier rankings. A spokeswoman for the Foundation said earlier this month that the result is wide open.

The election ceremony will be held in [[w:Lisbon|Lisbon]], [[Portugal]]. Hollywood actress [[w:Hilary Swank|Hilary Swank]], British actor [[w:Ben Kingsley|Sir Ben Kingsley]] and [[w:Bollywood|Bollywood ]] actress [[w:Bipasha Basu|Bipasha Basu]] have been announced as hosts, astronaut [[w:Neil Armstrong|Neil Armstrong]] will be present, and performers will include [[w:Jennifer Lopez|Jennifer Lopez]] and [[w:Chaka Khan|Chaka Khan]].

==Countries promote their monuments==
[[Image:New 7 Wonders Top 20.svg|left|thumb|250px|The finalist countries of New Seven Wonders.]]
Some in [[India]] fear however that the [[w:Taj Mahal|Taj Mahal]] might not make the A-list. In the [[w:Bihar|Bihar ]] town of [[w:Muzaffarpur|Muzaffarpur]], sex workers are asking people to cast their vote for the monument in [[w:Agra|Agra]]. "We are doing it in our own small way to promote the 17th century monument of love," said prostitute Shahnaj Bano. [[w:Mughal Empire|Mughal]] Emperor [[w:Shah Jahan|Shah Jahan]] ordered the construction of the mausoleum when his favourite wife died. People of all walks of life have joined the campaign in India: for example, hundreds of lawyers in Rajkot collectively casted their vote to support the Taj in the world wonder poll.

India's Tourism and Culture Minister, [[w:Ambika Soni|Ambika Soni]], previously pitched in the campaign by personally voting for the Taj Mahal, but government officials confirmed that they did not officially support the initiative of the for-profit organisation. "The campaign is not backed by any government agency, though we feel it is good and in the interest of the tourism industry as a whole to promote the Taj Mahal," declared Sudhir Kumar, the Agra chief of the Indian government's tourism department, to the Indo-Asian News Service.

India is not the only country trying to get a monument elected. [[Brazil]]'s soccer team for example, urged Brazilians to vote for [[w:Christ the Redeemer (statue)|Christ Redeemer]], the statue in [[w:Rio de Janeiro|Rio de Janeiro]].

==Criticism on methods==
The campaign started in September 1999 with a website by [[Switzerland|Swiss]] businessman Bernard Weber. One year later, one million votes had already been cast, and today the total number of internet, text message and telephone votes has surpassed 50 million -possibly the largest global poll ever.

Earlier on in the elections, promotional campaigns have been able to severely influence the top seven. An e-mail chain letter in [[Turkey]] caused the nation to set the voting record in February 2002. After the site had been noticed in [[China]], the country took the lead in weeks, according to the Foundation website.

The [[United Nations]] Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ([[w:UNESCO|UNESCO]]) in a press release on July 20 reaffirmed that it has no link with the initiative, which it says would reflect "only the opinions of those with access to the [[internet]]". The Foundation 'Campaign Milestones page' however claims that "more than 25 percent of the world's population is now aware of the N7W campaign" after the media attention around the time the final round began on January 1, 2006. UNESCO also criticized the project's lack of scientific foundation, when compared to its own World Heritage Sites selection method.

==The candidates==
Originally the Pyramids of Giza had to compete against the others in the election, but after criticism in Egypt, they were removed from the election list and made an honorary candidate. The 20 other candidates are:<br/><br/>

<gallery>
Image:Acropolis3.JPG|The [[w:Acropolis of Athens|Acropolis of Athens]], [[Greece]].
Image:Alhambra view.jpg|The [[w:Alhambra|Alhambra ]] in [[w:Granada|Granada]], [[Spain]].
Image:Angkor wat temple.jpg|The temple of [[w:Angkor Wat|Angkor Wat]] in Cambodia.
Image:El Castillo, Chichén Itzá.jpg|[[w:Chichen Itza|Chichen Itza]] in [[w:Yucatan|Yucatan]], [[Mexico]].
Image:Brasil.RioDeJaneiro.Corcovado.jpg|[[w:Christ the Redeemer (statue)|Christ the Redeemer]] in [[w:Rio de Janeiro|Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]].
Image:Colosseum in Rome, Italy - April 2007.jpg|The [[w:Colosseum|Colosseum]] in [[w:Rome|Rome]], [[Italy]].
Image:Moai Rano raraku.jpg|The [[w:Moai|Easter Island Moais]] on [[w:Easter Island|Easter Island]], [[Chile]].
Image:Tour eiffel at sunrise from the trocadero.jpg|The [[w:Eiffel Tower|Eiffel Tower]] in [[w:Paris|Paris]], [[France]].
Image:GreatWallNearBeijingWinter.jpg|The [[w:Great Wall of China|Great Wall of China]].
Image:Aya sofya.jpg|The [[w:Hagia Sophia|Hagia Sophia]] in [[w:Istanbul|Istanbul]], [[Turkey]].
Image:03-05-JPN080-Kiyomizu-dera.jpg|The [[w:Kiyomizu-dera|Kiyomizu Temple]] in [[w:Kyoto|Kyoto]], [[Japan]].
Image:Moscow Kremlin.jpg|The [[w:Moscow Kremlin|Kremlin]], [[w:Red Square|Red Square]], and [[w:Saint Basil's Cathedral|Saint Basil's Cathedral]] in [[w:Moscow|Moscow]], [[Russia]].
Image:Peru Machu Picchu Sunrise.jpg|[[w:Machu Picchu|Machu Picchu]] in [[w:Cuzco|Cuzco]], [[Peru]].
Image:Castle Neuschwanstein.jpg|[[w:Neuschwanstein|Neuschwanstein Castle]] in [[w:Füssen|Füssen]], [[Germany]].
Image:Khazneh.JPG|[[w:Petra|Petra]] in [[Jordan]].
Image:Freiheitsstatue_NYC_full.jpg|The [[w:Statue of Liberty|Statue of Liberty]] in [[New York|New York City]], [[United States]].
Image:Stonehenge back wide.jpg|[[w:Stonehenge|Stonehenge]] in [[w:Amesbury|Amesbury]], [[United Kingdom]].
Image:Sydney Opera House Sails.jpg|[[w:Sydney Opera House|Sydney Opera House]] in [[Australia]]. 
Image:TajMahalbyAmalMongia.jpg|The [[w:Taj Mahal|Taj Mahal]] in [[w:Agra|Agra]], [[India]].
Image:Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu.jpg|[[w:Timbuktu|Timbuktu]], [[Mali]].
</gallery>

== Sister links ==
{{sisters
|New Seven Wonders of the World
}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/7-wonders-list-insignificant-unesco/43551-2.html
|title=7 Wonders list insignificant: Unesco
|author=
|pub=CNN-IBN
|date=June 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.newkerala.com/news5.php?action=fullnews&id=41643
|title='Vote for Taj' campaign a gimmick, say officials
|author=Brij Khandelwal
|pub=newKerala.com
|date=June 24, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.dailyindia.com/show/151910.php/Rajkot-lawyers-join-campaign-for-Tajs-inclusion-in-7-wonders-list
|title=Rajkot lawyers join campaign for Taj's inclusion in 7 wonders list
|author=
|pub=DailyIndia.com
|date=June 24, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sex_workers_want_Taj_Mahal_in_Seven_Wonders_list/articleshow/2144900.cms
|title=Sex workers want Taj Mahal in Seven Wonders list
|author=
|pub=Times of India
|date=June 24, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.sawf.org/Bollywood/38899.aspx
|title=Bipasha Basu to co-host the New 7 Wonders of the World event in Lisbon
|author=Vimla Patil
|pub=Sawf news
|date=June 21, 2007}}
*{{source-pr|url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=38482&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
|title=UNESCO confirms that it is not involved in the “New 7 wonders of the world” campaign
|pub=UNESCO
|date=June 20, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=b82368f6-1643-4cbe-8199-155e03dcc09b&ParentID=d078c583-a948-4dd7-a5c7-151765f61abe&MatchID1=4486&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=10&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1120&PrimaryID=4486&Headline=Taj+among+top+10+in+race+for+new+seven+wonders
|title=Acropolis, Chichen Itza lead New 7 Wonders contest
|author=
|pub=Hindustan Times
|date=June 8, 2007}}

==External links==
*[http://www.new7wonders.com/ Election of the New 7 Wonders of the World]

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[[Category:World]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
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Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one remaining. The other six on the list are:
- the Hanging Gardens of Babylon,
- the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus,
- the Statue of Zeus at Olympia,
- the Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus,
- the Colossus of Rhodes, and
- the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
The New Open World Foundation will announce the results of the New Seven Wonders of the World election on July 7, 2007 (or 07.07.07). The ballot itself will close on midnight the day before. The Foundation proposes a revision of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, of which only the Great Pyramid of Giza still exist.

Among the 21 candidates left over after the previous election round ended on January 1, 2006, the Acropolis  and the Maya archeological site of Chichen Itza were doing well in earlier rankings. A spokeswoman for the Foundation said earlier this month that the result is wide open.

The election ceremony will be held in Lisbon, Portugal. Hollywood actress Hilary Swank, British actor Sir Ben Kingsley and Bollywood  actress Bipasha Basu have been announced as hosts, astronaut Neil Armstrong will be present, and performers will include Jennifer Lopez and Chaka Khan.

India's Tourism and Culture Minister, Ambika Soni, previously pitched in the campaign by personally voting for the Taj Mahal, but government officials confirmed that they did not officially support the initiative of the for-profit organisation. "The campaign is not backed by any government agency, though we feel it is good and in the interest of the tourism industry as a whole to promote the Taj Mahal," declared Sudhir Kumar, the Agra chief of the Indian government's tourism department, to the Indo-Asian News Service.

India is not the only country trying to get a monument elected. Brazil's soccer team for example, urged Brazilians to vote for Christ Redeemer, the statue in Rio de Janeiro.

Earlier on in the elections, promotional campaigns have been able to severely influence the top seven. An e-mail chain letter in Turkey caused the nation to set the voting record in February 2002. After the site had been noticed in China, the country took the lead in weeks, according to the Foundation website.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in a press release on July 20 reaffirmed that it has no link with the initiative, which it says would reflect "only the opinions of those with access to the internet". The Foundation 'Campaign Milestones page' however claims that "more than 25 percent of the world's population is now aware of the N7W campaign" after the media attention around the time the final round began on January 1, 2006. UNESCO also criticized the project's lack of scientific foundation, when compared to its own World Heritage Sites selection method.


Image:Acropolis3.JPG|The Acropolis of Athens, Greece.
Image:Alhambra view.jpg|The Alhambra  in Granada, Spain.
Image:Angkor wat temple.jpg|The temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Image:El Castillo, Chichén Itzá.jpg|Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico.
Image:Brasil.RioDeJaneiro.Corcovado.jpg|Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Image:Colosseum in Rome, Italy - April 2007.jpg|The Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
Image:Moai Rano raraku.jpg|The Easter Island Moais on Easter Island, Chile.
Image:Tour eiffel at sunrise from the trocadero.jpg|The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
Image:GreatWallNearBeijingWinter.jpg|The Great Wall of China.
Image:Aya sofya.jpg|The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.
Image:03-05-JPN080-Kiyomizu-dera.jpg|The Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, Japan.
Image:Moscow Kremlin.jpg|The Kremlin, Red Square, and Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, Russia.
Image:Peru Machu Picchu Sunrise.jpg|Machu Picchu in Cuzco, Peru.
Image:Castle Neuschwanstein.jpg|Neuschwanstein Castle in Füssen, Germany.
Image:Khazneh.JPG|Petra in Jordan.
Image:Freiheitsstatue_NYC_full.jpg|The Statue of Liberty in New York City, United States.
Image:Stonehenge back wide.jpg|Stonehenge in Amesbury, United Kingdom.
Image:Sydney Opera House Sails.jpg|Sydney Opera House in Australia. 
Image:TajMahalbyAmalMongia.jpg|The Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
Image:Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu.jpg|Timbuktu, Mali.


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