Dr. Donny George and SAFE / Saving Antiquities for Everyone invite  
you to participate in the 2008 Global Candlelight Vigil http:// 
www.savingantiquities.org/candlelightvigils.php to mark the fifth  
anniversary of the 2003 looting of the Iraq Museum in Baghdad.

In the five years since this terrible event, nearly half of the  
missing works have been recovered. Yet thousands of Iraq Museum  
artifacts remain at large. Meanwhile, museums around the world are  
increasingly confronted by security challenges, and rampant looting  
at archaeological sites continues unabated around the world.

“Now is the time for people and museum professionals to gather  
together: to remember the events of 2003 and take steps to ensure  
that no museum in the world suffers a similar fate,” says Dr. George,  
who is former director of the Iraq Museum and former president of the  
Iraq State Board of Antiquities.

In a global call to action, Dr. George urges museum directors and  
staff, university faculty and students, and citizens around the world  
to use the fifth anniversary of the looting of the Iraq Museum as an  
opportunity to re-energize our efforts to protect the world’s  
cultural heritage.

Museums are encouraged to treat the April 10-12 timeframe every year  
to conduct security audits and update their internal risk management  
and due diligence practices. Universities are invited to treat April  
10-12 every year as a time for education and public awareness about  
the about the academic, ethical and legal consequences of the  
destruction of cultural heritage with classroom projects, panel  
discussions, symposiums or exhibitions.

The SAFE website offers suggestions for universities, museums,  
community groups and others to plan an event of any size here: http:// 
www.savingantiquities.org/vigiltools.php . SAFE Candlelight Vigil  
kits offer a wealth of resources including the DVD documentary  
“Robbing the Cradle of Civilization-The Looting of Iraq’s Ancient  
Treasures" (Canadian Broadcasting Company), or the documentary  
"Thieves of Baghdad" (Al Jazeera), or other relevant videos,  
including a 2007 Charlie Rose interview with Dr. Donny George as well  
as publicity tools.

Hosting a Vigil in your community is easy:

• Choose a location and time on April 10, 11, or 12.

• Schedule your event and post it on http://www.savingantiquities.org/ 
hostvigil.php so that members of your community will learn of it and  
attend.

• Use e-cards, customizable announcement flyers, buttons, posters,  
postcards and the press release template available on http:// 
www.savingantiquities.org/vigiltools.php to help publicize your Vigil  
and spread the word.

• Distribute the Candlelight Vigil brochure for distribution at your  
event. The brochure is being developed in conjunction with the  
exhibition "Catastrophe! The Looting and Destruction of Iraq’s Past"  
at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago.

• Gather with friends, family, colleagues, professors and students.  
Pause for a moment of silence and light a candle. Discuss the  
destruction of cultural heritage and looting of ancient sites around  
the world, fueled by the global trade in illicit antiquities.

• Document your vigil with digital photographs or video and send them  
to SAFE. We will use them in a compilation Video Memorial that  
includes gatherings from around the world

• You may also choose to light a virtual candle http:// 
www.savingantiquities.org/virtualcandle.php and add your name to the  
list of other supporters.

For more information about the Global Candlelight Vigil for the Iraq  
Museum contact us at [log in to unmask]

Also join our email list to receive periodic newsletters about SAFE  
activities: http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101412967730


SAFE/Saving Antiquities for Everyone ( http:// 
www.savingantiquities.org ) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit  
organization that creates educational programs and media campaigns to  
raise public awareness about the importance of preserving cultural  
heritage worldwide. SAFE is a coalition of professionals in  
communications, media, and advertising working alongside experts in  
the academic, legal and law  enforcement communities. SAFE has no  
political affiliations.
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