Chère Lorna,

Encore une fois, nous déplorons la perte d'un patrimoine anéanti par 
l'ignorance, la stupidité et le vandalisme. De telles exactions sur 
l'héritage de l'humanité nous confortent plus que jamais dans nos 
convictions et nos actions : nous devons appuyer, encourager et faire 
connaître les actions qui œuvrent à sensibiliser les dirigeants 
politiques et les populations à l'extrême valeur de nos patrimoines et à 
la gravité de leur détérioration.

Dans cette démarche, le colloque organisé par AVICOM et ICOM-Mag en 
septembre prochain à Madagascar sur le thème "Patrimoines matériels, 
immatériels et naturels : préservation, restauration, sensibilisation" 
abordera, entre autres, ces agressions volontaires et les moyens de les 
limiter, et nous invitons tous nos confrères et sympathisants à y 
participer afin d'enrichir une réflexion indispensable.

Ayez l'assurance de notre soutien et de notre solidarité.

Marie-Françoise Delval
Présidente d'AVICOM

__________________________


Dear Lorna,

Once again, we deplore the loss of an heritage destroyed by ignorance, 
stupidity and vandalism. Such exactions hostile to the heritage of 
humanity consolidate us more than ever in our convictions and our 
actions : we must support, encourage and make known the actions which 
work for the awareness of political leaders and people, about the 
extreme value of our heritage and the serious of their deterioration.

In this way, the conference organized by AVICOM and ICOM-Mag next 
September in Madagascar on the topic "Tangible, intangible and natural 
heritage : preservation, conservation and public awareness" will 
approach too, these voluntary aggressions and the means to limiting 
them, and we invite all our fellow-members and sympathizers to take part 
in it in order to enrich an essential reflexion.


Be certain of our support and our solidarity

Marie-Francoise Delval
AVICOM President

______________________________





Abungu a écrit :

>On behalf of its Board of Directors, AFRICOM joins the international voices
>in condemning the criminal fire that destroyed the traditional buildings,
>museum and ancient objects of the Bandjoun Kingdom, 300 km west of Yaounde
>(Cameroon) during the night of Wednesday, January 20th 2005.
>
>This is indeed a great tragedy for the African continent, for Cameroon, and
>for the Kingdom of Bandjoun. Our deepest sympathies go out to all those
>affected. AFRICOM is working together with colleagues in Africa and beyond
>to assess how it can offer its support.
>
>At the recently held UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Japan, it
>was noted that culture is one of the areas most affected during disaster ­
>and Africa is no exception. It is therefore necessary to put in place
>mechanisms of risk preparedness. The fire and destruction at the Bandjoun
>Kingdom exemplifies this.
>
>In Africa, both human and natural disasters are frequent enemies of our
>moveable and immovable heritage. Culture is a non-renewable resource and all
>precautions must be taken to safeguard it through well planned preventive
>measures. Africa must nurture a culture of prevention rather than reaction
>after a disaster. All governments have a responsibility to put in place
>preventive measures to safeguard their nations' heritage.
>
>AFRICOM urges African governments to show concern and support the heritage
>institutions (museums, training centres, etc), as well as give full support
>to the heritage managers who are already trained to do their jobs.
>
>AFRICOM reiterates WAMP's call to African governments to ratify The Hague
>Convention of 1954 and its different protocols that protect cultural
>properties in cases of armed conflicts.
>
>  
>


-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marie-Françoise DELVAL
Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication
http://www.culture.gouv.fr

Présidente du comité AVICOM
Conseil International des Musées
http://avicom.icom.museum
http://icom.museum

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