DIVE FOR PEACE

CMAS dyker för fred!

Den 28 juni 2014 vill CMAS att vi tillsammans dyker för fred!

Meddelande från CMAS:

Dear CMAS colleagues and friends,

The Meeting of States Parties to the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage decided to organize special remembrance and scientific activities devoted to underwater cultural heritage from World War I on the occasion of the conflict’s Centenary. A special public event in this regard will be a "Dive for Peace Day“ organized worldwide on 28 June 2014. It is supported by dive clubs and dive institutions worldwide. This event is open to every diver from professional to occasional and leisure divers. On that specific day, divers are encouraged to take part in commemorative dives to discover the submerged material legacy of the First World War. Tangible heritage sites and their artefacts represent a unique access to the past and allow enhancing knowledge and understanding. World War I underwater cultural sites bear witness of human tragedies generated by this international conflict and remind humanity of the need to preserve peace. Many of them are however today threatened by treasure-hunting and metal recovery. The visits to significant submerged World War I sites shall call attention to this situation.

Divers are invited to refrain from any behavior that may cause damage or pollution to the underwater cultural heritage during their visit. Emphasis shall be put on respectful, cautious and appropriate behavior towards this heritage, its meaning and its character as heritage site, but also as grave site. All divers are encouraged to document their participation with images, videos, and first-hand accounts and make them available online, as well as in dive clubs, diving centers and federationos worldwide.

You want to know where a submerged World War I site in your area is? How to submit a picture or event to the UNESCO webpage? Please contact cmas@cmas.org. You can use the UNESCO Press Kit of the Event: http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/pdf/Press_kit-Bruges_Conference_EN_Final.pdf Länk till annan webbplats, öppnas i nytt fönster.

UNESCO webpage: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/underwater-cultural-heritage/world-war-i/scientific-conference-in-bruges-2014/ Länk till annan webbplats, öppnas i nytt fönster.

Kind regards and best wishes for a successful event,
Ralph O. Schill