Fado is Intangible Heritage of Humanity

Fado is Intangible Heritage of Humanity according to decision taken today during the VI Intergovernmental Committee of the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Fado sings the life and destiny of a people for nearly two centuries, but now no longer only for the Portuguese but to all people in the World.

O fado é Património Imaterial da Humanidade segundo decisão hoje tomada durante o VI Comité Intergovernamental da Organização da ONU para a Educação, Ciência e Cultura (UNESCO).

O fado canta a vida e o destino de um povo há cerca de dois séculos, mas agora deixou de ser só Português para ser de todos.

LATVIA – Cover from Riga, Latvia to Braga, Portugal

First Day Cover with special cancellation ‘20th Anniversary of Latvian First Postage Stamp After Restoration of Independence’ posted on October, 19 2011.

(Special thanks to my best friend Juris Tarvids)

‘There are three things that can not unite itself: intelligence, decency and Nazism.’

Gerhard Bronner (23 October 1922, Favoriten, Vienna – 19 January 2007, Vienna) was an Austrian composer, writer, musician and a cabaret artist, known for his contribution to Austrian culture in the post-World War II period.

HONG KONG – Cover from Ma On Shan Post Office, Hong Kong to Braga, Portugal

Registered cover posted on October, 20 2011.

(Special thanks to friend Eric Kong)

POLAND – Cover from Nowy Sacz, Poland to Braga, Portugal

Europe 2009 – Forest FDC posted May, 5 2011.

(Special thanks to my best friend Andrzej Bek)

The year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

Forests are an integral part of global sustainable development. According to World Bank estimates, more than 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods with some 300 million live in them. The forest product industry is a source of economic growth and employment, with global forest products traded internationally is estimated at $327 billion.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that every year 130,000 km² of the world’s forests are lost due to deforestation. Conversion to agricultural land, unsustainable harvesting of timber, unsound land management practices, and creation of human settlements are the most common reasons for this loss of forested areas.

According to the World Bank, deforestation accounts for up to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. FAO data estimates that the world’s forests and forest soil store more than one trillion tons of carbon – twice the amount found in the atmosphere. The World Bank estimates that forests provide habitats to about two-thirds of all species on earth, and that deforestation of closed tropical rainforests could account for biodiversity loss of as many as 100 species a day.