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Focus As the third millennium begins, the notion of world heritage continues to break new ground. Influenced by Western tradition, UNESCO’s World Heritage List long gave pride of place to monuments. Gradually, natural sites have gained their rightful place, along with those described as “mixed” (both cultural and natural). Finally, sites singled out for the exceptional vitality of their traditions are now attracting recognition. In this dossier, seven writers share their vision of a small selection of these global wonders. Dossier concept and coordination by Jasmina Sopova, UNESCO Courier journalist. The Trans-Siberian’s grand bazaar From Moscow to Beijing, travellers have five days to indulge their nostalgia in a legendary journey alongside adventurers and the odd bit of illegal trade Photos by Frédéric Hermann, text by Michel Jan. Frédéric Hermann is a French photographer. Michel Jan is a French writer specializing in China who recently published Le Réveil des Tartares, en Mongolie sur les traces de Guillaume de Rubrouck (Payot, 1998) and La Grande Muraille de Chine (Imprimerie nationale Editions, 2000). When the rain in Spain is not enough Spain uses vast quantities of water. To meet its country’s needs, the government has resorted to technical solutions such as diverting the Ebro river—a project that many people have condemned for squandering a precious resource Octavi Marti , UNESCO Courier journalist. Free or foreign: the water battle in Bolivia Should water be supplied by local authorities or private companies? A violent conflict in Bolivia has recently shown that both can work, but only if the wishes of consumers are taken into account By Jorge Cuba, Bolivian journalist. Hands on: in this museum, touching is the rule Jorge Wagensberg eavesdrops on visitors to the science museum he runs in Barcelona. The conversations he overhears enable him to imagine the perfect museum—a place that speaks to all the senses, especially touch Jorge Wagensberg, Spanish physicist and director of the La Caixa Foundation Science Museum in Barcelona. Heritage, a lesson in giving and receiving Charles Carrère, Senegalese poet and painter, vice president of the International Poetry House in Brussels (Belgium). One of his most recent works is Hivernage published by L’Harmattan (Paris, 1999). Corruption: striking where it hurts Civic groups in Korea led an unprecedented campaign to blacklist corrupt politicians in recent elections, but the old guard is blocking the will to reform Glenn Manarin, Seoul-based journalist. A Thai crusade for clean politics New watchdogs now have the teeth to fight corruption but old-style politics aren’t going to disappear overnight. Some say this will take no less than a revolution in political culture. Laurence W. Sreshthaputra, Bangkok Post journalist. Jerusalem: source of sound and fury In a small precinct of Jerusalem’s Old City, 4,000 years of history have generated a religious, symbolic and mythical intensity unmatched anywhere in the world. René Lefort, director of the UNESCO Courier. When computers chip away at our memories Galloping advances in information technology promise to give us instant access to all the world’s knowledge. But how will human memory fare against the rise of the super-machine? Ivan Briscoe, UNESCO Courier journalist. Ian Tattersall: the humans we left behind A world renowned paleoanthropologist cuts down old notions of our family tree to reveal a host of unknown ancestors: extinct human species. Interview by Amy Otchet, UNESCO Courier journalist.