Is the Dead Sea one of the top 7 natural wonders of the world? One hundred bikers are coming to show their support.
The Seven Wonders of the World is a famous list of impressive ancient constructions, largely centered around the Mediterranean. (We still think that the Mediterranean and the whole Middle East are pretty wonder-ful.) The original seven wonders included the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia (among others). Now a global democratic campaign headed by New7Wonders is in full force to select the top seven natural wonders of the world, and, as can be expected for such a unique region, the Middle East is well represented.
The vote is open to literally everyone in the world, and some are choosing the cast their ballots in bizarre (and not very eco-friendly) ways.
Around 100 members of the Israel Harley Davidson Club will be driving down to the Dead Sea this Friday in support of their finalist of choice, which is an unusually polluting way to support a natural wonder. Udi Adam, one of the bikers and the initiator of the ride, said that he wanted “the noise of our exhausts [to be] heard throughout the Dead Sea.”
Maybe they should pedal there instead.
Or, if they’re not physically fit enough to switch out their motorbikes for some bicycles, how about carpooling or taking a bus?
The Harley Davidson Club’s enthusiasm may be misguided, but at least they are supporting a natural cause. The Dead Sea is one of 28 finalists competing for a spot as one of the top 7 natural wonders of the world, selected from an initial count of 420 natural sites around the world. Voters from all over the globe can easily cast their ballots online (and there is a convenient Vote Dead Sea website where you can do so), with the New7Wonders foundation hoping for the participation of billions of voters.
The Dead Sea is not the only Middle Eastern finalist, however, and Lebanon’s Jeita Grotto made the top 28 list as well. The grotto is made of two limestone caves and a lower cave where an impressively long 6230 meter river runs. Another finalist is Bu Tinah Island in the United Arab Emirates, an undisturbed ecosystem that has remained untouched by human activity.
Bernard Weber, the founder of New7Wonders, initiated the campaign because he believes that “if we want to save anything, we first need to truly appreciate it.” The campaign aims to “highlight what unites us all – as opposed to what separates us – and also emphasizes the importance of caring for what will be left for future generations.”
Read more about the Dead Sea:
Protect the Middle East’s Natural Wonders – Vote Today!
Despite Everything, Shrinking Dead Sea is a Popular Tourist Destination
Regional Environmental Hazards and the Red-Dead Peace Conduit
Image via v-Twinforum
Author: Karen Chernick
Much to the disappointment of her Moroccan grandmother, Karen became a vegetarian at the age of seven because of a heartfelt respect for other forms of life. She also began her journey to understand her surroundings and her impact on the environment. She even starting an elementary school Ecology Club and an environmental newsletter in the 3rd grade. (The proceeds of the newsletter went to non-profit environmental organizations, of course.) She now studies in New York. Karen can be reached at karen (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Why is it not eco-friendly way?
My HD uses 1 liters of fuel per 17 kilometers, comparing to my previously owned Mazda 3 (1 liter per 10 kilometers).
It seams to me that promoting “dual-wheeled” transport is very eco-friendly.
Let me play devil’s advocate here for a moment, and defend the Harleys.
Sure, they may not be the most fuel efficient of all motorcycles… But they are still motorcycles, and as such, still a much saner choice than any 4-wheeled vehicle on all accounts… Miles-per-gallon, emissions, and size & space (on the road, in our streets and while parking)…
Well… Maybe everything, except noise levels… (by the way, HD holds a patent on a dynamic exhaust system, which means the Harleys become much quieter when at cruising speeds)
I spent a few weeks riding Harleys across the US, and I made it a point to track my MPGs. Even the biggest Harleys were always more fuel efficient than the numbers boasted by even the most efficient hybrid cars. Plus, living on a motorcycle, and carrying all your gear on your bike leads you to a much more frugal existence, you learn to do with the bare minimum.
Now, I know they could’ve taken a bus there, or rode bicycles there… There are always greener options… All I am trying to say is that I don’t think the uproar would’ve been the same had they arrived in the Dead Sea in Priuses.
If you are going to feature an article about Harley Davidsons why don’t you put a picture of a Harley Davidson motorcycle with it instead of some japanese HD wannabee?
Good idea but we couldn’t find one that had the right view in the background.