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Save the Precious Archeological Sites of Pasargad in Iran
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:50 pm    Post subject: New Painting From Moh Salehi Reply with quote


کار تازه ای از محمد صالحی زاده، هنرمند پر توان و درخشان معاصر ايران


http://www.savepasargad.com/aa.from%20091806/janu%20aks/mohamad%20salehizadeh.jpg

http://www.savepasargad.com/aa.from%20091806/janu%20aks/mohamad%20salehizadeh-1.htm


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PostPosted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:49 pm    Post subject: Empress Farah Pahlavi speaks on Sivand Dam Reply with quote



Please Listen To Empress Farah Pahlavi Speaks On Sivand Dam

http://www.farahpahlavi.org/fpradiofarda-sivand.mp3
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 5:32 pm    Post subject: Painting From Akbar Nemati Reply with quote

http://www.savepasargad.com/aa.from%20091806/janu%20aks/stop.jpg

http://www.savepasargad.com/european_languages.htm


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PostPosted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:15 pm    Post subject: Cyrus the Great Persian Version - Spenta Productions Reply with quote

In Search of Cyrus the Great - Spenta Productions - Persian (Farsi) Version
در جستجوی کورش بزرگ



This film is about Cyrus the Great - Persian Version
Click URL:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3219610748168103101

Spenta Productions - Cyrus Kar
12 min 51 sec - Feb 4, 2007
www.SpentaProductions.com

Spenta Productions was founded by Cyrus Kar with one simple mission: to shed light on history's most pivotal moments, which, for whatever reason, have gone untold or mistold. We believe that an accurate account of history will lead to a better understanding of the present.

در جستجوی کورش بزرگ


_____________________________________

In Search of Cyrus the Great English Version - Cyrus Kar- Spenta Productions
11 min 23 sec - Oct 6, 2006

To Watch This Video Please Click Here

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5468494210860637483&q=Cyrus+The+Great&hl=en


Cyrus (580-529 BC) was the first Achaemenid Emperor. He founded Persia by uniting the two original Iranian Tribes- the Medes and the ... all » Persians. Although he was known to be a great conqueror, who at one point controlled one of the greatest Empires ever seen, he is best remembered for his unprecedented tolerance and magnanimous attitude towards those he defeated. Upon his victory over the Medes, he founded a government for his new kingdom, incorporating both Median and Persian nobles as civilian officials. The conquest of Asia Minor completed, he led his armies to the eastern frontiers. Hyrcania and Parthia were already part of the Median Kingdom. Further east, he conquered Drangiana, Arachosia,Margiana and Bactria. After crossing the Oxus, he reached the Jaxartes, where he built fortified towns with the object of defending the farthest frontier of his kingdom against nomadic tribes of Central Asia.

The victories to the east led him again to the west and sounded the hour for attack on Babylon and Egypt. When he conquered Babylon, he did so to cheers from the Jewish Community, who welcomed him as a liberator- he allowed the Jews to return to the promised Land. He showed great forbearance and respect towards the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of other races. These qualities earned him the respect and homage of all the people over whom he ruled.

________________________________________
Please Help NOW Cyrus The Great Film Documentary By Director Cyrus Kar


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:36 pm    Post subject: Sivand Dam, and New Challenges for the Islamic Republic on t Reply with quote

Sivand Dam, and New Challenges for the Islamic Republic on the Way of Destruction of Iranian Heritage

http://www.cais-soas.com/News/2007/February2007/07-02-new.htm

07 February 2007


LONDON, (CAIS) -- Today a large number of demonstrators have attended in front of Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Energy to voice their objections against inundation of Sivand Dam and destruction of pre-Islamic Iranian heritage in Fars province.

With attendance of a representative of the Public Relations Department and some of the authorities of the Ministry who succeeded in calming down the angry crowd with promising them that the flooding of the dam will not be started until getting the formal permission of the President of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), protesters left the area for ICHTO’ headquarter to continue their objections.

The protesters however, were confronted with severe reaction from the Islamic Regime Revolutionary Guards who confiscated their cameras, and there is a report that number of protestors were arrested and taken away by the regime's security forces.

Placards in the crowd read: “Preserving cultural heritage is preserving the cultural values of a country”, “Protecting cultural heritage is as important as protecting the geographical borders of a country”, “With inundation of Sivand Dam what will be your answer to next generations?”, “Rescue historical sites in Sivand region”, “Save Pasargadae”, “With inundation of Sivand Dam, what will happen for Iran’s cultural heritage and ecosystem?”, “What a high cost for producing energy”, “What a pity, Iran is getting lost”, “Leave our heritage alone”, which was accompanied by some slogans, such as “Death to the destroyers of Iran’s heritage”.

The outcome of the objections was that protesters succeeded in winning the approval of the counsellor of the President of ICHTO to hold a session with attendance of authorities of ICHTO, Islamic Republic’ Ministry of Energy, and NGOs to discuss the case in detail to reach to a conclusion about inundation of the dam.

Dam construction by the Islamic Republic has become one of the nightmares of Iranian cultural heritage in the recent years.

One of the most important examples of such is construction of Sivand Dam in Bolaghi Valley, in Fars province, which is an important archaeological site close to the world heritage site of Pasargadae. This issue created an unease situation for the Islamic regimes’ authorities, and raised many concerns and created rumours across the country saying that some anonymous groups have vowed to destroy the dam by explosives before becoming operational.
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:15 pm    Post subject: Here Is Iran Reply with quote

Here Is Iran


اینجا ایران است :

اینجا سرزمینی است که در خیابان هایش بانوان را به سبب اینکه خواستار کمترین خواسته هایشان شدند کتک می زنند . اینجا سرزمینی است که دخترکان به سبب آزادی خواهی پدرنشان دزدیده می شوند . اینجا سرزمینی است پر از گشنگانی که از زور گشنگی می گویند انرژی هسته ای حق مسلم ماست . اینجا سرزمینی است که نوجوانان را اعدام می کنند در اینجا برای اولین بار به مردم دنیا فهماندند که حقوق بشر چیست ولی اینجا حقوق بشری دیده نمی شود . اینجا سرزمینی است که از سوی همه ی دنیا تهدید می شود ( ژاک شیراک چندی پیش اعلام کرد که اگر ایران به اسرائیل حمله کند تهران را با خاک یکسان می کند ) ولی حاکمانش در این فکرند که با درست کردن یک یا دو بمب اتم اتحاد اسلامی درست کنند و دنیا را بنام اسلام و برای مسلمان کردن فتح کنند . اینجا سرزمینی است که در آن روشنفکران را زندانی می کنند و کور اندیشان بر مردم حکم می رانند . اینجا سرزمینی است که در آن تا مردم سرشان به سنگ نخورد به اشتباهشان پی نمی برنند . اینجا حکومت دینی است ولی مردم ضد دین هستند . اینجا سرزمینی است که در آن نباید به نیاکانمان افتخار کنیم و باید خود را تازی بدانیم در غیر این صورت دشمن خدا و لایق مرگ هستیم . اینجا سرزمینی است که در آن آرامگاه بزرگترین مرد دنیا را به زیر آب می برند

کوروش کبیر بیدار شو که اینجا همه در خوابند .

کوروش کبیر بیدار شو مگر اینکه خودت از آرامگاهت دفاع کنی .

کوروش کبیر بیدار شو که شاید تو بتوانی از جوانان مام میهن دفاع کنی .

اینجا همه ی مردم در انتظار این هستند که یکی بیاد و آنها را آزاد کند آری از منتظران امام زمان بیش از این نمی توانیم انتظار داشته باشیم. اینجا زنده ها اهمیتی ندارند ولی مردم مرده ها را می پرستند .

آری اینجا ایران است اینجا سرزمینی است که همه برای نابودی ضحاکیان که خونشان را در شیشه کرده اند منتظر کاوه هستند و وقتی کاوه ای از راه می رسد به جای اینکه با وی همدل شوند دست در دست ضحاک می دهند و مشغول سرکوب کردن کاوه می شوند .

۱۶/۱۱/۱۳۸۵

ش.پ
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:19 pm    Post subject: Oppositions to Inundation of Sivand Dam Still Continue Reply with quote

Oppositions to Inundation of Sivand Dam Still Continue

http://www.cais-soas.com/News/2007/February2007/14-02-opposition.htm

14 February 2007

LONDON, (CAIS) -- Today, a group of cultural heritage enthusiasts and NGOs gathered in front of Islamic Republic’s Parliament in Tehran to voice their objection to the flooding of Sivand Dam by the Islamic regime in Fars province once again. Protesters carried placards in support of saving historical sites, which are located in Bolaghi Valley behind the Sivand Dam and will submerge with inundation of the dam.



According to Persian service of CHN, what distinguishes this gathering from the others is the wide variety of crowd who have come from different Iranian provinces including Fars, Khuzestan, and Esfahan with a coherent approach to express their anger with drowning of Iranian historical sites by the regime, including local Qashqais among the crowd with their traditional dresses who have come from long distances to take part in this gathering all indicates that the issue has become a matter of great national concern. With signing a declaration, more than 30 political teams have also announced their disagreement with inundation of Sivand Dam.



Protesters have threatened that they would continue their objections through other governmental organizations if they do not receive a positive response to this request by the Parliament.



Earlier to this, Amir Reza Khadem, member of Cultural Commission of Iran’s Parliament said that in an attempt to put an end to this crisis, he has proposed the possibility for flooding the reservoir of the dam only up to 1800 meters high to Islamic Republic’s President during his recent attendance in the Parliament. Kadem believes that this height of water would prevent the possible damages which the inundation of the dam would pose to the historical sites in the area including the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great, located 9-kilometre distance of the dam.



Condemning the weak policies of the president of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) towards Sivand Dam, Khadem said: “[Islamic Republic’s] Minister of Energy has accused ICHTO for showing indifference toward the inundation of Sivand Dam by failing to fulfil its obligation for submitting a comprehensive record about the negative consequences of flooding of the dam to this Ministry. Meanwhile it is also said that authorities of the Organization have unofficially announced their agreement with inundation of the dam.”

Member of Cultural Commission of Iran’s Parliament expressed hope that Regime’s Ministry of Energy and Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization would reach to an agreement based on this proposal provided that Iran’s President announces his agreement within the shortest time.



The news about construction of Sivand Dam in Bolaghi Valley which is an important archaeological site close to the world heritage site of Pasargadae raised many concerns and angers among Iranian as well as the cultural enthusiasts all over the world. Ever since the initial phase of Sivand Dam construction, large groups of archaeologists and experts from Iran and across the globe became engaged in an emergency salvation project to save the remaining historical evidence at Bolaghi Valley before inundation of the dam made this salvation project the biggest one ever in the history of Iran’s archaeological activities.
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 4:22 pm    Post subject: Listen To Majesty Farah Pahlavi Reply with quote

مهمان شنبه 21 بهمن: شهبانو فرحVOA
موضوع برنامه: ايران پس از 28 سال


CLICK HERE to Listen Feb.10, 2007 NEW

http://www.farahpahlavi.org/fp-feb10-07.mp3
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 11:42 am    Post subject: Iran's Rich Architecture and Rare Treasures Threatened Reply with quote

Iran's rich architecture and rare treasures threatened by possible US strikes

· Many ancient remains are close to nuclear plants
· Archaeologists anxious to avoid repeat of Iraq chaos



March 05, 2007
The Guardian
Maev Kennedy
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2026704,00.html


In his quiet office at the British Museum, among the portraits of long-dead explorers and copies of 3,000-year-old inscriptions, one of the greatest experts on the archaeology of the Middle East has a series of maps of Iranian nuclear installations spread out across his desk.

John Curtis's maps fill him with foreboding: because they show how many of Iran's nuclear plants are perilously close to ancient cultural sites.

Natanz, home to a uranium enrichment plant, is renowned for its exquisite ceramics; Isfahan, home to a uranium conversion plant, is also a Unesco world heritage site and was regarded in the 16th century as the most beautiful city on earth.

Other nuclear installations lie close to Shiraz, dubbed "the city of roses and nightingales", famous for the tombs of medieval poets; Persepolis, the great palace of King Darius, whose ruins are still magnificent; and the 6th century BC tomb of Cyrus the Great, the Persian ruler who was said to have been buried in a coffin of gold.

Four years ago Dr Curtis was warning that war in Iraq would be a disaster for some of the oldest and most important sites in the world. He has since seen his worst fears confirmed: the site of ancient Babylon became an American military base; thousands of objects are missing from the national museum at Baghdad; and looted artefacts have been illicitly excavated and smuggled out of the country.

Now Dr Curtis dreads seeing history repeated, this time through the escalating threat from the United States against Iran. "Any kind of military activity whatever in Iran, whether aerial bombing or land invasion, would inevitably have the gravest consequences, not only for its people but for its cultural heritage - which should be a matter of concern not just to Iranians but to the whole world," he said.

"The main nuclear bases would seem the most likely targets - which would directly threaten two major sites, Isfahan and Natanz." The medieval splendour of those cities, at the height of the power of Islamic Persia from the 13th to the 17th centuries, was built on a cultural history which was already thousands of years old. The history of cities, of writing, of engineering and astronomy began in the ancient centres of Iran and Iraq.

"The archaeology is so rich there is almost nowhere that you could say is devoid of interest," Dr Curtis said. "But certainly a list must be compiled of the sites which need the most consideration."

Unlike the looted and still shuttered national museum in Baghdad, in Iran the risk is considered less for the national museum in Tehran than for hundreds of major sites with standing buildings and ruins, and thousands of known but unexcavated sites. Some of the structures are in stone, but most are in baked brick with elaborate tile decorations, a building type particularly vulnerable to blast damage.

Apart from Isfahan and Natanz, other potentially vulnerable sites cover 3,000 years of the world's history: a stepped stone tomb at Pasargadae, within 50 miles of one of the nuclear sites once held the body of Cyrus the Great, the king who enormously expanded the Persian empire and conquered mighty Babylon in 539 BC. And the ruins of the great city and palace at Persepolis are among the most imposing in the Middle East, despite the fact that it was ransacked by Alexander the Great in 330BC, after the Macedonian defeated the armies of the Persian emperor Darius. The destruction of the palace is still regarded as one of the greatest acts of vandalism in history. Alarm is growing over the potential fate of Iran's treasures. Professor Harriet Crawford, of the Institute of Archaeology in London, one of the archaeologists who sounded the alarm before the Iraq war, said yesterday: "An attack on Iran would not only cause thousands more avoidable deaths, but would also risk inflicting untold damage on its heritage, comparable with that seen in Iraq."

Precious stones

Persepolis

The magnificent palace of Darius, the centrepiece of which is the Hall of 100 Columns, above, was destroyed by Alexander the Great but the ruins, including some standing columns, are still imposing. It lies within 50 miles of the Ardakan and Fasa uranium processing plants

Isfahan

An ancient site in a fertile river valley, internationally renowned from the 16th century - "Isfahan is half the world" - as the new capital of Shah Abbas I. It is adorned with magnificent mosques, palaces, the second largest square in the world (originally laid out as a polo ground), gardens, fountains and bridges, including a 33-arch bridge dating from 1602. A World Heritage Site, the historic centre is only a few miles from the Isfahan uranium conversion plant

Famous for its 13th and 14th century mosques and shrines, now mostly stripped of their spectacular lustre tiles, which are in museums across the world. Fragile baked-brick buildings; very close to the Natanz uranium enrichment plant

Tomb of Cyrus the Great

A well-preserved stone tomb on a stepped platform. According to the Greek historian Arrian, the king's body lay in a golden coffin under an inscription reading "Mortal! I am Cyrus, son of Cambyses, who founded the Persian empire, and was King of Asia. Grudge me not then my monument." It is situated at Pasargadae, close to Persepolis.
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:05 am    Post subject: Paak tarin mard e zamin! Video Music Reply with quote

Paak tarin mard e zamin! Video Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKleQNFyMoc
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 3:34 pm    Post subject: On the threshold of the grand catastrophe Reply with quote

Alert From The International Committee to Save Pasargad wrote:

On the threshold of the grand catastrophe

Please listen to the last clamor of Bolaghi Gorge

Pasargad Plains and the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great!

An open letter to the world


http://www.savepasargad.com/


Ladies and gentlemen! According to the official news-agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the government of Mr. Ahmadinejad has decided to begin the impoundment of the Sivand Dam in the next few days, despite the fact that many experts and thousands of people from all over the world have protested against such an atrocious act.

This means that a vast number of important archeological sites, containing mankind's most precious cultural heritages, are being flooded. Amongst the endangered sites is the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great, the author of the first declaration of Human Rights in 2500 years ago, that recognized the unconditional rights of human beings in choosing their religions, manifesting their opinions and cultural interests. A sample of his decree is on show at the United Nations while the original artifact is on display in British Museum.

Ladies and gentlemen! Around two years ago, the International Committee to Save Pasargad, issued an open letter addressed to you, informing you of the serious dangers that the impounding of Sivan Dam would create. Ever since, many of you, including thousands of Iranians, who are interested in the preservation of human kind's cultural treasures have tried their best to stop this catastrophe. We have written to all international organizations, including the UN, UNESCO and many other entities that have anything to do with the preservation of archeological treasures. We have repeatedly asked them to act according to their duties in this regards and intervene in a matter that should be considered as a much graver act than the destruction of Buddha's statutes in Afghanistan by the hands of Taliban. Unfortunately, we now see that the legitimate wishes of thousands of people of the world have been left ignored and the Cultural Heritage Organization of IRI, in collaboration with its Ministry of Energy, and supported by the whole administration of Mr. Ahmadinejad, have carelessly embarked on the destruction of Iranian nation's cultural heritage left and preserved for them through thousands years of history.

Ladies and gentlemen! Although it is the glorious reminiscence of ancient Iranian history that is being destructed in the hands of a group of unappreciative and ignorant people, we have to remind you that such a loss is not confined to the people of Iran. It is the whole world and the whole humanity that is standing on the threshold of loosing a part of its history and cultural achievements.

Ladies and gentlemen! If nuclear bombs endanger the lives of human beings, such acts of cultural genocide are actually just other sorts of destructive weaponry that annihilate the intellectual and spiritual lives of humans. It is a mind void of any knowledge of cultural values that can embark on the destruction of lives through either wars or such destructive actions in the realm of culture. Such dangerous weapons can only be used by such ignorant minds.

The silence of responsible organizations such as UNESCO, UN and other civil and political establishments in the face of such atrocities can, in fact, be interpreted as ignoring the threat of a nuclear showdown without acknowledging that if such cultural bombs are being exploded in any part of this planet everyone all over the world would be harmed through the spread of such dangerous anti-culture venom.

The International Committee to Save the Pasargad, would like to plea for help from everyone concerned. Please listen to this last clamor of the Bolaghi Gorge and Pasargad Plains, the home of Cyrus the Great and do not deny them of any action that is humanely possible on your part to stop this calamity in its initiating stage.



Only those who have done what they were supposed to do now would not be ashamed in the eyes of the future generations.



With love and regards

The International Committee to Save Pasargad

April 9, 2007




REQUEST FOR YOUR ACTION NOW - Black Day Of Iran Soon

Footsteps of Taliban, The Islamist Scorpion Invaders and Occupiers Of Iran, Hostage-Takers, Terror and Torture Masters are set to destroy a major part of humankind's cultural heritage
***
http://www.savepasargad.com/
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:53 pm    Post subject: Actions Request to Stop Sivand Dam By Ms. Shokooh Mirzadegi Reply with quote



Actions Request to Stop Sivand Dam By Ms. Shokooh Mirzadegi From SavePasargad

21 min 34 sec - Apr 18, 2007

Please Click To Watch Video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8011828604110065918

Only those who have done what they were supposed to do ... all » now would not be ashamed in the eyes of the future generations. What You Can Do?

1- Sign and spread this sample letter or petition : Power of Attorney to Dr. Dadkhah in relation to the impounding of Sivand Dam: http://www.petitiononline.com/dadkhah/petition.html 2- Help spreading the story by Email … 3- Contact newspapers, TV-channels, blogs and other media and ask … 4- Put a link to this open letter or petition. 5- Contact Free World officials ask them to support ….. 6- By increasing the world public awareness we will create powerful critical mass against wrong doer ....

On the threshold of the grand catastrophe Please listen to the last clamor of Bolaghi Gorge Pasargad Plains and the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great! An open letter to the world

http://www.savepasargad.com/

Ladies and gentlemen! According to the official news-agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the government of Mr. Ahmadinejad has decided to begin the impoundment of the Sivand Dam in the next few days, despite the fact that many experts and thousands of people from all over the world have protested against such an atrocious act.

This means that a vast number of important archeological sites, containing mankind's most precious cultural heritages, are being flooded. Amongst the endangered sites is the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great, the author of the first declaration of Human Rights in 2500 years ago, that recognized the unconditional rights of human beings in choosing their religions, manifesting their opinions and cultural interests. A sample of his decree is on show at the United Nations while the original artifact is on display in British Museum.

Ladies and gentlemen! If nuclear bombs endanger the lives of human beings, such acts of cultural genocide are actually just other sorts of destructive weaponry that annihilate the intellectual and spiritual lives of humans. It is a mind void of any knowledge of cultural values that can embark on the destruction of lives through either wars or such destructive actions in the realm of culture. Such dangerous weapons can only be used by such ignorant minds.

The silence of responsible organizations such as UNESCO, UN and other civil and political establishments in the face of such atrocities can, in fact, be interpreted as ignoring the threat of a nuclear showdown without acknowledging that if such cultural bombs are being exploded in any part of this planet everyone all over the world would be harmed through the spread of such dangerous anti-culture venom. The International Committee to Save the Pasargad, would like to plea for help from everyone concerned. Please listen to this last clamor of the Bolaghi Gorge and Pasargad Plains, the home of Cyrus the Great and do not deny them of any action that is humanely possible on your part to stop this calamity in its initiating stage.

This is considered as educational material and highly recommended by ActivistChat.com


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:32 pm    Post subject: Iran Dam Said to Threaten Ancient Sites Reply with quote

Iran Dam Said to Threaten Ancient Sites
April 20, 2007
The Associated Press
Forbes

http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

Iranian engineers began filling a new dam Thursday as archaeologists warned that its reservoir will flood newly discovered antiquities and could damage Iran's grandest site, the ancient Persian capital of Persepolis.

At the inauguration ceremony, attended by Energy Ministry officials, pipes were opened for water to start flowing into an artificial lake created by the dam spanning the Sivand River, 520 miles south of the capital, Tehran. The lake's waters will be used to irrigate the area's farms.

Iranian state-run television said the dam was opened "on the order of the President" Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but the hard-line Iranian leader did not attend the inauguration.

The launch was delayed for months to give international archaeological teams time to conduct excavations in the area of the planned reservoir after an appeal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The work yielded significant discoveries such as a road believed to be the Royal Passage of the Achaemenids, a powerful dynasty in ancient Persia in the 6th century B.C., as well as an Achaemenid village with a cemetery and inhabited caves dating back 7,000 years.

Iranian intellectuals and activists condemned the Tehran government for going ahead with the dam, calling it a "stupidity."

Archaeologists say flooding from the dam will submerge the Royal Passage, which linked Persepolis to Susa, two capital cities in ancient Persia, as well as some of the 130 ancient sites along the Tang-e-Bolaghi, a mountain path that crosses the Sivand River.

There are also concerns that humidity, spreading through underground water from the dam, could damage nearby Persepolis.

The sprawling ruins, Greek for "City of Persians," are famed for the grand double stairway rising to a wide, terraced audience hall with 72 columns. Sacked by Alexander the Great about 330 B.C., the old city is visited by millions every year, mostly Iranians but also foreigners.

Experts also worry about Pasargadae, an ancient capital built by Cyrus the Great sometime after 550 B.C. that holds his tomb.

Both Persepolis and Pasargadae, only 19 miles and 5 miles away from the dam, are on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Iran's Islamic-oriented government has not shown much concern for cultural sites from the Persian era, unlike the country's more recent Muslim monuments.

The official IRNA news agency quoted Vice President Rahim Mashaei, who is also head of Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization, as saying Thursday that the "opening of the Sivand Dam is no danger for Pasargadae" but did not mention the Royal Passage or Persepolis.

Archaeologist Parviz Varjavand said "irreplaceable human heritage" will be lost.

"This ruling establishment gives no value to Iran's cultural heritage. It is an act of stupidity and obstinacy," he said.
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:04 pm    Post subject: Why did Ahmadinejad personally decided to inaugurate the imp Reply with quote



Why did Ahmadinejad personally decided to inaugurate the impounding of Sivand Dam? By Professor E. Nooriala

Please Click To Watch Video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4133965079730470714

This is a quick but ... all » comprehensive analysis of the situation, in three parts Why experts oppose the impounding of Sivand Dam? Why Ahmadinejad administration insists in impounding the dam despite all such evidences? What happens next?

Why experts oppose the impounding of Sivand Dam?

1. Cultural Reasons a. The uniqueness of Pasargad plains b. The importance of Cyrus the Great mausoleum

2. Environmental Reasons: a. The type of the soil that is mixture of salt and sand and is very absorbent of water, thus, capable of spreading the underground waters. b. The Dam will dry the unique lakes of the region that are fed by the Polvar River, destroying the habitat of rare birds. d. The weight of the lake sitting over a site that had a few faults will widen the faults and could create the possibility of big earthquakes.

Technical Reasons: a. The Dam is built on the bed of river sediments and would not prevent the penetration of waters from under it. Once this shortcoming was discovered IRI has spent a lot of money to a Chinese firm for injecting cement in to the base of the dam. This reinforcement has not yet been tested. In similar cases, such after-fact action has not been totally successful. b. The topographical calculations are not correct, according to independent Iranian engineers. The mausoleum of Cyrus is in fact about 10 meters under the crown of the dam and if Sivand is fully impounded it will drown the mausoleum. The Ministry of Energy is already talking about the impossibility of full impounding which means the Dam cannot be fully operational for agricultural purposes. c. The water of the lake made by Sivand dam will push the salt content of the soil to the surface and will ruin the present agriculture.

So, why Ahmadinejad administration insists in impounding the dam despite all such evidences?

General Reasons:
a. The Pasdaran Army that has acted as the builder of the Dam has worked on Bolaghy Gorge for 15 years and has plunder its treasures. Now they want to cover the evidence.
b. IRI has become sensitive to what it calls Soft Destabilization that is women's movement, student's protests and so on. It has become very sensitive to the tide of protests against the Sivand Dam and is circumventing such endeavors.
c. IRI authorities believe that backing off in cases where people are demanding a specific issue would be seen as a great victory against the regime. So, it tries to discourage such sentiments.

Hidden Reasons:
a. The true responsible people in Rafsanjani and Khatami administrations are trying to wash their hands by encouraging Ahmadi-nejad that has become an expendable entity. b. This is seen as an effective way of demoting the importance of pre-Islamic era. c. Now that the Leader of IRI has declared the new Iranian Year as the Year of National Unity, this action implicitly announces that the pre-Islamic culture and history is not a part of the National Unity he has in mind.

What happens next? a. Everything happening now - like impounding Sivand in a time of the year when there is not water in Polvar River, or attaching women in the streets of Tehran and so on – tells me that Ahmadinejad is intentionally creating social turmoil. This is usually done in IRI when some kind of back off is going to be announced and they don't want people to focus on such development. They have to be engaged in other matters. b. It all depends on the reaction of Iranian people. It is a kind of silent referendum and Ahmadinejad will claim victory if no reaction is detectable on the part of the people. c. But if people show detectable sensitivity and the tide of reactions goes up, then those in shadow (even the Leader himself) would use Ahmadinejad as a sacrificial lamb and try to become national heroes. e. The rest is wishful thinking….

This lecture by Iranian Scholar Professor Esmail Nooriala is considered as educational material and highly recommended by ActivistChat.com . This is 19th lecture, part of weekly lecture series in Persian from site http://www.puyeshgaraan.com/Esmail.htm . If you wish to invite Professor Esmail Nooriala for lecture in English or Persian regarding different Iranian cultural or Political subjects please contact Professor Nooriala directly by Fax: 509-352-9630 esmail@nooriala.com or http://www.puyeshgaraan.com/ES.Contacts.htm
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:41 am    Post subject: Iran Dam Unleashes Torrent of Controversy Reply with quote

Iran Dam Unleashes Torrent of Controversy

April 26, 2007
Agence France Presse
Hiedeh Farmani

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070426/wl_mideast_afp/iranarcheology_070426164659;_ylt=A0WTUdHHKTFGBcAALgxFeQoB

Iran has overruled critics and started filling a new dam in the parched south of the country that will drown an ancient archaeological site and could threaten the tomb of Cyrus the Great. Thousands of activists have rallied and petitioned the government not to flood the dam, which is only seven kilometres (four miles) from Pasargadae -- the first capital of the Persian Empire.

During a visit to the area earlier this month, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered the inauguration of the Sivand dam. Once operational, the dam will supply water for irrigation as well as provide hydroelectric power.

But it will also drown parts of the Tange Bolaghi area, a mountain pass with ancient settlements dating back to 5,000 BC.

And protestors are worried that increased humidity from the lake could damage the limestone tomb at Pasargadae of King Cyrus the Great, who founded the Achaemenid empire in 6th century BC.

Cyrus remains a revered figure for Iranians as the conqueror of the ancient Mesopotamian city of Babylon and author of the Cyrus Cylinder, a declaration in cuneiform seen by some as the world's first assertion of human rights.

His tomb is an imposing construction rising 10 metres (32 feet) amid the ruins of the ancient capital with a base of six monumental stone steps leading up to his mausoleum.

Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi and fellow human rights lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah have lodged a complaint on behalf of 3,000 Iranians against Cultural Heritage Organization (CHO) head Esfandyar Rahim Mashai and Energy Minister Parviz Fattah.

"We demand that the flooding be immediately halted but despite the sensitivity of the issue the court has not taken a decision yet," Dadkhah told AFP.

"We have expert studies and documents that prove the dam will drastically change the ecology of the region and damage the tomb when flooded," he said.

"We have to choose wisely between flooding a dam which is useful for a limited period and cultural heritage that links the past, present and future of this land," said Dadkhah.

The lawyer won two lawsuits last year to prevent damage to sites in the historic city of Isfahan, which raised concern that the authorities were not paying enough attention to Iran's ancient heritage.

These involved the construction of a tall building in Naqsh-e Jahan Square, which which was reduced by several floors, and a subway route under historic Chahar Bagh Street.

The conservative government has rejected any criticism that is is less than attentive to Iran's pre-Islamic past in Isfahan, Pasargadae or elsewhere.

It insists that flooding the dam will stop the moment there is any proof of a risk to Pasargadae, and points to the importance of its completion for the local community.

The lake produced by the dam will be 11 kilometres (seven miles) long and will hold 92 million cubic meters of water, increasing the amount of fertile land in an region by 9,000 hectares (22,239 acres).

The authorities are also hoping the water from the dam will help local communities stem a salinization process that has put 28,000 hectares (71,166 acres) of farmland in jeopardy.

Pasargadae lies 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the former Achaemenid capital Perseopolis, Iran's best known ancient site, which is visited by thousands of foreign tourists each year but is too far away to be threatened by the dam.

It will take takes up to a year to fully flood the dam, and the CHO says it could be halted if experts proved humidity posed a threat to the nearby sites.

"We have invited foreign specialists to join our own people currently working at the site and we hope to have enough data within a few months to decide whether flooding should stop," CHO research chief Taha Hashemi told AFP.

"The ministry of energy is obliged to halt the operation if we find the slightest evidence that the humidity is damaging to the tomb," said Hashemi, who was in charge of the CHO's legal affairs under reformist former president Mohammad Khatami.

After Pasargadae was recorded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, the organization appealed to international archaeologists to join excavation operations on the site.

The teams discovered 7,000-year-old inhabited caves and pottery ovens, wine-making facilities dating back to pre-Islamic Sassanid era (224-651 AD) and remains of the Imperial Road connecting the Achaemenid capitals of Persepolis and Susa.

Despite scepticism voiced by critics, Hashemi insists that excavations in Tange Bolaghi have been completed and that there is nothing significant left to be unearthed.

"All the excavating teams wrote there is no problem to flooding the dam," he said, dismissing speculation that the current government prefers preserving Islamic heritage to pre-Islamic relics.

"We stand firm against any threats. There is absolutely no difference between pre-and post Islam.

"I am not surprised by the protests and I truly appreciate people's concern. Old civilizations were built by water; one must be careful with modern day dams."
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