New Seven Wonders of the World was a project that attempted to update the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World concept with a modern list of wonders. A popularity poll was led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber and organized by the Swiss-based, government-controlled New7Wonders Foundation, with winners announced on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon.
The New7Wonders Foundation claimed that more than 100 million votes were cast through the Internet or by telephone. Nothing prevented multiple votes, so the poll was considered "decidedly unscientific". According to John Zogby, founder and current President/CEO of the Utica, New York-based polling organization Zogby International, New7Wonders Foundation drove “the largest poll on record”.
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United Nations
In 2007, the New7Wonders Foundation held a union with the United Nations in recognition of efforts to promote the Millennium Development Goals of the UN. "The UN said:
"The New7Wonders campaigns aim of contributing to the process of raising the welfare and mutual respect of citizens around the world, through encouraging interaction, expression of opinion and direct participation by voting and surveys on hot topics and global problems that are understandable to all. "
However, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in a press release on June 20, 2007, reaffirmed that has no connection with the "private." The statement concludes:
"There is no comparison between Mr Weber mediated campaign and the scientific and educational work resulting from the inscription of sites on the World Heritage List. The list of New 7 Wonders of the World will be the result of a private company, reflecting only the view of those with internet access and not everyone. This initiative can not, in any meaningful and sustainable manner, contribute to the preservation of sites elected by the public.
Egypt
Egyptian commentators saw it as competition to the situation of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only surviving monument of the original ancient wonders. "This is probably a conspiracy against Egypt, its civilization and monuments," wrote editorialist Al-Sayed al-Naggar in a leading state-owned newspaper. Egyptian Culture Minister Farouq Hosni said the project was "absurd" and described its creator, Weber, like a man "concerned primarily with self-promotion." Nagib Amin, an Egyptian expert on World Heritage, said that "apart from the commercial aspect, the vote has no scientific basis."
After complaints from Egypt, the New7Wonders Foundation designated the Pyramids of Giza - the only remaining of the 7 ancient wonders of the world - as an Honorary New7Wonders Candidate, and removed the vote. However, the Great Pyramid of Giza is not on your official site results.
Brazil
In Brazil there was a campaign of not voting Christ (Vote for the Christ), which was supported by private companies, namely telecommunications operators that stopped charging voters to make phone calls and SMS messages to vote. Moreover, what the corporate sponsors including Banco Bradesco and Rede Globo spent millions of real efforts to bring the statue voted into the top seven. Newsweek reports that the campaign was so pervasive that:
"One morning in June, Rio de Janeiro residents awoke to a text message on their mobile phones ringing:" Press 4916 and vote for Christ. It's free! "The same pitch had been popping up throughout the city from late January through an intermittent electronic screen every time city dwellers swiped their transit cards on city buses and echoing television infomercials that appears a reality-show celebrity posing next to the city marks the statue of Christ the Redeemer. "
According to an article published in Newsweek, about 10 million Brazilians voted in the competition in early July. This number is estimated as the New7Wonders Foundation never gave such details about the campaign.
Peru
An intense campaign led by the Peruvian Ministry of Trade and Tourism in Peru had a great impact on the media and people of Peru both voted massively for their national wonder. The announcement of the new Wonders of the World led to great expectations and the election of Machu Picchu was held around the country, especially in the main square of Cusco and Lima, where President Alan Garcia, organized a ceremony.
Chile
The representative of Chile to Easter Island Moai, Alberto Hotusa, said the organizer Bernard Weber gave him a letter saying that the Moai were morally finished eighth and one of the New Seven Wonders. Hotusa said it was the only participant to receive such an apology.
La India
A campaign to publicize the campaign in India has accelerated and peaked in July 2007 with the news channels, radio stations, and many celebrities asking people to vote for the Taj Mahal. Jordan
Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan joined the campaign to back Petra, Jordan's national treasure. Although Jordan has a population of just under 7 million people, has stated that more than 14 million votes that were made from the country. This number is estimated as the New7Wonders Foundation never gave such details about the campaign.
Mexico
There was a campaign news programs to encourage people to vote for Chichen Itza.
