Wikipedia wants to be a World Heritage Site!

BANGALORE, INDIA: Over 18 million entries in 279 languages, Wikipedia has no doubt redefined the concept of knowledge exchange in the digital age. And now this online encyclopedia, which could be the world's biggest repository of human knowledge, wants to become a world heritage site and wants be listed on the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's world heritage lists.

Originally propose by Wikimedia Germany, Wikipedia opened a page for the World Heritage Site campaign on Tuesday.

“It is not only a success story in the history of the Internet, but a success story for a paradigm change in the treatment of free knowledge,” says the campaigners.

The campaign, which describes Wikipedia “as a masterpiece of human creative genius” asks the users to sign on the online petition, which reads like this:

“To UNESCO and the signatory states of the World Heritage Convention: I support the proposal of recognizing WIKIPEDIA as World Cultural Heritage Site because I am convinced that Wikipedia is a masterpiece of human creative genius and is also of universal human value. Please take a stand for WIKIPEDIA to become the world’s first digital and global World Cultural Heritage Site!”

'A magnificent development'

Millions of people use Wikipedia in their everyday lives, most of them even take it for granted. This is a magnificent development, but we should be careful not to forget the idea and philosophy behind Wikipedia, says the campaign page.

Justifying the campaign, Wikipedia said it “is an international project and therefore to apply for the UNESCO World Heritage status seems appropriate”.

If accepted, Wikipedia would become the first digital entry to get the international protection and preservation by the UNESCO. Heritage sites too going virtual isn't it?!