The voting for new seven wonders of the world is one of the most talked about subject in blogosphere currently. I had resisted urge to post about it till now, but with it becoming increasingly visible that Tajmahal is not going feature in this Elite list, I had no option but to voice my reservation.
Okay, Can you tell me Why Taj does not feature in Top 7, it is the same why Sanjaya stayed for so long on American Idol. The public voting process is flawed.
The outcome is in the hands of millions of people, most of them who do not have either knowledge or are too knowledgeable about the voting process to actually manipulate the whole thing to tilt the result in the way they want. The 7 Wonders voting actually goes a step further. The organization behind this voting process is actually urging people to buy votes, thereby filling in their pockets. So more rich you are the more votes you can buy for your favorite wonders. Isn’t that cheap for a place in History ?
Here is the excerpt from Wikipedia about New 7 Wonders of the world
The New Seven Wonders of the World is a proposed revision of the Seven Wonders of the World, organized by a Swiss-based, for-profit corporation called New Open World Corporation (NOWC). The selection is being made by free and paid votes, through telephone or online. The first vote is free to registered members and additional votes may be purchased through a payment to NOWC. In addition to the sale of votes, NOWC relies on private donations, the sale of merchandise such as shirts and cups, and revenue from selling broadcasting rights.
So, this Swiss based firm is a “FOR PROFIT CORPORATION”, and where profits are involved, how can one have a fair and impartial voting ?
Even with all this background, I had not doubt that Taj Mahal would be in Top 5 if not top 3, purely based on the population we have. But I guess, I was wrong. If you think deeper, you will realize that although we have a huge population, more than 60% of the voting has happened through Internet, and Internet penetration in India is next to zilch as of now. Not only that, more than 97% of Indian population do not even know that something like this exists.
The number of Internet users in western world are atleast 20 times more and most of them are totally unaware of what Taj Mahal is. There are few other factors too, but the reasons I mentioned above are enough for Taj Mahal to get voted out.
Okay, even after all this I have voted and urge all of my readers to vote too. You never know :)
Register and cast your vote here, Don’t forget to spread the word on your blog. You can just copy the whole text verbatim if you want from here…
There are only 31 days remaining as of writing this post. The results will be announced on 7-7-7. Go ahead and cast your votes.
Author: Arun Prabhudesai
Arun Prabhudesai is founder / chief editor at trak.in. He jumped the Entrepreneurship bandwagon in early 2008 after a long 13 year stint in I.T Industry. You can follow him on twitter @trakin or get in touch with him at admin-at-trak-dot-in or 91.9822575676.Related posts:
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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
I belong to Agra & I wonder if it should be included in list of 7 wonders. If I think deeply, I think it should be on top of list for many reasons. TAJ MAHAL was built as a symbol of love by Shahjahan for his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. I also heard that Shahjahan ordered to chop off hands of all labors who created such a beautiful master piece. Now after so many years, I see same thing, many are chopped off for their jobs, whole glass industry collapsed due to it. Peoples living here don’t have water, electricity and many other things which a city should have if it hosts some thing which can be counted globally. I think again and I see no good reason to vote for TAJ to be one of the seven wonders of the world. There will be same story, government will get grants from World Bank, Japan and other countries for TAJ MAHAL and there will be no benefit for peoples living there, they have to drink same contaminated water, same roads will be there as they are with holes and open gutters. So, I am planning not vote for it.
This what i am also worrying about for long days.
How such a polling can decide the World wonders?
I hadnt yet voted for it.am really confused.
The voting methodology and the fact that anyone with enough money can just buy votes, makes the whole project a scam to earn millions, with the validity of the results with no cultural or scientific basis.
The whole thing is a scam run by a greedy sweedish corporation that has roped in several telecom operators internationally to make some money. Who makes new7wonders the authority of adjucating on what the seven wonders of the world should be. I might have thought on voting had it been a UN sponsored vote, but this is a sheer SCAM.
i think it is great to have 7 new wonders that are standing we cant have the ancient ones only the pyramids are still standing my God why is Timbuktu and THe easter islands,stonhendge and the acropolis they are undeserving they should have placed the leaning tower of pisa & why the stonhendge its just stones why they didn”t elect big ben or london bridge. PETRA is the only middle east ruin that i think has an advantage from the middle east but please vote for petra it has more than 8 ruins in this red rose city which is half as old as time make a wise desicion
MY WONDERS
1) PETRA
2) TAJ MAHAL
3) CHIHCEN ITZA
4) THE COLESSEUM
5)CHRIST REDEEMER
6) HAGIA SOPHIA
7) THE EIFFEL TOWER
Our chance to make history make a wise vote for structures like petra & the taj mahal not just (stonesstonhendge) why not big ben. Not timbuktu (it smells awful and its a mud mosque ) wow what pride do they have vote for hagia sophia . dnt vote for the easter islands cause its silly and dont vote for the opera house because its new and it has i have no clue why is it a candidate it has lights and thechnology petra dosen’t plz vote for petra . and don’t vote for castles castles are not wonders they are just homes of kings it looks like disney land , don’t vote for the temple cause it sucks and don’t vote for the great wall its just a long wall of crying out loud my grandfather has a land thrise as big as the lannd of the great wall. make a wise desiscion vote for petra,taj mahal,hagia sophia,christ r,chicen itza,colleseum,eiffel tower
Its a f***** scam.
Comment edited – No foul language allowed :-| . I understand your sentiments :)
I’m not really happy about this type of voting for a few reasons….
First, people who vote must atleast have some basic info about the various monuments before they cast the vote… this is definitely not possible…because i have also voted and apart from Taj and earlier wonders, i didn’t know much about the new entries… which is really unfair….
This brings another point into my mind… how can we people who are not that interested in history(generally) just vote like that and how come that particular organization has been given the right to declare the wonders of the world… I think only the historians with proper knowledge can decide it…
And moreover, with the various parts of the world having a population distribution that is different in terms of number and those having internet access… i think that all the countries are not having an equal platform… hence, i conclude that definitely this voting is UNFAIR! and whatever the results, they cannot/ should not be accepted…(just hoping so!)
Dhivya,
Very well said…I agree with you completely and thats what I have been trying to educate people through my blog since last month or so…Luckily this post has got lot of coverage else where, so the awareness is spreading…
Let us understand that it is not about whether Taj will come or not…It is about millions of people just going with the flow and not understanding how this whole thing works. Is it legitimate – is it done with sense of fairness and keep mind the historic importance of these venues – OR IS IT JUST MONEY MAKING SCAM ???
I wholly think it is a money making scam – because this for-profit organization is making millions and selling votes. Are they going to use this money to restore the glory of these monuments. No THEY ARE NOT! They are going to just fill up their pockets !!!!
While I did just submit my free vote
I was not impressed by the limited selection
Canada is not represented by the CN Tower
Ireland is not represented by Kylemore Abbey, equal to Neuschwanstein in my opinion, which I did vote for, and Taj Mahal
I did not and will not vote for Statue of Liberty
What ever are going to be the new 7 wonders,but I personally feel that “CHRIST REDEEMER” is definitely the message to all nations of the earth.While JESUS is still delaying for his arrival & extending his arms and calling all people to repent for their sins and accept him as GOD THE SAVIOUR (who alone rose from the dead) and telling that I AM THE ONLY WAY TO ETERNITY.(so, it is very clear that there is no other GOD or PERSON or WAY to eternity-heaven).
“SO IT IS HIGH TIME FOR THE EVERY CHRISTIAN TO KEEP WATCH,TO PRAY AND TO WORK FOR THE LORD(for the expansion of his kingdom) AS WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO HIS COMING”
One may wonder OR not on election and declaration of the N7W…, but it is for sure that all the non-believers of this world will surely wonder when “JESUS APPEARS IN THE SKYS WITH A GREAT BIG TRUMPHET SOUND” and there will not be any chance to escape from his judgement.
HE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO COME & PUT AN END TO EARTH AND SETTLE THE MATTER FOR ONCE AND ALL.BELIEVERS WILL FLY WITH HIM TO HEAVEN TO GLORIFY,PRAISE,WORSHIP,ENJOY HIS FELLOWSHIP FOR EVER & EVER. CONTRARILY THE NON-BELIEVERS WILL BE THROWN INTO THE BURNING LAKE OF FIRE FOR EVER AND EVER. IN “JESUS PRECIOUS & MIGHTY NAME”. AMEN & AMEN.
This is a great post.. See my version at http://blogulate.com/content/is-the-new7wonders-a-scam/
I googled for the n7w scam and got here..
We really need to do something about it … but i guess it’s a bit too late now ..
How can a for-profit organization declare the seven wonders of the world ?
This voting is not even accredited by the UN .
In my country I am sick that gov. official allow my precious Angkor Wat to joint this un accredited vote…. I also write a post about this too but, my voice is not heard of :-( so the crazy people started to blame each other now why they allow the 7NW list Angkor in the competition …
I also write a post about this too
well thing is that voting is also open by mobile phone….
TRUST me guys…when people throw in millions of sms for indion idol sa re ga ma pa n stuff…
Millions of votes thru sms will go to taj mahal too!!!!
I think to have the opportunity to choose the new 7 wonders if the world is great. I also believe Macchupicchu should be in the first seven. As a peruvian I feel very proud that the inca culture is recognized as one of the favorites to be one of the winners. This should be the winners:
1) Macchupicchu
2) The Pyramides of Guiza
3) The Roman Colisseum
4) The Great Wall of China
5) etc
OK.. It’s official. Here’s the list (not in order.. except for the one and only TAJ whoch is the No.1):
1. TAJ MAHAL – Agra, INDIA (Love, Passion)
2. Colosseum – Rome, Italy (Joy, Suffering)
3. Machu Picchu – Cuzco, Perú (Community, Dedication)
4. Great Wall – China (Perseverance, Persistence)
5. Christ the Redeemer – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Welcoming, Openness)
6. Chichen Itza – Yucatán, Mexico (Worship, Knowledge)
7. Petra – Jordan (Engineering, Protection)
Ok. Everybody .. It;s time .. three cheers for India!!
thank u for choosing the taj mahal at 1st
Thanks Maurya…I just put up a post here…check out..
http://trak.in/Tags/Business/2007/07/07/new-7-wonders-results-officially-announced-check-out/
i read COMMENTS ON CHRIST IT IS NONSENSE TO SAY THAT CHRIST WAS LIVED AGAIN AFTR DEATH HE WAS A HUMAN HOW CAN A HUMAN CAN LIVE AGAIN THIS BLIND BELIEF TO SPREAD CHRISTANITY . HE WAS A MAN A GUIDE TO HUMAN STOP TO MAKE HIM GOD .REGARDS M LOKHANDE A BUDDHIST MUMBAI INDIA
The biggest Wonder are not the present seven wonders – BUT the biggest wonder of the world is “How people will go to any length to fill the coffers of a For profit organization”
After the Completion of voting rounds the same Organization is now selling pins and similar stuff.
BTW even after 24 hours, the site does not give the total number of votes polled and the number each Wonder has received!!!
So much for the Western efficiency!!!
Cool…
Interesting…
Cool!
oh when i went away for doing my first chrim. Piet Nirvana.
It’s great that there is a someone in the Internet who is brave to expose this tactic of harvesting people’s emails. You can’t vote in 7 Wonders without giving your email.
Honestly you are all fighting over monuments and places created by man. I know we all love our regions and every special thing that has been created to show how much we love the places we live but seriously you have to know that not everyone is going to agree with you and not everything can go one persones way… We all have to agree that their arent only 7 real wonders cause the real wonders are the ones that everyone cherishes and you cant choses only 7 monuments that can be world wonders cause their are many that are wonders for different regions… Doesnt matter where you come from we all love our own special wonders!
I think I m very late to comment. But I think Taj, Pyramids of Giza Egypt, Great Wall of China, Hagia Sophia Turkey, Golden Gate Bridge, Christ Redeemer Basil and Colosseum Italy are the "7 WONDERS OF WORLD"
wonderful wonders of the world !
What I ve always regarded as the 7 world’s wonders are;
—1.pyramid of Egypt
—2.Hanging wall of Babylon
—3.Statue of Zeus at Olympia
—4.Temple of Atemmis at Ephesus
—5.Mausoleum of Harlicanasus
—6.Colossus of Rhodes
—7.Pharoes of Alexandrias
Does it men ‘am leaving in the past.Are these ratings subject to changes,aren’t they parmanent classifications.
I just want to say that…This kind of thing is nonetheless a little bit of jealousy. Why there is a need to vote for top beautiful places? where after all, those places are indeed beautiful. What I believed is that there are actually still more beautiful places that is not yet discovered. What I want to say is that just try to appreciate the uniqueness (Beauty) of each places. No need for this voting system, that actually leads to division of everybody… just try to think about this…
concern individual for peace,
dabskie
………….i satisfied the results of the new7wonders of the world because all of the top 7 are deserving to what the results we have………..thats why taj mahal of india be contented of the results……….u must be happy because u are the one in n7w of the world…………thats all thank u………
I think that the 7 wonders are constant so they should be 10 or even 20 if new ones are found.
I mean why exactly seven?
You cannot leave behind something like the great pyramid that was built 2500bc with a complete darkness in the outer world of Egypt or join the newly built Eiffel tower with modern buildings higher than it!