The Cultural Declaration of Petra

Petra 08/07/2007

Out of the deep understanding of the role of intellectuals in the crucial moments in the history of human communities, Jordanian intellectuals, who assembled in Petra on the eighth of July 2007, emphasized the significance of the cultural heritage of Jordan, especially the Nabataean civilization, whose greatness is embodied by Petra-one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  They  highligheted the cultural and historical importance of Petra and the urgent need to translate this awareness of the cultural behaviour of the Jordanian state. Briefly put, they consider Petra and the Nabataean heritage as a legacy at the root of the national cultural identity, its ancient title, and the substantive expression of the continuity and originality of Jordan.

In addition, they attracted the attention of the Arabs to the significance of Petra, and its cultural heritage, and thus addressed overseas intellectuals and those who are keen on the values of human civilization. In so doing, they aim at revealing the historical and human value of Petra, which has been a paragon of innovative cultural diversity, and faithfully  protecting the values of justice, righteousness, beauty, and innovation. Thus, it is no surprise that innovative civilizations, since they are immortal, renew despite oblivion.

Civilizations, with their multiple facets, are historical entities. Therefore, they are considered a huge arena for cultural, social, broad and far-reaching evolution, reflecting the elements of transformation, and the beginnings of decline and death. Communities and states, though dissimilar organically to human beings in terms of life and death, are characterized by transformational time with multiple pathways within intellectual conflict. Being part of the present, the past becomes essentially creative, innovative and vital.

The creative and lavish practices expressed by the cultural heritage of nations, necessary to inform cultural industries, are the basic means to enhance understanding among people and communities of the world. Perhaps constructing new models for industry in innovative and cultural tourism is an essential introduction to intensify and strengthen the principles of reciprocal understanding among people in the light of the dramatic flood that sweeps the world in an atmosphere of unilateral ravage of cultural industries. At this stage, the cultural and developmental policies in Jordan are in great need of an essential comprehensive review. This requires more interest in the introduction of cultural heritage, the industry of cultural tourism. This will positively affect the image of Jordan and the way Jordanians look at their country. Therefore, the following tasks are extremely important.

First: Being one of the New Seven Wonders of the World is an investment of the past for the benefit of the society. One way of being loyal to this human heritage is to preserve and sustain it until we are able to establish a fund for the conservation of Petra.

Second: Developing a comprehensive national plan, devoted to the inspiration of national, cultural history and cultural heritage in various elements of moral construction, and using it as an enhancing historical factor in various activities and events of the state institutions and the activities of the institutions of the private sector.

Third: Emphasizing that cultural heritage, along with other relevant components, is the source of the moral power of the state. This should be reflected in the media and political discourse of the state and its developmental policies.

Fourth: Emphasizing the major role of the governmental institutions in supporting the innovative initiatives in the introduction of cultural heritage. The aim is to stimulate the cultural production of institutions of private sector and civil society institutions through incentives and tax exemptions.

Fifth: Reviewing the national media discourse of the cultural heritage of Jordan, creating new discourse, based on privacy and innovative diversity, and developing a national plan of historical drama, inspired by the cultural history of Jordan along with all its treasures and capacities, and developing another plan of producing documentary materials with high quality.