The modern-day seven new world wonders elected in a global internet vote are to be announced Saturday during a festive gala at a huge Lisbon stadium. The initiative is the work of Swiss millionaire Bernhard Weber, dpa reported. More than 70 million votes have arrived via the internet and SMS messages in what is being billed as the first global democratic vote. The competition includes 20 finalists and has generated enthusiasm beyond the Western world, but has come under criticism from art experts and the United Nations. The finalists include the Acropolis in Athens, the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, India's Taj Mahal, the Colosseum in Rome, the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Inca city of Machu Pichu in Peru. UNESCO has distanced itself from the initiative project, stressing it had no relation to the UN World Heritage Sites. It was not sufficient to recognize the emotional value of certain sites. They had to be evaluated using scientific criteria and protected with legal measures, UNESCO said on its website.
