Sir, - Referring to the destruction of statues in Afghanistan, the director-general of UNESCO has suggested: "One of the things we should look into in the future is how to set up a new legal framework with credible punishment for crimes against culture" (The Irish Times, March 15th).
Ancient things should of course be valued, but is there any chance that in the very near future we will see credible investigation of and punishment for current crimes against the living, breathing, powerless people of this world?
Wealthy countries have money for "Star War" weapons and sports stadiums, but the sick, the elderly, the homeless, the addicted, come way down the list of priorities.
Africa has already suffered 90 per cent of the 31 million AIDS deaths worldwide, while many countries there must spend more on debt repayments than they do on health and education combined. The IMF and World Bank resist any meaningful action on debt with the full support of their G8 masters.
The Taliban is decried worldwide for the destruction of ancient objects. Who will tackle the Taliban on its treatment of the living people of Afghanistan, whose sufferings hardly feature in the news headlines, much less receive coverage over a week or more?
With 80 per cent of the world's wealth being held onto by the rich 20 per cent at an uncountable daily cost in human lives, perhaps we should be giving priority to the lessons of history, rather than its relics. - Yours, etc.,
M. Kelly, Raheny, Dublin 5.