Roșia Montană in UNESCO. The impact of cultural heritage on public communication and civic mobilisation
Roșia Montană in UNESCO. The impact of cultural heritage on public communication and civic mobilisation

Summary/Abstract: This paper shows how the Facebook group “Roșia Montană in UNESCO World Heritage” became the main source of information for the opponents of the mining project and a factor in multiplying the messages of the Save Roșia Montană Campaign in 2010-2013. Online searches for “Roșia Montană” reached a record of 200 million views in September 2013, amid protests that brought tens of thousands of Romanian citizens to the streets in order to save the town. Ancient archaeological remains (galleries, necropolises, artefacts, temple ruins and houses) and the built and industrial heritage dating from the medieval, modern and contemporary periods (houses, lakes, machinery) have been given new meanings and significance during the Roșia Montană debate, becoming symbolic goods, with a major contribution in raising awareness regarding the risks of the mining project planned in the area. The commitment for recognising the exceptional value of the local heritage for universal history and culture through the inclusion of Roșia Montană on the UNESCO World Heritage List has become the civic mobilisation engine with the greatest impact in the public debate.

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