pristine
勧告が出たとたん富士山の周辺に行楽客が押し寄せているそうです。さもありなんですね。
見出しのLess Than Pristineには皮肉が少し込められているように感じました。英検１級にも頻出のprisitineですが、ここでは"not spoiled or damaged in any way"（LDOCE）ということでしょうか。「汚い」「汚れている」というよりは上品かもしれませんが...。いずれにしてもこれからが大変です。（GP）
Mt. Fuji: Less Than Pristine, But Set for UNESCO Recognition
For centuries, the Japanese have identified with Mt. Fuji in a way few other nationalities have revered a single landmark. The iconic volcano has been at the center of Japanese art, spiritual worship and geographical orientation, while seeming to keep a watchful eye on the nation’s capital from a distance.
For many foreigners, too, the majestic mountain holds a great allure, with a sighting of its exquisite curving lines almost serving to authenticate a visit to Japan.
Now the 3,776 meter peak and surrounding associated sites are headed for official global recognition. The United Nations cultural organization UNESCO is set to approve Mt. Fuji as a World Heritage site when it meets in June, Japan’s Cultural Affairs Agency said late Tuesday.
Recognition for the mountain is the result of a 20-year campaign by locals in Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures to push for the volcano’s inclusion on the list of sites alongside the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt.
The decision – more than 20 years since Japan ratified the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 1992 — may come as a surprise to anyone expecting Japan to have included Mt. Fuji among its first candidate sites for inclusion. In the meantime, the ancient forests of Yakushima and Hokkaido’s Shiretoko National Parks, as well as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and 13 other Japanese sites, have been registered for protection under the Convention.
It seems the answer for the late candidacy of the mountain lies in the trails of empty beer cans some climbers have been dismayed to find when climbing the great peak. While the free-standing volcano is home to a distinct ecosystem, the easiness both of access to the peak and the climb itself have made it an extremely popular choice for visitors.
