[CPProt.net] ICOM-CC appalled by looting in Iraq.

[Reid Bailey]

I'd like to that Mr. Ellis and Mr. Goldsmith for the
new direction all of this is taking.

I have been a member of this list for several years
though these things are really only a hobby for me,
thus I usually leave the comments for "the pros". 

But here are my thoughts, for whatever they are worth.

This problem goes far beyond the current situation in
Iraq regardless of who thinks whom is to blame. So the
initial steps could use this crisis as the impetus for
a greater action.

Perhaps an organization would be a good move and this
can initially consist of one person with a data base.
First, every attempt should be made to get a
reasonable account of what was in Iraq, at any point,
and should still be there. Then, get this information
out there. Whether they are pictures or just
reasonable text descriptions it doesn't really matter
but I do think that there needs to be one central
registry that houses the information.

The central registry doesn't even have to house all
this info, just at least point you in the right
direction.

And every one from auction houses to small antique
dealers need to be made aware of the importance of the
central registry or organization.

Now these things cost money and we all know how
wealthy the artistic community is in general so I have
no idea of the steps needed to make this happen. Maybe
grants could be applied for, fund raisers, a slight
surcharge on museum ticket prices or something else.

But data bases and internet bandwidth are getting
bigger and cheaper all the time. 

The items from Iraq will be filtering in and out of
the marketplace for years to come. So just because
something make take a while to put in place, I do
think it is still worth pursuing.

I realized that I said a lot without really saying
much at all, but I did want to keep the discussion
moving in the positive direction.

Thank you
Reid Bailey



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