Should war-torn countries be aided in the protection of cultural objects, structures and/or sites?

Purpose

The purpose of this discussion board is to further explore the issues of illegal excavations and trade of art objects, and the repatriation (return to country of origin) of these objects.

Directions
Read the following articles:

“Looting Africa Theft, illicit sales, poverty, and war are conspiring to rob a continent of its rich artistic heritage,” by Aisha Labi and Simon Robinson, Aug. 6th, 2001, from Time Magazine online at content.time.com:

http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2056125,00.html (Links to an external site.)

“Looting Mali’s History, ” by Joshua Hammer, Nov. 2009, from Smithsonianmag.com:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/looting-malis-history-144953243/ (Links to an external site.)

“Talking African art repatriation with curator and anthropologist Meskerem Assegued,” by Lindsay Samson, July 24th, 2018, from designindaba.com:

http://www.designindaba.com/articles/creative-work/talking-african-art-repatriation-curator-and-anthropologist-meskerem-assegued (Links to an external site.)

2. Answer the following questions in a 3-paragraph minimum post:

– Do you feel that enough is being done to stop illegal excavating, looting and trading of African art? Who is responsible for policing these activities?

– How do you feel about repatriation? Do you believe that the objects should be returned regardless of circumstances, or do you think that the country and/or institution currently in possession has rights to retain the objects if they acquired them legally? What if they acquired the objects illegally?

– Should the country of origin be required to prove that they can properly care for, protect, and display the objects?

– Should war-torn countries be aided in the protection of cultural objects, structures and/or sites?

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