The Foundation for Peace and Unification(http://beringproject.org) launches the International Ideas Competition for the Bering Strait Project approved by International Union of Architects (http://uia-architectes.org).
The Bering Strait Project is a large scale project aimed at linking railroad systems and ocean driveways from around the world by connecting the Bering Strait between the North American and Eurasian Continents. Through this unprecedented project, the Bering Strait intends to be a place of mutual cooperation where the east and west hemisphere are linked, the discontinuity of nation, human and culture disappear, and a long-pending hostility and conflict can be cleared up. Through the competition, the Foundation for Peace and Unification would like to let the world know about this intention and to stimulate their interest and participation. It is a single-phased competition and is open to architects in cooperation with affiliated professionals as well as students of architecture all over the world. Any architects and students of architecture in the world is welcome to participate.
International Ideas Competition for the BeringStrait Project
The Bering strait is the place where the barrier of time, space, history and ideology are revealed most dramatically. The goal of the project is to build a bridge or a tunnel bridging the gap of space and time, to lay a world highway running from London to New York, from the Cape of Good Hope to Santiago. Eventually, it aims to remove the barrier of human race, culture, religion, and nations by letting this obstructed way flow and to bring peace to the world.
What the FPU proposes for the Bering Strait Project can be rephrased as an elimination of all the barriers like spatial disconnection of national borders and chronological disconnection of today and tomorrow, and thus, stepping forward to peace and prosperity for all earth and mankind.
The Significance of the Project
The Bering Strait is a seaway between Cape Prince of Wales of the United States and Cape Dezhnev of Russia and a gate between Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean. The Bering Strait Project has the following significances in that it attempts to connect two continents at both ends of the strait.
First, it is an enormous challenge and a historical event showing the human spirit of challenge and the dream for the future society. It brings the message that mankind should be prepared for the future world of harmony and connection rather than of separation and disjunction. This project will be a new attempt for the future society.
Second, this kind of a large scale project requires mutual efforts of not only America and Russia but also all the people and nations, no matter who they are. Through the process, mankind can cooperate and communicate with each other better.
Third, with two continents connected and transportation routes completed, exploitation of natural resources at Alaska and Siberia will be accelerated and thus, today's concerns on natural resources crisis could be alleviated. The Bering Strait Project is not only for physical connection but also contribution to the peace and prosperity of the world.