Europe's minutes of silence

Millions of people across Europe observed a three-minute silence yesterday in memory of the victims (UN says will exceed 150,000) of the tsunami disaster - people paid their respects in silence in public places homes and offices. But according to the Times, people in Valletta were oblivious to the call and Republic street remained full of activity on the stroke of midday.

However, I don't think this should be taken as a sign of Maltese indifference towards the thousands of casualties in Asia. There is a lot of evidence of Maltese solidarity and generosity in reaction to the global Tsunami appeal for assistance. Several examples were mentioned during a live discussion yesterday on Radio Malta on which I was a guest with journalists Karl Stagno Navarra and Martin Debattista as well as members of parliament David Agius (PN) and Stefan Buontempo (MLP). The programme was meant to review 2004 and make forecasts for 2005 but Tsunami-related issues inevitably dominated parts of the programme.

Older Maltese generations are reminded of Tsunamis in the Central Mediterranean - 200, 000 thousand Sicilian casualties in 1908 - according to Herbert Ganado's 'Rajt Malta Tinbidel' fourteen Maltese medical doctors went on site as volunteers. Three doctors are volunteering this time in Asia but forty civilians say they are prepared to go to Sri Lanka to give their assistance.

From the Guardian's "Europe comes to a standstill":

In Sweden, which is thought to have the highest number of casualties in Europe, one of Stockholm's busiest squares fell silent. A lone dog could be heard barking as cars and pedestrians stopped in their tracks at noon. "One word that most of us had never used gained all the meaning in the world: tsunami. Something has happened that we will never forget. We have lost so many: a dad, a mum, an uncle, our children, a little sister, friends," the Swedish prime minister Goran Persson told the country in a televised address.

German trains in stations halted for one minute and staff stopped work for three minutes. There were similar pauses in airports. In the Netherlands, trains, trams and buses stopped at noon. Luxembourg, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, called on all 25 member states and EU institutions to observe the silence to "show solidarity and mourn the victims of the disaster," a European commission spokesman said.

In Brussels, the European parliament president, Josep Borrell, led a crowd of around 3,000 in observing the silence in the Rond Point Schuman, at the heart of the EU district. French schoolchildren stood at their desks in silent tribute and some Italian shops suspended business around noon.

Pope John Paul joined the day of mourning for the victims, offering prayers for the dead and for the millions struggling to survive. "In Europe, today is dedicated to the numerous victims of the tsunami that has tragically hit south-east Asia," he told hundreds of pilgrims gathered for his weekly audience.

Toni Sant writes in his blog:

What can I really do about what's going on now. Is donating money really enough? Should we feel that we've done our part just because we've donated some cash or whatever. Does that really make things better or does it simply make us feel better about it? Whatever the answer to that question, I believe that things can never be the same again for any of us, however close or far we are from it all.I don't want to come across as a cynical bastard. I'm just being sincere about my thoughts on what's going on around the Indian Ocean as I am bombarded by a media frenzy to capture the aftermath of the catastrophe and the tough circumstances thousands of people have found themselves in.

In reaction, 23 year old new blogger Caska posted this comment:

I agree that not even all the money in the world can make up for even one lost life in SE Asia let alone do something for the shattered lives of all the victims of tsunami. As regards whether donating money is enough or if it simply makes us feel better about about it, I just wanted to say that although I am sure that there were many many people who donated sincerely anything that could help, I deeply loathe the hundreds of people who donated money three or four times spread during the whole programme with the intent of winning something during the Istrina programme ... it's simply disgusting hearing people say "I donated three times and I didn't win anything".


Tsunami Aid Blogs:

Tsunamihelp.Blogspot.com
Tsunami Help Lines and Emergency Services Blog
Tsunami Missing Persons Blog
Where do donations go?