TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Web Site Established to Pay Tribute in London Bombings

Web Site Established to Pay Tribute in London Bombings

Jeremy Lovell (reuters@telecom-digest.org)
Tue, 12 Jul 2005 12:48:31 -0500

World messages flood into London support Web site
By Jeremy Lovell

LONDON (Reuters) - A Web site created the same day as last week's
multiple bomb blasts in London to act as a focal point for passive
defiance has turned into a global shrine that has already attracted 11
million hits in just five days.

The site, brainchild of Web designer Alfie Dennen, 29, has been
flooded with images from all over the world, bearing the site's
slogan: "We Are Not Afraid."

"At first the idea was just to try to put the sentiment out there that
we wouldn't be cowed -- a defiant but not aggressive statement," said
Dennen.

"But it has become a platform for support for people quite literally
from every corner of the globe," he told Reuters.

At least 52 people were killed and 700 wounded -- many critically --
when bombs ripped through three underground trains and tore the roof
off a double-decker bus at the height of the London rush hour on
Thursday morning.

The list of those still missing reads like a United Nations of world
travelers and the messages flooding into www.wearenotafraid.com at the
rate of 20 a minute are from people in at least 15 different
countries.

"We had an amazing one from China this morning," Dennen said. "But
they are from places like Italy, Brazil, Poland, Japan, South Africa,
Nigeria -- all over basically."

One particularly poignant image posted by Sage E. is a sepia-toned
picture of the face of a bespectacled young girl with the caption:
"Yesterday I lost my friend in London. Today I am not afraid."

Among more than 1,000 other images already posted are others
lampooning al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden or showing London landmarks
or just personal portraits.

Dennen said the six people running the site round the clock had
decided to vet the commentary posted next to the images after it had
begun to attract extreme right-wing messages. "It became hate filled
war-mongering. We simply won't have offensive content of that nature
on the site. It is an editorial decision. But the overwhelming tone is
one of great support and positivity," he said.

"From here I think it will continue in its current vein for a while
and then, because of its iconic status, it will be a good place to do
good," he added.

Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited.

NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the
daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at
http://telecom-digest.org/td-extra/more-news.html . Hundreds of new
articles daily. Also go to review the new web site at:
http://www.wearenotafraid.com and post your comments there.

Post Followup Article Use your browser's quoting feature to quote article into reply
Go to Next message: Jonathan Marashlian: "The Front Lines"
Go to Previous message: News Wire: "California Regulators, PayPal Reach Settlement"
TELECOM Digest: Home Page