A word or two lifted directly
from our in-house web pages. Thought you might find it interesting:
"More than 100,000 people from around the world have now added their names to the petition calling for the release of kidnapped ´óÏó´«Ã½ Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. Messages of support from over 6000 people have also been posted on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ News website.
The petition was launched in April in the Guardian newspaper when 300 leading figures from the journalistic community signed a petition calling for Johnston's release.
Yesterday, 21 May, the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s world editor Jon Williams spoke at a vigil for Johnston held at Television Centre. He said, 'Now, more than ever, we miss Alan's integrity and humanity in reporting that [Gaza] story.
'But he is not the only one under threat in Gaza. Alan's friends, our colleagues, Ibrahim Adwan and Rushdi Abu Allof, were among 30 journalists trapped by gunfire inside the building that houses the ´óÏó´«Ã½ bureau in Gaza.'
Williams said that ´óÏó´«Ã½ reporters in Gaza had been recently broadcasting around the clock 'ensuring that in Alan's absence, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ can continue' its coverage.
There has been no public statement from Johnston's kidnappers, although on 9 May al-Jazeera received a tape purportedly from his kidnappers which included several demands and a picture of Johnston's ´óÏó´«Ã½ ID card.
Jon Williams said in an announcement in May that the tape runs for several minutes and contains readings from the Koran and a demand for the release of Muslim prisoners in British jails, specifically, the Muslim preacher Abu Qatada. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has not commented on the analysis of the tape.
Vigils are being held by friends and colleagues every Monday at various ´óÏó´«Ã½ venues to keep his plight in the spotlight."
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Thanks for keeping us in the picture, Eddie. It is good, too, that we are reminded that, while Alan's plight is at the forefront of our minds, there are many other correspondents both in Gaza and elsewhere who are risking their lives every day to keep us informed of conflicts around the world.
Thanks for posting that Eddie. We shouldn't forget about ´óÏó´«Ã½ and other news correspondents, photographers and crew that live and work in troubled areas. It was, once again, sobering to hear the sound of gunfire in a live report on the Lebanese/Palestinian problems this morning.
Hmmm. I commented on this thread, and it was posted - and now it's disappeared. It's the second time that's happened to me. What am I doing wrong? *sniffles tearfully*
Oh, and now it's back! That's why I love this blog - it never ceases to surprise me ... ;)
Yes thank you Eddie. After the debate regarding whether or not there is too much media coverage of the Madeline McCann case (whom I still am desperately hoping will be found safe and well very soon), it is all too easy for other cases to disappear off the radar. At the end of the day everyone is someone's son or daughter whether they are 4 or 40.....
Talking about the Madeline case, I thought this was a very relevant point
"The National Missing Person's Helpline said this week that more than 800 children and young people have gone missing since Madeleine disappeared from Praia da Luz on the Algarve"
Fiona - thank you for posting that statistic. Walking down my road last night I saw a sign in a living room window with a a helpline number asking for any info about Madeleine; I couldn't help but think 'what about all the others?'
The Bush house vigil for Alan Johnston. Taken from lasts week Ariel (´óÏó´«Ã½ Magazine)
In the States, don't they publish the faces of missing persons on milk cartons? In my local weekly rag they print photos of stray dogs needing re-homed. Both seem to be successful.
Surely the question should be: how can we get Madeleine-scale publicity for more of the others who are missing?
Fifi