posted 12-28-2004 09:15 PM               

http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2004/12/28/418730.html

A very frightening phenomenon to be sure. A third of the way through the second video there are a couple of people who appear to be relatively safe, but then they are swept away.

posted 12-29-2004 04:07 AM               

*Shuttle Columbia Door
*Mir Bag
*Gemini 8 Heat Shield
*Mercury 7 Heat Shield

posted 12-29-2004 04:44 AM               

thanks a lot for the coverage....while this is certainly not the place and time to advertize anything I'm happy to report that already over $1000 have been generated in the first 12 hours after I started the sale !
Lots of items are gone, many are still available, so go folks !!!

Thanks to everybody who has already contributed his part whether through a purchase or a direct donation to a relief fund.

And remember.....$1000 is the 3-6 months income of a family down there, so compared to the total damage nothing but for a few people it is life and existence saving !

Thank you
Florian Noller

posted 12-29-2004 03:39 PM            

12.29.04

From Sir Arthur:

Thank you for your concern about my safety in the wake of last Sunday’s devastating tidal wave.

I am enormously relieved that my family and household have escaped the ravages of the sea that suddenly invaded most parts of coastal Sri Lanka, leaving a trail of destruction.

But many others were not so fortunate. My heart-felt sympathy goes out to all those who lost family members or friends.

Our staff members are all safe, even though some are badly shaken and relate harrowing first hand accounts of what happened. Most of our diving equipment and boats at Hikkaduwa were washed away. We still don't know the full extent of damage -- it will take a while for us to take stock as accessing these areas is still difficult.

We are encouraging concerned friends to contribute to the relief efforts launched by various national and international organisations. If you wish to join these efforts, I can recommend two options:

- Contribute to a Sri Lanka disaster relief fund launched by an internationally operating humanitarian charity, such as Care* or Oxfam*

- Alternatively, considering supporting Sarvodaya, the largest development charity in Sri Lanka, which has a 45-year track record in reaching out and helping the poorest of the poor. Sarvodaya has mounted a well organised, countrywide relief effort using their countrywide network of offices and volunteers who work in all parts of the country, well above ethnic and other divisions. Their website,
http://www.sarvodaya.lk/

provides bank account details for financial donations. They also welcome contributions in kind -- a list of urgently needed items is found at:

http://www.sarvodaya.lk/Inside_Page/urgently%20needed.htm

There is much to be done in both short and long terms for Sri Lanka to raise its head from this blow from the seas. Among other things, the country needs to improve its technical and communications facilities so that effective early warnings can help minimise losses in future disasters.

posted 12-29-2004 05:29 PM            

Here is the link to the auction so you can see it for yourself:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41676&item=6354459803&rd=1

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

posted 12-29-2004 06:30 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by JAE:
If there is a seller on eBay auctioning video of the tsunami, can anything be done to end the auction? I think it is totally disgusting that someone would try to profit from this disaster.

Jeff

---

I see the vidcap they chose is of someone being swept to their death. Classy. This scum needs to be reported to eBay. I'm sure they have a policy (as they did immediately after 9/11) of not letting people profit from a disaster of such magnitude.

posted 12-29-2004 08:34 PM            

Anything to make a dollar. How sad.

Florian, I applaud your efforts to help. I've been reading the post-tsunami accounts from the tourists. The poorest of the poor are giving from all they have to help these strangers. The least we can do is help these people rebuild their lives. My wife will be making a donation to an aid organization soon.