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Worldwide Candlelight Vigil:
There will be a worldwide vigil on the one-month anniversary of the earthquake to grieve for those who have lost their lives, provide hope for those who have survived but are living in deplorable conditions, and highlight to the world and the media that more needs to be done and time is running out. More Information
Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2005
Time: 7:00 PM local time, all over the world
Place: Vigils are being proposed for all major cities in the United States (San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, L.A., New York, D.C., New Jersey, San Diego and others), Canada, England, India and Pakistan. Other cities/countries will be added as volunteers come forward.
Key Contacts:
Paru Yusuf: 650-903-4131
Samar Shaheryar: 917-887-9788
Boston Vigil Coordinator:
Beena Sarwar
Boston Vigil Location: Harvard Square, 6 - 7pm
For detailed information, please visit http://www.saquake.org
On October 8, 2005, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck South Asia, effectively destroying entire towns and villages. Due to the severe cold weather, lack of shelter, and lack of urgent medical attention, the tragedy wreaked by this disaster continues.
Join our vigil so our individual voices can be one loud message of support, hope and action. Their cries for help have not been heard and freezing weather is about to set into this region. THEY STILL NEED US -- WE MUST NOT ABANDON THEM.
It is most important that we make this a media event and get reports of this vigil in the local and national press as well as educate our fellow residents and citizens about the events unfolding in Pakistan. It is imperative to underscore the urgency of the needed relief response. This is NOT a rally, it is a peaceful and solemn vigil. It is being approached with a secular view so as to be as inclusive as possible and to attract as many groups & supporters as possible.
This is a symbolic date as it is the one-month anniversary of the earthquake. It is also election day in America, and as a result there will be greater media presence around most cities, as well as more people out of their apartments to vote. We suggest 7 pm to catch people commuting home from work.
This is a grass-roots effort in that local volunteers from respective locations will be responsible for properly securing permits, press releases, local organizations, volunteer coordination, media releases, costs and vigil logistics. One way to keep vigil costs low is to encourage attendees to bring their own candles in press releases/vigil annoncements. The website will be used to direct volunteers to each other for each city. There is a 10-page Vigil Information Packet that can be e-mailed to local Vigil Coordinators. Vigils will take place in locations that can commit to the below schedule and will be advertised on the website.
This is a time to reach out to a broad group of organizations for the peaceful goal of getting more attention and desperately needed aid that only governments and corporations are capable of providing to the children and families that survived the devastating earthquake.
Please e-mail your name, telephone number, city and e-mail address to the Key Contacts if you would like to help coordinate a vigil in your location.
Monday October 31:
Most local/city organizers identified
Websites updated with contact info for each city
All local email lists sent info on vigil
Wednesday November 2:
SJR Press Release
Friday November 4:
All permits and cities confirmed with an estimated number of volunteers and attendees
Sunday November 6:
Final speech and flyer with updated numbers sent out
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