Britian Observes EU's Call for Silence for Asian Tsunami Victims

A moment of mourning for the victims of the Asian tsunami took place in Britain on 5th January. Millions of people in all member states of the European Union observed a three-minute silence at 12:00 (GMT). Prayers were said at churches, cathedrals and other places of worship throughout the UK and Europe to support the initiative.

The three-minute silence was suggested by the Luxembourg EU presidency last week. The British Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said, "The government hopes employers will do all they can to ensure employees are able to observe the silence and pay their respects at that time."

Jowell explained the time is to commemorate the victims of the catastrophe in South East Asia and is in solidarity with the people of the affected countries.

A spokesman for the Church of England responded, "This is a time for people to express, in the quiet of their own heart, their own feelings and their own grief about what has been a cataclysm."

The Church of England especially arranged a number of memorial services across the UK last Sunday to pray for the victims of the Asian tsunami. The head of the Anglican Church worldwide, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams has acknowledged earlier that many people are questioning their faith in God after the disaster.

However, he encouraged believers to hold onto their faithful and unchanging God, "The extraordinary fact is that belief has survived such tests again and again - not because it comforts or explains but because believers cannot deny what has been shown or given to them."

The General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Rev. Dr Keith Clements, stated his support for the moment of silence, "CEC is pleased to hear that many European churches are joining in the public action of remembrance for the victims of the tsunami disaster."

Previously, CEC has written a letter to the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), in which it declared its commitment, "We in the European churches, however, are deeply aware that it is the people of Asia themselves who are not only the primary bearers of the losses here and now, but who in the longer term will face the daunting burden of rebuilding devastated communities and whole societies. We therefore hope, and commit ourselves to work for a continuing long-term response of the European countries to the task of rebuilding the shattered communities."

Today in the UK, flags were flown at half mast on government buildings and at Buckingham Palace. The royal household also observed the silence. The BBC said its main television channels would observe the silence during a special "Asia Remembered" programme, to be broadcast from 11:30am to 12:15pm, while radio stations will include it in normal schedules.

Britain has been one of the greatest contributors in offering emergency relief for the tsunami. Now the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella group of 12 British charities, has pledged a donation of £76m. As the public contribution is rising, DEC expected that its appeal would eventually top £100m, not including direct donations to individual organisations.