Falklands : South Atlantic Islands Express Sadness, Shock and Dismay at London Terror Attack
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 11.07.2005 (Article Archived on 25.07.2005)
No matter how you look at it, there is no true justification for taking innocent lives to promote a cause – no matter how ‘good?’
SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS EXPRESS SADNESS SHOCK AND DISMAY AT LONDON TERROR ATTACK
Compiled by J. Brock (SARTMA)
An Editorial by J. Brock (SARTMA)
No matter how you look at it, there is no true justification for taking innocent lives to promote a cause – no matter how ‘good?’ Thursday’s attack was not fuelled by patriotism or religion but by pure hatred and power grabbing selfishness. This evil is like a running sore that needs to be cleaned out and healed, or a root that needs to be uprooted and dealt with so it will never grow and spread again.
I think we need to get to the root cause of terrorism and destroy it before any progress can be made in neutralising its networks affecting most of the world’s continents. Doing things to make terror unattractive to its proponents may mean some hard decisions for us. But what is the priority here?
One would think that the terrorists want to dominate the world with their ‘religion’ and have everybody doing their thing in their way. It’s up to us to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Tristan da Cunha
News has been received from Tristan da Cunha that the Tristanians in London – James and Felicity Glass – are safe and well. It was unknown for several hours whether or not they had been caught up in the terror attack but fortunately they were not. James is attending an environmental conference in the UK.
Ascension Island
Flags at the Administrator’s Office and other Government buildings on Ascension Island are being flown at half -mast in respect for the victims of Thursday’s terrorist attack in London.
Rev. Canon Clive Duncan of St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Ascension Island said that people he spoke to showed shock, dismay and disbelief at the loss of innocent life. Aside from that he and Rev. Chris Powell from St. Helena spent many hours glued to the TV and trying to find out if anyone on the Island was affected.
Prayers were said for the victims of Thursday’s attack at St. Mary’s Anglican Church on Sunday, 10 July 2005.
St. Helena
You will have by now heard the news about the tragic events that took place in London yesterday. This horrific and unacceptable act of terrorism has so far led to the loss of over 50 lives and more than 700 injured. All official flags on the island shall be flown at half-mast until sunset this evening.
I shall be sending the following message to Her Majesty the Queen on behalf of the people of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha:
BEGINS:
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF SAINT HELENA AND Its DEPENDENCIES, TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
Your Majesty,
On behalf of the people of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha I convey our sympathy to those who have suffered injury or trauma as a result of yesterday’s tragic events in London. We send our sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. While we are thousands of miles away, we feel very close to the people of Britain in spirit, and we know that they will respond with resolve and determination.
Michael Clancy
Governor and Commander in Chief of Saint Helena and its Dependencies.
ENDS
Office of the Governor: The Castle, 8 July 2005
Falkland Islands
Falkland Islanders have been dismayed at the events in London on Thursday, 07 July 2005. The Reverend Paul Sweeting of Christ Church Cathedral in Stanley has described the feelings of his flock as “saddened and shocked” about the attacks on London transport systems. All three Churches in Stanley will be holding services of prayer and reflection for those who lost their lives and for the injured. The congregation of Christ Church Cathedral will also be praying about the wider background of what happened.
“As always, the Cathedral is open during the day as a quiet space for prayer and reflection,” Rev. Sweeting said.
The Cathedral Service will be at 1715 LMT on Friday.
Reports have been coming in that the Islands Games Team are all OK and that some of them were stranded for a while in North London as a result of the Attacks. All at FIGO are also safe.
Meanwhile, in Stanley, the Mid Winter Fireworks have been postponed – yet again. The Committee will inform people when they are re-scheduled. Elsewhere, support has been pouring in with flags flying at half-mast. His Excellency the Governor Mr. Howard Pearce has sent a message of support for the people of London through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In the letter he expressed Islanders outrage and shock over the attacks and loss of life.
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