Divers group among winners of State information award

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The group of divers behind the weblog at the sukellus.fi site, which provided valuable information on survivors of the Asian tsunami disaster in the days immediately after December 26th last year, has been included among the recipients of this year's State Prize for Dissemination of Information.
      The site, maintained by diving enthusiasts, provided the only real-time listing of those who had been found in the chaotic days after the massive waves struck in Thailand, and the swiftness and efficiency of their action on the ground - searching temples, hospitals, and health centres in the Phuket, Khao Lak, and Krabi districts of Thailand - rather overshadowed the government's own response.
      The decision, taken unilaterally, to publish the list of names of survivors on the Net, was initially frowned upon by authorities, but this recognition makes it clear that they performed a valuable public service. It also indicates the speed and efficiency of the Internet as a means of passing information.
      A number of previous articles in the International Edition have highlighted the work of the group.
     


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Divers' website gets nearly a million hits in days after tsunami (5.1.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat