Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Re: Mount Merapi Eruptions - 38 deaths - dozens injured - 69,000 internal refugees in 68 camps
Re: Mount Merapi Eruptions - 38 deaths - dozens injured - 69,000 internal refugees in 68 camps
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
Locals in Indonesia band together on Twitter to deliver information to victims of the Mount Merapi eruption.
The people of Indonesia can't seem to get a break. The volcanic eruption of Mount Merapi that started Monday, Oct. 26, just isn't letting up. Scientists say the end that Indonesians are praying for isn't around the corner; it's more like a "marathon, not a sprint." With flights being cancelled, shelters at capacity and loved ones still missing, these people need some help.
One group of local villagers, the Jalin Malapi, has taken aid efforts into its own hands. They're using Twitter.
As the Jakarta Globe reports, Twitter has become the key tool for mobilization efforts. The Jalin Malapi's founder, Sukiman Mochtar Pratomo, said, "Within a very short time, we had more than 9,000 followers. We share links from various sources and re-tweet information from people related to the crisis of Mount Merapi." An Indonesian citizen even said the information the Jalin Malapi is providing via Twitter (at @jalinmerapi) is better than what the local government is providing.
Read more
Edit: See also: @infomerapi
Re: Mount Merapi Eruptions - 38 deaths - dozens injured - 69,000 internal refugees in 68 camps
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
Locals in Indonesia band together on Twitter to deliver information to victims of the Mount Merapi eruption.
The people of Indonesia can't seem to get a break. The volcanic eruption of Mount Merapi that started Monday, Oct. 26, just isn't letting up. Scientists say the end that Indonesians are praying for isn't around the corner; it's more like a "marathon, not a sprint." With flights being cancelled, shelters at capacity and loved ones still missing, these people need some help.
One group of local villagers, the Jalin Malapi, has taken aid efforts into its own hands. They're using Twitter.
As the Jakarta Globe reports, Twitter has become the key tool for mobilization efforts. The Jalin Malapi's founder, Sukiman Mochtar Pratomo, said, "Within a very short time, we had more than 9,000 followers. We share links from various sources and re-tweet information from people related to the crisis of Mount Merapi." An Indonesian citizen even said the information the Jalin Malapi is providing via Twitter (at @jalinmerapi) is better than what the local government is providing.
Read more
Edit: See also: @infomerapi
