 | | Dee and Annette |
Dee and Annette were chatting in a city centre street, when we asked about how they felt. "I don't know anyone who has been affected in a direct way but I think it's had an effect on everyone." said Dee. "It happened at Christmas time - a time when you think about others, it's meant to be a peaceful time."
 | | Damien |
Dee learnt about the planned three-minute silence this morning. "Yeah, on Breakfast TV I heard it. I will be observing the three minutes of silence definitely, but at the end of the day it all depends on whether others have heard about it - as to if they'll acknowledge it."
They'd both given money towards the disaster appeal in Rackhams on Corporation Street.
 | | Leaving the Cathedral |
"I think they've raised eight thousand pounds." added Annette. Max, a Hari Krishna monk from Edgbaston, was walking past the Cathedral on Colmore Row. He thought the three-minute silence was important:
"Well just to say a prayer in remembrance for all the victims," he said. "It's such a mass disaster - on a whole world scale. I just feel its important to spend a little time - reflecting and praying and hoping."
 | | Observing the silence |
Did he think Birmingham should come to a stop for three minutes? "Yeah definitely - because although this event may seem distant, it affects us all. If humanity is suffering we should feel for them. "I've got a friend who has some family in the disaster area. And although they are ok they are very shook up. Emotionally they are quite shocked. I'm trying to do what ever I can - I'm not very rich."
 | | Observing the silence |
He added that he and other Hari Krishna monks, in Edgbaston "had a programme on Sunday - where we observed some prayers for the victims." Damien from Warstock was also walking past the Cathedral. He did not know that the silence was about to be observed: "I don't see why we have three minutes for the tsunami thing, yet we have two minutes for D-Day and everything else - September 11th."
He added that he had not been affected by the disaster and he had not pledged money, although "I don't know about the rest of my family".
 | | A city street at 12pm |
Nearby, Mark also did not know that the silence was about to be observed, but said: "Yeah I could do that. The disaster has been a shock to every one I think - but I don't think it tops 9/11. "But three minutes is fine - three minutes of someone's time is nothing, is it?" Mel, a legal secretary from Erdington, was one of the people who stood in silence for three minutes at 12pm outside Birmingham Cathedral.
 | | Mark |
Afterwards, she said: "I just really feel for everyone that has lost loved ones." One of the ladies who had been standing with her, added: "It's just as a mark of respect, really, for what's happened. It hasn't affected me personally, no, but with something like this you've got to have fellow feeling for human kind."
 | | Mel outside the Cathedral |
Did she think more people in Birmingham should have marked the silence? "Obviously it's a free choice for everybody - but I thought more people would have done. I think people are just busy with their own lives."
After the silence had been observed, Beverly Bolton and Hayley Ward walked past the Cathedral. They'd observed the silence at work - 'Direct Holidays' - in Colmore Row. "We did it because it shows you respect what happened - cos it's a tragedy." said Beverly.
 | | Beverly Bolton and Hayley Ward |
"It needs to be respected and people need to show their feelings... we've donated at work and we've also donated separately to the tsunami fund."
Once the silence had been observed and 'Prayers for Asia' had been said, Gary O'Neill, Canon Liturgist at Birmingham Cathedral, commented: "At times like this the Cathedral is a good place that people can go - it's a warm place, which is quite important and it's a quiet place. I think some people came here because they may not even know what it is they want to do.
 | | Canon Gary O'Neill |
"Some people light a candle, some people sign the book of condolence - I think some other people just want to be in silence, in company with other people - without doing anything - that's quite important. We can offer a place and a time for people to do that.
"We raised three or four hundred pounds on Sunday through our morning collection - which is going to the Disaster Emergency Committee. Anything taken in the collection boxes and in the donations boxes today is also going to the Disaster Emergency Committee." Mr and Mrs Akhtar had observed the silence in the Cathedral. As they left, Mrs Akhtar said:
 | | Mr and Mrs Akhtar |
"We're just down here for the day shopping and we just felt that we needed to be somewhere like the Cathedral - as a mark of respect."
Mr Akhtar, added: "The thing that impressed me most has been the outpouring of sympathy from everybody around. It restores your faith in humanity." ========= Donations to the Asian tsunami disaster appeal can be made by calling 0870 60 60 900, or by visiting www.dec.org.uk | 
