Finnish firefighters invited all to a world wide Silent Protest on October 16 - against drunk driving and in honour of fallen comrade Mikko Saastamoinen
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On October 16, firefighters in Finland invite colleagues all over the world to participate in a silent protest on bridges and other visible places to demonstrate for better traffic safety - and especially for stronger action against Driving Under the Influence of drugs and alcohol.
On 1 October, the entire fire and rescue services in Finland and around the world suffered a great loss when a respected colleague, Mikko Saastamoinen, was hit by a car while cycling. The driver is now allegedly suspected of drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs.
Mikko was a well-known developer of road safety and road rescue in Finland and internationally. To honour the life's work of our late colleague, the rescue sector is gathering to demonstrate for safer roads.
Photo Credit: Firefighters demonstrating on a bridge. Illustration by Bjorn Ulfsson, executed by Chat GPT.
The aim of the demonstration is to draw attention to the need to improve road safety and in particular the risks posed by drunk drivers. Representatives of the rescue sector from Finland and abroad are invited to take part in the demonstration.
Instructions for the demonstration:
1. Time: The demonstration will take place on 16 October 2024 at 18.00-18.05 Finnish time (UTC + 3).
2. Implementation: fire and rescue personnel will gather on highway bridges or other visible but safe places. The aim is to send a visible and unified message for road safety. At the local level, suitable locations for the demonstration will be planned and coordinated. The choice of location must take into account the safety of the demonstration and other traffic. If there is no suitable place for the demonstration along the traffic routes, it can also be held in the yard of a fire station, for example.
3. Outfit: participants should wear firefighting gear or reflective vests, emphasising safety and visibility.
4. Behaviour: stand in a single line for five minutes with your hands on each other's shoulders. This is a silent and respectful demonstration, so no banners or slogans will be used.
5. Community spirit: community spirit is a strength of the fire and rescue services. This is an opportunity to show it to others, as the whole sector pays tribute to the memory of our colleague and his remarkable life's work.
6. Communication: a national media release will be produced in Finland. It is hoped that the demonstration will also be communicated regionally, for example through social media. The event should be filmed in a way that respects the moment of silence. In social media communications, the use of the topic tags #SafetyTrafficForAll and #ForSaferRoads is encouraged.