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Vilnius joined the “Hour of Silence and Solidarity” campaign tonight: paused in silence to honor the many losses caused by the pandemic, turned off festive decorations throughout the city, arranged the Cathedral and City Hall squares . It is a solidarity action from 7pm to 8pm. On Christmas Eve, initiated by the National Coordination Center for Voluntary Aid “Strong Together” and the Association of Municipalities of Lithuania. Tonight’s minute of silence honors the direct and indirect victims of COVID-19.
“On the occasion of the upcoming holidays, the dearest gift to others is health, so stay home, protecting yourself and others. Now, more than ever, doctors must follow all our rules of unity and fair quarantine Only in this way will we be able to help those who are fighting on the front lines to fight the pandemic. COVID-19 is claiming more and more lives every day, let’s not win this battle. Tonight Vilnius and all of Lithuania will put out the festive decorations for an hour and they will send it as a message of support and solidarity with the doctors and families who have lost their loved ones due to the coronavirus ”, says the Mayor of Vilnius, Remigijus Šimašius.
“The rising rates of the spread of the coronavirus infection, the dire death statistics, a cry for help from desperate doctors are a sign of what is more important now. At the same time, it’s a message that unfortunately not everyone understands how important it is to focus today, to be united. Unfortunately, the real reality is that it is now vital to stop. The awareness that this is necessary and mandatory today is equivalent to defending the country, the homeland, protecting and rescuing our fellow citizens, helping to rescue doctors, officials, volunteers and all those who fight against the pandemic in various ways ” says National Edmundas Jakilaitis, the initiator of the “Strong Together” volunteer aid coordination center, the commander of the Union Rifle Owl Squad, journalist, presenter and producer.
The Association of Municipalities of Lithuania agreed that on December 23. 7 pm-8pm The illuminated decorations of the central Christmas trees of all Lithuanian municipal cities and the festive street lamps installed at the initiative of the municipalities will be turned off. With this call, a similar action is expected by supermarkets, businesses, all institutions and public bodies, companies and all the people of the country.
Stop: now it’s a matter of life and death
An important highlight of the symbolic hour of silence and solidarity, the first minute of which will be a minute of silence to honor both the people who died from the COVID-19 infection and the indirect victims of the coronavirus, people we have greatly lost. partly due to health problems or others due to circumstances caused by the pandemic, they did not receive quality medical care on time or it was limited.
Along with the expression of solidarity, the campaign “The hour of silence and solidarity” should also stimulate reflection on those who do not want or cannot abandon the normal rhythm and rhythm of life over time.
Certainly there are those who still have plans and illusions to supposedly break the quarantine order safely, leave home during the holidays and visit relatives, meet at the common table as usual. They have a beautiful purpose: to enjoy the holidays together. However, now is no longer the right time to do so, it would be more reminiscent of walking in a minefield in the current circumstances, taking with us those we love. After all, in some municipalities, death rates, mostly due to indirect victims of COVID-19, have doubled. As a result, irresponsible behavior without stopping is like self-deception or even against the people of one’s own country. With this campaign, we invite everyone to think very seriously, ”explains E. Jakilaitis.
