Jenjie

One of the biggest frustrations facing journalists is being unable to get through to people on the phone. But as Mary Harper discovered, contacting the Somali pirates on the Sirius Star turned out to be child's play. The pirates on the Sirius Star put the phone down on the BBC It was a cold, dark, wet and miserable Sunday afternoon. I was in my car, driving my 12-year-old daughter and her friend back from a birthday party. I was tired and fed up from being in the car. "Mummy, mummy," trilled a voice from the back. "I want to phone the pirates." My daughter had heard me repeatedly trying to get through to the Somali pirates on board the Sirius Star. They usually picked up the phone but put it down again when I said I was from the BBC. My obsession with getting through to them had reached the point that I had even saved their number on my mobile phone. "Mummy, mummy, please can I phone the pirates for you?" "No." "Pleeeeez." By this time, with rain battering my windscreen and cars jamming the road, I was at the end of my tether. "OK", I said, tossing the phone into the back of the car. "They are under P for pirates." Giggling with pirates "Hello. Please can I talk to the pirates," said my daughter in her obviously childish voice. I could hear someone replying and a bizarre conversation ensued which eventually ended when my daughter collapsed in giggles. Our last resource is the sea, and foreign trawlers are plundering our fish Daybad, Somali priate This was a breakthrough. Dialogue had been established. The next day, I went to the crowded office in Bush House in London where the BBC Somali Service is based. I told them the story. "Let's try now," said producer Said Musa, who, dare I say it, looks a bit like a pirate himself. He has a wild look about him with flashing eyes and a swashbuckling saunter. He dialled the number. A pirate answered. "I'm sorry," he barked in Somali, "the boss pirate is sleeping. He was very busy last night keeping watch for possible attackers, night time, you know, is the busiest time for us. Call back in two hours." Calm hostage A pirate, who called himself Daybad, spoke in Somali, calmly and confidently. He said Somalis were left with no choice but to take to the high seas. "We've had no government for 18 years. We have no life. Our last resource is the sea, and foreign trawlers are plundering our fish." The pirate said the crew was being treated well. "They can move from place to place. They can sleep in their own beds, they even have their own keys. The only thing they're missing is their freedom to leave the ship." Suddenly I heard a voice speaking English. "Hello. This is the captain of the Sirius Star speaking." The captain, a Polish man called Marek Nishky, sounded surprisingly composed for a hostage. He said he had no reason to complain, everybody was OK, and the pirates had allowed the crew to speak to their families. As my questions became more challenging, he became more nervous. I could almost see the pirates standing around him. He said we would have to finish our conversation, and politely thanked me for my concern. The phone line went dead. But we had it, recordings of the pirate and the captain, and the interviews were broadcast all over the BBC. Gun law The Somali Service at Bush House is behind most of the stories you hear about Somalia on the BBC. It consists of a tiny group of people, far away from home, from a country torn to shreds after nearly two decades without a functioning central government. That means no proper hospitals, no schools and no safety. The gun means everything in Somalia. The Somali Service enjoyed a real scoop with our interviews but who knows if it would have happened if my daughter had not persisted and pressed P for Pirates One member of the team showed me photos of the concrete bench outside his house where his mother used to sit to make tea. It was splattered with blood. The house had been hit by a shell the day after his family left for the relative safety of the north. Neighbours had been killed. Who knows whether the property was targeted because of its BBC connection. Despite their concerns about what may be happening back at home, the people in the Somali Service are the most hilarious, irreverent bunch of people in the building. They smoke like chimneys, and laugh uproariously at the most unsuitable jokes. They tease me mercilessly. I was worth dozens of camels when I first arrived at the BBC as a fresh-faced young woman, they say, while now I may only be worth one or two camels, or maybe just a half. The Somali Service enjoyed a real scoop with our interviews. But who knows if it would have happened if my daughter had not persisted and pressed P for Pirates? From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 29 November, 2008 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7754622.stm

sooooo you're here a lot then :D

so we'll be saving you from being bored? fantastic :D

we need someone to hold the fort and post as it happens live reviews for those who can't make it :D and then we'll return the favour for you when you get your turn :)

Welcome to the thread for the above concert which can be used for all discussion prior to, during and after the gig. One thread one concert - should hopefully keep everyone organised and up-to-date with Coldplay on the road. Did you get tickets? Are you looking for tickets? Are you looking for ticket swaps? Need help/directions on getting to the concert? Not sure what the arrangements and rules are for the particular venue is? Are you just bloody excited? Do you have a review for the concert? Did you take any pictures... share them here! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- After selling out their pre-sale allocation in a day, Coldplay have announced a third Sydney show for Acer Arena on March 14. General tickets for the March 11, 12 and 14 shows go on sale through Ticketek (132849) on Thursday. http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24726424-5009160,00.html Setlist: Life In Technicolor Violet Hill Clocks In My Place Yellow Speed Of Sound Cemeteries Of London 42 Fix You Strawberry Swing God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (techno version) Talk (techno version) The Hardest Part (Chris piano, Will) Postcards From Far Away (piano instrumental) Viva La Vida Lost! Green Eyes (acoustic) I'm A Believer (Neil Diamond Cover - acoustic) Viva La Vida (remix interlude) ------ Politik Lovers In Japan Death And All His Friends ------- The Scientist Life in Technicolor ii The Escapist (outro) Videos: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=coldplay+sydney+14&aq=f Life In Technicolor [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYR7rrsG4VE]YouTube - Coldplay - Dancin' Roadie - Life in Technicolor - Violet Hill - Sydney Acer Arena 14th March 2009[/ame] Violet Hill Clocks [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoK8CzAABYo]YouTube - Coldplay at Acer Arena, Sydney 14/03/09 - Clocks[/ame] In My Place [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2S5cJJnc5Q]YouTube - Coldplay Live Sydney 2009 - In My Place[/ame] Yellow [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AflMf9rCxFk]YouTube - Coldplay - Yellow - Sydney Acer Arena 14th March 2009[/ame] Speed Of Sound Cemeteries Of London 42 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmHVlBrdpRk]YouTube - Coldplay at Acer Arena, Sydney 14/03/09 - 42[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PspiWyKNYCI]YouTube - Coldplay at Acer Arena, Sydney 14/03/09 - 42 cont.[/ame] Fix You [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp6xH1e-fBQ]YouTube - Coldplay- Fix You (Sydney 14 March 2009)[/ame] Strawberry Swing [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFqEyjsOkDA]YouTube - Coldplay - Strawberry Swing - Sydney Acer Arena 14th March 2009[/ame] God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (techno version) [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieIXb0Wm-f4]YouTube - Coldplay at Acer Arena, Sydney 14/03/09 - God Put A Smile Upon Your Face[/ame] Talk (techno version) The Hardest Part (Chris piano, Will) [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgLXcSm4stE]YouTube - Coldplay Live Sydney 2009 - The Hardest Part[/ame] Postcards From Far Away (piano instrumental) [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA5eXpTR9ig]YouTube - Coldplay at Acer Arena, Sydney 14/03/09 - Stuff Up + Postcards From Far Away[/ame] Viva La Vida [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTAnaeX5a3I]YouTube - Coldplay - Viva La Vida Live in Sydney 14/03/2009[/ame] Lost! Green Eyes (acoustic) [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QAHDap4EcU]YouTube - Coldplay & Shane Warne- Green Eyes (Sydney 14 March 2009)[/ame] I'm A Believer (Neil Diamond Cover - acoustic) Viva La Vida (remix interlude) ------ Politik Lovers In Japan Death And All His Friends [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syndgvyMjfs]YouTube - Coldplay - Death and all of his friends - Sydney Acer Arena 14th March 2009[/ame] ------- The Scientist [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujlbFmbMEEY]YouTube - Coldplay- The Scientist (Sydney 14 March 2009)[/ame] Life in Technicolor ii The Escapist (outro)

70??????? :shocked2:

we'd prefer not to lock threads, as a general rule its counter-productive. if you lock a thread the argument starts up elsewhere. At this stage I'd rather everyone stopped arguing

so calling him a deluded little boy will enlighten him? I don't think so.

its getting to that point

will you please stop goading him. I can see no point in this post other than in fuelling the flames.

really? who? who? who? :D

you forgot your legs & arms :p :lol:

Stars axe tours as dollar drops SUPERSTARS Madonna, Neil Diamond and Paul McCartney have scrapped Australian tour plans due to the weak dollar. Madonna had agreed to multiple dates at Docklands Stadium in late January. Tickets for her shows, presented by US tour giant Live Nation and local promoter Michael Coppel, were due to go on sale two weeks ago. Madonna planned to charge a top price of $400. "It got as close as anything ever gets," a tour industry source said. "Madonna was coming to Australia, the dates were resolved, but then the economics got in the way." Mr Coppel yesterday confirmed the Madonna deal, but refused to elaborate. It adds to a growing list of tour plans postponed by the world's biggest stars. Concert industry sources say Diamond, McCartney, The Eagles, Green Day and Metallica have put visits on hold because of the weak economy. Promoter Michael Chugg said: "It's unknown territory at the moment. A lot of tours went on sale before the dollar crashed. "I think we are only starting to see the affect of the economy on the tour industry." Mr Coppel said the weak dollar had made promoters, and touring stars, cautious. "Everyone is feeling their way," he said. "The risk level has gone up substantially for US-based acts because our dollar is 35 per cent down from where it was three months ago. "A lot of us have been caught out on deals that don't make any sense. You can sell out a tour and still lose a seven-figure sum." There are exceptions. Mr Chugg, promoting Coldplay in March, said the right acts would always do well. Mr Coppel is also promoting US singer Pink, who has broken box office records and has 11 nights at Rod Laver Arena. But he warned the weak dollar and exchange rate would push ticket prices up. Madonna last visited Australia in 1993 and has bypassed the country with each subsequent tour. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24728597-5012974,00.html

I still have evrything crossed for you. There has to be a trip to South America next year

you know someone at the soundcheck??????????

Some interesting reading material here http://www.safeconcerts.com/forum/threads.asp?forum_urn=124&t_urn=8935&pgt=1 http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1082597 http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i10333d62a57e715ff7979c82bf76a2ad http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2008/09/advice-for-victims-of-sos-mast.html#comment-161687 http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/hertfordshiremercury-news/displayarticle.asp?id=362245 http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2008/09/madonna-ticket-site-fails-to-d.html

I think it was #2 as well. I remember videos of them performing in Japan & Australia, but have no recollections of South America

he's luvverly :D

I would love to be on a Eurostar to Paris heading to a free party with Take That. A million times better than being in work. I already know that I'll be able to speak to them without embarassing myself too much, which is always a bonus :D

the prize is amazing, the planning of not so. how many adult fans can just drop everything 2 days in advance on the off-chance of being able to go? Particularly in the current climate, where there are plenty of people who would be able to replace you if you were sacked.

erm I want him to say hi to me in Manchester not hide from me :P

I could do this but I'm not really prepared to skive work on the off-chance that I may possibly get to go to Paris.

weeeeeeee its real :D the UK leg of the tour is about to start :dance:

I would like to, but the tickets are too expensive to waste them. and I wouldn't want to leave a 3-week old baby at home whilst I went on a road trip to Wembley. my cousin had a baby 4 weeks ago :D

I wish the local brats who spend their day skiving off school & being a pain in the butt would realise that being able to go to school is a privilege, and that they're actually extremely lucky to have the opportunity.