The Goodwill Demonstration spreads through the Internet and heads to Helsinki’s embassies

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HELSINKI 19.4.2012

There is to be a demonstration outside each of the embassies in Helsinki during one day. The stunt in question is the viral Internet phenomenon called the Goodwill Demonstration.

In total 62 embassies will be visited during the Goodwill Demonstration to thank the citizens of each country for their achievements and for the good they have contributed to our world, as well as to praise the individuals behind the deeds and show support for the good they have done.

The event will be organized in Helsinki on Saturday, 28.4.2012.

“Finns are known as peacemakers around the world. We have always been able to see the positive, to be thankful even for small things, and cultivate a positive attitude amongst all people,” comment the organizers.

“There is no specific organization behind the event; the Goodwill Demonstration is a modern Internet phenomenon, a result and achievement of volunteers, which embodies the positive side of Internet activism. The aim is to spread Finnish positivity throughout the world.”

“The reason the event was organized is because each country has contributed an incredible amount of good to the world. The good news just tends to be overshadowed by bad news,” says Jani Halme.

The Goodwill Demonstration is the result of over 50 people's volunteer work, developed as a non-profit concept. The idea is the brainchild of Jani Halme and Samuli Harjunpää.

Goodwill will be demonstrated outside each embassy for 5 minutes. The representatives of each embassy will be presented with the Goodwill Demonstration 2012 -pennant.

“The event does not thank the country nor its leaders; rather, the thanks is sent from the people to the people. The Goodwill Demonstration is a non-governmental diplomacy triumph,” comments Samuli Harjunpää.

“In our opinion, the inventions from each country which delight the body and mind deserve more attention,” continue the organizers.

There is no deed too big or too small that it should not be thanked. Norway, thank you for inventing the cheese slicer! Iran, thank you for the movie, A Separation. Thank you Gheorghe Hagi, for the falling leaf -shot.

All the demonstrations will be filmed with mobile phones, and the event can be followed and commented on in real-time online in the Helsinki region’s cable network.

After the event the demonstrations will be subtitled into English, with the help of crowd-sourcing, and distributed on the Internet so that this realization of national diplomacy is within reach of the citizens of each host country.

Video material from the event for TV and digital media will be published at 5 pm on Saturday 28th of April at ftp.hyvanmielenosoitus.fi

More information:

www.hyvanmielenosoitus.fi

www.facebook.com/hyvanmielenosoitus2012

Jani Halme
jani.halme@toinen.fi
p. 050-3373414.

Samuli Harjunpää

samuli@tehtaankatu.fi

p. 050-3100747

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