A MESSAGE FROM MADELEINE McCANN’S UNCLE:
May 12, 2007
This is the first time I have passed on a chain letter - I sincerely hope it is the last but I could not refuse this request.
Photo and contact details http://nizas.com/madeleine/
A MESSAGE FROM MADELEINE McCANN’s UNCLE: As you are aware my niece is still missing and I am asking everyone I know to send this as a chain letter i.e. you send it to everyone you know and ask them to do the same, as the story is only being covered in Britain, Eire and Portugal. We don’t believe that she is in Portugal anymore and need to get her picture and the story across Europe as quickly as possible.
Suggestions are welcome.
Phil McCann
Photo and contact details http://nizas.com/madeleine/
Comment by camille scott
We are all praying for Madeleine. How about getting every long distance european lorry driver to carry details and photos of Madeleine and getting them to ask as many people as possible for any clues?
Comment by George Warner
Ask Yahoo and Google to put up a message and a picture about Madeleine on all their sites across the world. The word needs to go out far and wide. We are thinking of you all, remain strong.
Regards,
George.
Comment by Carol Olenski
Try contacting John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted. He has done a lot to find missing children and to bring to justice those who prey on them. The web link is below. We pray for the family in the meantime.
http://www.amw.com/
Comment by Tony
Some good ideas here - I did leave a message on “Americas Most Wanted” - that site seems to be focused only on the USA - but I asked and gave details - it is very sad that an important service like AMW is needed and tragic that it has such a large database.
I cannot think of any way I can get a message to a large number of European Truck Drivers - I think the UK has, or had, a publication called “headlight” - something would need to be in at least five or eight languages.
Yahoo and Google will pick up sites which are referenced - find a site linked heavily to a subject and use digg, technorati and every other tool to get the site high in the ratings.
A reader suggested this site - http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=187754203
I have had nasty emails from a reader accusing me of capitalising on this story to advertise my site - in fact I first removed all advertising from the story page, but I cannot take out the Google ads of this blog without killing the whole blog site, I believe doing something is a lot better than doing nothing and I do not think anyone is going to be interested in adverts on these pages - I was going to publish the mails and my reply - but why give him the satisfaction.
Comment by Mrs Whitehead
I used to work as a holiday representative and wondered if you have considered contacting all of the big tour operators who have programs running throughout Europe. e.g Thomson, First Choice etc… You could ask their reps to hand out posters to all the new arrivals and put up posters in the airports, they could put posters in their apartment complexs or hotels, on the notice boards or in the information books. We use to have hundreds of arrivals coming in each week and many of the programs they operate are in small remote areas where local people may not be aware of the search. You are all in our thoughts and I hope she is reunited with you all soon.
Comment by Christine
EMAIL EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN EVERY COUNTRY - THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN HER ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND ANYWAY PEOPLE TRAVEL TO PORTUGAL AND SPAIN FROM EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD, ASK THEM TO PRINT OFF HER PICTURE AND TAKE IT WITH THEM - IT WILL KEEP HER IMAGE IN THEIR MIND.
Comment by Hilary McCarthy
We are praying for the safe return of Madeleine. We are publicising this as widely as possible.
Comment by Brendan McCarthy
Let’s make sure that SKY and other channels keep this story in the news. We can contact our local MPs,councillors etc asking them to keep pressure on the government to pursue this and other cases with other governments across Europe.
Comment by Julia MacMillan
Yes, something is infinitely better than nothing, well done.
Comment by Jacky Rolls
If the prayers and thoughts of everyone thinking of Madeleine could take her back to her parents she would be with them now. I wake up every morning and hope she is safe.
The only thing I can think of is airline passenger lists, and DVLA checking the UK numberplate of the car on CCTV in Portugal.
Comment by Eleanor Hewitt
The story is getting a fair amount of publicity here. Our thoughts are with you.
Comment by Carola
I am praying for you and Madelaine
Comment by Eleanor Hewitt
I forgot to say that I am in Sydney, Australia - so people are aware of your story and as someone else has already said, something is better than nothing and any avenue you can think of to make people aware has got to be a positive step.
Comment by Tony
I assumed that the Internet would have a lot of websites with databases and other tools to report and track missing children.
Through these comments I found out about about http://missingkinds.com but it took some Google searching to find that there is a UK website of theirs http://uk.missingkids.com - this site is so badly designed and made (technically) that it is worse than useless, it cannot get properly indexed and on many computers the pages would not even appear.
I have just checked the links to missing kids and they are not working on my computers try a Google search for - missing kids uk - and the links there should put you through, it seems they use Java and daft techniques to make a simple thing unworkable
There are only 16 countries with a similar site. Portugal and France do not have one - or at least they are not easily found and therefore useless.
Shamefully these sites do not seem to be well marketed and the Google and Traffic rankings suggest they are not visible and not visited much.
Surely some organisation could or should be responsible for focusing on offering an Internet service which would cost very little, probably nothing as many people would give time to produce something - count me in.
Even UNICEF does not seem to have any service or offer any actions to help this sort of child abuse (their site has 87 technical warnings and could do with some professional help as well).
The Internet is unique, I am writing to only one person here - you the reader - I can write in this way to millions of people through community sites, Myspace, Youtube, Twitter and by using Digg etc a message from any one person can be networked. It is not rocket science to devise a simple system where a message and photo can by sent to a central website, the authenticity checked and then an “alert” put out in seconds to a focused area. If every cell phone in Portugal had Madeleine’s picture on it within the first hour with a short message “call if you see this girl” - who can guess at the result. It would not be a big inconvenience ONLY 35 children were abducted in Portugal last year!
Richard Branson is one of the people who is offering a reward - if you know him or can reach him perhaps you could suggest he use his communications tools to offer a service.
Comment by Ade Mahoney
I work at Portsmouth Ferryport and details are being displayed in several languages in offices where lorry drivers check-in. We all pray for a speedy return
Comment by Susan Latimer
I live in Germany, where we have also had coverage of Madeleine’s kidnapping. It has been repeatedly stated, and indeed must be true, that the likelihood of her still being in Portugal is minimal. (I saw footage on television of the Portuguese police, who were supposed to be checking all cars leaving the country, huddling in their own patrol car during a cloudburst, and then standing around chatting among themselves for at least an hour afterwards, while all kinds of cars - including a white van with blacked-out windows - whizzed past them…)
Short of a global milk-carton campaign or a Coca Cola label ad (you’d probably have to use the caps of the glass ones, which are rather small) it is hard to come up with a coherent suggestion. She could literally be anywhere…
The wave of support that this abduction has triggered seems to have an element of “last-straw”, as we ask ourselves, finally, what kind of a society is it that preys on not only its most vulnerable members, but indeed on precisely those who represent our future on this planet? Madeleine, in addition to being a little girl tragically snatched from her appalled and grieving family, is fast becoming a symbol of the horror we feel when the innocence of children is violated, when they are forcibly removed from their loving homes and families - either in the midst of normal everyday life, or in the maelstrom of war zones or places of unspeakable poverty and want.
It is time to act globally - there has been much talk about organisations that would appear to be ideal vehicles for a seek-and-destroy action against the evil individuals who rob others of their children, but they seem not to walk their own talk. Who will stand up and set up a workable global platform incorporating all the ideas we have heard so far, rein in and marshal the forces of the UNICEFs and data bases, and carry out these ideas on the ground in a sustainable, long-term campaign to eradicate this abhorrent crime?
I wish the McCanns strength and fortitude, and can only hope and pray that Madeleine is returned to them unharmed.
Comment by Tony
Susan’s comment makes a lot of sense.
All the databases and records are there - What I believe would help is a system than can IMMEDIATELY send a message and picture to any and all relevant communications devices in an area. Cell phones, computers, television channels - we have the communication technology which can deliver trillions of messages in a microsecond.
The first hour a child is missing is the critical time - the first twenty four hours are the most important - if a central office can be approved to verify a report of a missing child - it is not an unimaginable problem to use all the systems we use every day to communicate to flash an alert to a syndication of channels.
When Madeleine’s parents reported her missing and if this was verified by an agency who then paged every cell phone within 20 kilometers of their hotel with a picture and message on every cell phone and computer - there is a good chance someone would have seen something and responded by simply pressing reply and alerting the agency.
In an earlier comment I suggested flashing a call and photo to every phone in an area - this could be structured to an increasing radius - it would need the cooperation of the cell phone networks - who is going to refuse this service for free and a quick link to a hot-line if someone responds - they do not even need to send a message or text - just hit respond - the networks could identify the location of the phone and a system could pin point this - if more than one person clicked a response in a single “cell”, then this would trigger an alarm - several responses in a single cell in a short period of time should get the police alerted quickly.
It could be abused, but the phone numbers would be identifiable.
Web sites could opt-in to the system - I know I would put software on my server that would flash up a message on the screen of anyone looking at my sites in a given set of IP areas. Perhaps Google with their brilliant demographic algorithms could be the leaders in presenting messages to these “zones of urgency”.
Saying something should be done is not quite enough - we need to do something now, I think Susan is right - this has hit a trigger, this evil has to be attacked - I am raising my hand to say I will commit time and what knowledge and resources I have to do something - anyone want to join me?
Comment by Jane Barker
We must keep looking throughout Europe and the world…Madeline will be found and returned to where she should be, with her parents,siblings and her familly….
Comment by Jacky Rolls
Reading all of the responses to this dreadful scenario I completely agree that technology has to be the means and people the key. I have to leave the technology to those more able but will be on ‘red alert’ until Madeleine is home.
Comment by Melanie Dequit
My suggestion is this:
If a picture of Madeleine can be digitally manipulated to portray her maybe in short hair, or in short dark hair and posted literally everywhere so that people will still be able to distinguish her even her abductors might have changed her appearance. If we can all be vigilant and a bit inquisitive with what our neighbours are doing…especially during dark hours, because this is the time that criminals operate.
Comment by John Green
Tony says AMW is more for USA. Is there anyone with time on their hands to set one up for Europe and then interlink with AMW.
What about asking all ex pat sites to set up a dedicated MISSING section.
What about self adhesive photo and email address that could be stuck on the back of a lorry or van.
There are several hundred thousand ex pats living in all corners of the world. Each area seems to have a web site. Lay My Hat for one covers several countries. Anglo Info covers many departments in France, each department with its own site and growing.
I understand divining has also been used by military and police forces. anyone know any more on this subject ?
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Comment by Joanne
Watching the news everyday and pray for the breaking news that Madeleine is reunited with her family, where she belongs,safe and well. My thoughts are with you.
Comment by Carmel Lonergan
Dear McCann Family,
I am praying for you all the time - keep up your strength so you are strong for when Madeline is found - as we all must believe that she will be and soon. You are in our thoughts day and night.
God Bless and help you in your search for your beloved beautiful daughter.
I received communication sent out by Madeline’s Uncle today and am forwarding it on to as many people as I can.
Carmel Lonergan
Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland.
Comment by Mary Garland
Dear Tony,
Good for you, lets make sure Madeline is found. The more people who know the better.
There is strength in numbers.
Comment by Pav
This is ONE child among MANY! BUT the mentionned many others are lost but not accounted for! Why?
Furthermore, with the knowledge of all the horrible news floating around lately, children should not be left alone without supervision either during the day, nor, especially, during the night!
All adults know that children are helpless and, with our too “human”, thus too lenient laws, abductors will always be far from being extinct, so why do parents feel that casual about leaving youngsters at home on their own?
Yes , I want to join in the fight, but if authorities cannot be successful at all times, how can we if we do not leave these monsters starve for their prey?
signed: BAFFLED
Comment by Mark Dodds
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the Mc Cann family. We hope the media will continue to act with integrity and not be sidetracked into creating news, just because the investigation seems to be slow. There is a little girl’s life at stake. We must all unite together and put pressure on the person or persons who are holding Madeline against her will.
Comment by Cate Taylor
I’ve been praying for madeline to be found and returned to her family. There’s a picture of her up on all the Ryan Air check in desks at Stansted. I was almost in tears looking at it. PLEASE GOD let Madeline be found and returned to her family soon.
Comment by dani
I would do ANYTHING to help recover this child. Please do not hesitate to let me know what I can do, apart from praying and spreading the news.
I would not hesitate to kill, I must confess, if it had happened to my own child.
Comment by dani
With a little less moderation, it would not have happened so often these past years. One of my friends had a little girl of ten killed 3 years ago. and I willnot say what happened to her before she was killed. So please, we have to be realistic, and admit that these people desserve capital punishment.
Comment by Alison
Is there any sense in advertising Madeleine’s parents photos in case Madeleine herself should see the photos and attract attention? Praying for you all
Comment by Tony
I had this suggestion from Henry
>>>
1 make a small icon with Madeleine’s photo and the mouse over message “click to help find missing Maddy” (or similar)
2 make it a link to say the Uncles website if he has one or even yours.
3 ask anyone (by chain letter) or other means to put the icon on their website preferably their home page.
<<<
What I have done is to put a button to the “Child Rescue Alert” team on each page of this site. This is the official UK Police site and has contact details and photos of missing children, including Madeleine McCann
Comment by suvi
Just wanted to say I will do whatever I can to help find Madeleine which in my case means spreading the word and picture here in Finland.
Any kind of violation towards our most innocent ones is the biggest crime there is. Our only comfort is that in the very end it will not be left unpunished.
There has been some very good ideas on this site about using technology to help find our missing children. I will contact our local Save the Children, Unicef and others alike. Please do the same in your countries.
My prayers are with Madeleine and her loved ones.
Comment by marianne
have u thght of contacting sally morgan of pyschic to the stars?? i kno it may sound bizzarre but i do believe she is genuine and she has worked with the police in the past with success - i kno it’s a long shot but there doesn’t seem to b an obvious answer….
http://www.psychicsally.com
my thoughts are with ur neice and your family
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[...] saddened by the information about so many missing children - it is a week now since I posted the ,email from Madeleine’s Uncle there have been some useful comments and dialogs - all I have done is to put the link to Child [...]
Comment by roshni pankhania
hi im really sorry to hear about maddeline i really hope that she is found. why dont you try maybe having an advert on television? im only 12 years old tahts the reason why i came up with a rubbish suggestion. i hope you get all the help you can to find your niece and best of luck to her parents. good luck and my thoughts are with maddlein and her family.
Comment by Claire
devastated by this whole story, but thoroughly believe madeleine is alive and awaiting to be reunited with her parents and brother and sister. My suggestion regards Kate and Gerry’s concern that this will fall out of the public eye. How about setting up a “MADtv” channel on every network, companies will advertise for free on it, presenters etc will make appeals for madeleine. This could be an outlet for people’s concerns. could also ask sky sports for a major sporting event, free of charge - its one wag of keeping the search alive and current
Comment by denski
I pray so hard that madeleine comes home to you all.
Firstl, having watched the news and interviews with people in portugal two points made really stand out.
1. There was a man with dark skin taking photos of children on a beach, the mccanns were at that same beach that very same day. A father on the beach shouted at the man to go away. Who was this man?
Could he have noticed madeleine and followed the family back to praia de luz?
2. A supermarket owner (a south african man , skynews interveiwed him) noticed a very strange man with dark tanned skin outside his shop the day before madeleine went missing, he said the man was acting weird and looked out of place, he was also making phone calls, when asked if he would recognise the man again he said yes absolutely.
It would be useful if someone could look into this and go over and witness statements again. I feel there is a definate connection. If there was such a man, he must have ate somewhere? slept somewhere? someone else must have noticed him too.
Did he follow the mccanns, stalk their apartment and couldnt beleive his luck when he realised the mccanns had left the children in the apartment and they were alone. He would know this because he saw must have watched them go in to check and back out again for a couple of times. The final time seeing his chance to go in.
Makes sense to me.
I will continue to spread the word and pray for madeleines safe return.
Comment by VUAILLAT fAMILY WA AUSTRALIA
IF YOU CAN CONTACT THE MC CANN FAMILY,ASK THEM TO DONWLOAD A PHOTO OF ST ANTOINE DE PADOUE,A ST WHO BRING BACK LOST THINGS OR LOVE ONE,MIRACLE DO HAPPEN IT DID FOR US NOTHING TO LOOSE THEY MUST PERSONALY PRAY AND ASK HIM FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF MADELEINE.I HOPE SOMEONE OUT THERE CAN PASS THEM ON THIS MESSAGE.
GOD BLESS MADELEINE AND HER FAMILY
Comment by John Furley
To Phil McCann the Uncle of Madeleine, please read all of this email, I am very serious about my input. I am an amateur dowser, who has been practicing dowsing for about eleven years and I have been following the Madeleine McCann case since its beginning. I believe Madeleine McCann is within 15 kilometres of Praia del Luz right now. I am currently suffering with my fifth bout of malignant cancer for which I am awaiting an operation in a leading cancer hospital in the UK Midlands with three weeks. Nonetheless I am willing to fly to Portugal at my own expense and try my very best to locate Madeleine; however this must happen very soon owing to my approaching operation. All I ask is that I am taken seriously, in response I cannot promise anything, but I am willing to give my very best. I would prefer no publicity whatsoever, just recognition by Mr. & Mrs McCann that I am trying to help them and their family.