Sir Arthur C. Clarke

[Maple]

lives in Colombo Sri Lanka.

If you hear anything about him in connection with this devastating earthquake...please PM me.

[shraby]

1. I was wondering about him too.

[Maple]

3. Well he's an elderly man

in a wheelchair from polio, and he went to Sri Lanka for a peaceful old age and a chance to write his magnum opus.

And since then, there have been the Tamils and now this.

More than 4500 killed there.

And not one peep about him!

[charlie]

2. If he lives in or near Colombo proper

he's probably alright, since it was unaffected:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/26/asia.quake/index.html

[Maple]

4. Thank you

he's just listed as living in Colombo Sri Lanka, so I don't know how close he is to the main center of the city.

[charlie]

5. Turns out he's in the city

His home is in a place called Cinnamon Gardens, ward 36 on this map.

[Maple]

6. Oooh thank you thank you

:D

[ConsAreLiars]

7. His Foundation has attempted to provide adequate warnings

for events like this:

From http://www.clarkefoundation.org/projects
-----
The purpose of Project Warn is combine enhanced communications and IT systems to provide warning of impending natural or man-made disasters and to provide on-going communications and remote sensing and GIS support during disaster relief operations. The Clarke Foundation is working with the Pacific Disaster Center, the Asian Disaster Mitigation Organization, the United Nations, and the US and Japanese Governments as coordinated through the JUSTSAP organization to carry out a suitable test and demonstration in this area. In particular a simulation and test is being planned in the Pacific Region in 2005 to determine to how to use the latest information and sensing technology more effectively in the advent of that a major Tsunami might impact an Asian country or island. Clarke Foundation personnel are providing technical advice and support on a volunteer basis to this project.
-----

Colombo itself is on the sheltered side of Sri Lanka, as far as this particular tsunami is concerned. He also has/had a small house in Kandy, about 1600 feet uphill from Colombo, where I once had the honor of meeting him without realizing that he was THE Arthur Clark.

(edit typo)

[Silver Gaia]

8. I just read this and thought of this thread, so here ya go:

12.27.04

From Sir Arthur regarding the recent tsunamis in South and Southeast Asia:

Thank you for your concern about my safety in the wake of Sunday’s devastating tidal wave.

I am enormously relieved that my family and household have escaped the ravages of the sea that suddenly invaded most parts of coastal Sri Lanka, leaving a trail of destruction.

But many others were not so fortunate. For hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans and an unknown number of foreign tourists, the day after Christmas turned out to be a living nightmare reminiscent of The Day After Tomorrow.

Among those affected are my staff based at our diving station in Hikkaduwa and holiday bungalow in Kahawa – both beachfront properties located in areas worst hit. We still don’t know the fully extent of damage as both roads and phones have been damaged. Early reports indicate that we have lost most of our diving equipment and boats. Not all our staff members are accounted for – yet.

More here: http://www.clarkefoundation.org/