Tell the world

If you have a message for the world, here’s your big chance. Beam it across the seven seas. Literally.This December, the Swiss will pla...

If you have a message for the world, here’s your big chance. Beam it across the seven seas. Literally.

This December, the Swiss will play messenger for you in four cities—New York, Rio de Janeiro, Geneva and Mumbai. All you’ll have to do is log on to a website or send an SMS to a specified number. Next thing you know, it will be broadcast at landmark public locations in these cities.

	What can you say?

			Anything, so long as it’s not discriminatory or commercial. Here are some messages sent earlier • Dream On • Anybody home? • Wake up • Peace or love • The writing’s on the wall Story continues below this ad

And when the Swiss say landmark, they mean landmark. So, hold your breath for the kingsize screens—a 400-foot-high water fountain in Switzerland, a mountain in Brazil, the UN headquarters in New York and the Air-India building in aamchi Mumbai. Titled the ‘Hello World’ project, these screenings will coincide with the UN World Summit on Information Society, being held in Zurich from December 9-12. On these days, people from across the world can send messages to the international mobile number (still awaited) or on the website: http://www.helloworldproject.com.

The messages will be screened by a Message Jockey, and within a short while projected onto all four sites through laser beams. Swiss artist Johannes Gees is coordinating the event from Zurich.

On the Air-India building, messages will move upward. ‘‘You’ll be able to read it even from Chowpatty,’’ says Ashwin Merchant, deputy director, Swiss Business Hub. ‘‘Each letter will be at least two floors high, about 25-ft high.’’ But commercial and discriminatory messages are prohibited. ‘‘This is an opportunity for people with a desire to communicate,’’ says Swiss Consul Josef Renggli.

The messages will be beamed after sunset. So head for Marine Drive between 7.30 pm and midnight. Keep your message short though, not more than 160 characters. Want a clue? Ask the consul general. His first message will be ‘Mumbai greets Geneva’.