#callbrussels

Let me start out by saying I’m an “expert” on absolutely nothing, but consider myself fairly educated and endowed with common sense.

#CallBrussles is a campaign started two months ago (in January) by visit.brussels (Brussels official tourism and convention website) due to the enormous decline in tourism the city was experiencing after major terror alerts and news alerts late last year. As is shown, various phones where placed throughout the city of Brussels and a number was advertised that any international could call to query nearby locals that picked up the handset about the safety of the city. A hashtag campaign was also started, as you can see. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vu_nVyyvxg This is all good and well, you can’t fault a city for trying to drum up tourism, especially one as historically and culturally important to Belgium and Europe.  Where a problem begins, is when PR campaigns and hashtag campaigns are looked upon as legitimate information and advisories regarding terror threats. The US State Department has regularly updated the travel advisory to reflect the increased threat levels in Brussels (and Belgium), which has since March of last year (also taking care to note the increased risk of threat during both national and international holiday periods) steadily rose and was maintained between Level-3 ( high threat) and Level-4 (serious threat of imminent attack) since November of last year.

http://belgium.usembassy.gov/security_messages.html

Also noted by the state department, European authorities continuously warned of the increased risks of terror threats from ISIS/ISIL.

EUROPE:  Credible information indicates terrorist groups such as ISIL and al-Qa’ida and its affiliates continue to plot near-term attacks in Europe.  All European countries remain vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations. European authorities continue to warn of the possibility of attacks conducted by lone individuals inspired by extremist organizations that could occur with little to no warning.  Extremists have targeted large sporting events, theatres, open markets, aviation services, transportation systems, and public venues where people congregate.  Authorities believe there is a high likelihood terror attacks in Europe will continue as European members of ISIL return from Syria and Iraq.  European governments are taking action to guard against terrorist attacks; however, all European countries remain potentially vulnerable.

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/worldwide-caution.html#Europe

The UK Government also had similar warning on it’s travel advisory page for Belgium.

Terrorism

There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including on public transport and transport hubs and in other places visited by foreigners.

Brussels hosts a number of international institutions (EU and NATO) and government and foreign embassy buildings which are sensitive locations.

There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/belgium/terrorism

Why does this matter? Individuals need to take all available information into consideration before making plans for international travel. While a foreign municipalities tourism and convention committee may have a snappy, cute advert that shows happy and joyful locals describing how great and safe their city is...that is the view of an agency who’s primary goal is to maintain and invent news ways to attract tourists. As far as local sentiment regarding terror threats, while it can be interesting collaboration of anecdotal evidence, it does not replace the warnings and advisories issued by legitimate organizations/agencies who have the resources, trained personnel, and intelligence sources that you’re average citizen doesn’t. Those organizations/agencies exist to help safeguard the public and help keep the public informed in regard to potential hazards and threats.

This applies doubly for your own country and municipalities. If your city, state, region, ect... has issued an increased threat level advisory,  it is best to heed it and take steps to help safeguard yourself and your loved ones.

#CALLBRUSSELS

Some of my Belgian friends have been sharing this across Facebook and it is worthy of your time. A couple of years ago i was fortunate enough to experience the freedom of and passion for creative media in Bruges and Mechelen regardless of whether those voices were being supported appropriately on a higher level. It is awesome then to see this... #CALLBRUSSELS. Communication is always forgotten about in terms of its significance even though we use it so irrepressibly. How effective our “modern” forms of communication are though is a different question altogether. This short film is a nice little insight into how communication in one form can build up a particular image with another more genuine form of communication breaking down that image. 

© EDanhier