Kirkby Times would like to ask the people of Kirkby to donate to the Russian victims of the Beslan School Siege. All our other Merseyside Readers are also encouraged in this time of grief to taking the most useful step we can take at this time.

Whilst our Government cannot even hold a minutes silence nor make a televised address, the people of this Country can show that we care.

Children are always the innocent victims of war. But in Beslan, we see all too well the futility of a war which is stepping across lines which most of us thought otherwise firmly defined and lines which would never be crossed again. Though children are often the victims of war, this act was one in which children spent 3 days living in terror. The cold deliberate calculated manner of this leaves most of us feeling utterly helpless. 'What can we do?' we ask, but there is a lot you can do.

There are over 500 children who were injured, many of them very seriously. A large number of them will require extensive medical treatment and, unfortunately, many will still remain handicapped for the rest of their life. There are also a large number of children who lost one or maybe even both of their parents.

The International Foundation For Terror Act Victims (www.moscowhelp.org), is a grassroots organization which was formed by a group of Russian and American activists in 2002 to help the victims of the Nord-Ost Theater hostage crisis. Due to there obvious expertise and ability to get donations direct to the victims, Kirkby Times asks people to donate through this organisation. If any local churches or suchlike want to start a fund off in Liverpool, Kirkby Times would also advertise this and ask local groups to help that way.

Right now the victims need help and given that www.moscowhlep has already campaigned to fundraise for other victims of a terror attack, and is certified by the American Authorities as a verified charity with verified trustees and transparent book-keeping, it is safe to presume that all the money goes to the people you intend it to go to, namely the children, plus bereaved families. $400,000 in personal donations alone has been raised in the past five days whilst most of us have simply grieved. However, much more is needed to provide effective assistance to an estimated 600 injured and orphaned children.

You can donate online. Donors can make their contributions by cheque, credit card or wire transfer. Instructions for making a donation, as well as many other ways to provide additional assistance, are posted on the Foundation's web site and other contact addresses below.

Andrew Mogilyansky, Chairman

International Foundation For Terror Act Victims

959-A Bristol Pike

Bensalem, PA 19020, USA

Phone: 321-213-0198 (Media contact only please)

Fax: 206-333-0505

Website: www.moscowhelp.org (click here)

Email: press@moscowhelp.org (click here to email)

Kirkby Times would like to thank a regular reader for directing Kirkby Times to this method of donating and for also donating £100 to the funds, perhaps the first Scouser to do so.

Please do your utmost to donate. Why not organise a group donation, raffle some prizes, hold a fundraiser or sponsored walk. The police, ambulancemen and firemen, musicians, business people, scallies, teachers, the factory workers and office and shop workers, the pubs and clubs and football fans and solicitors and doctors and ALL of us can make some donation. Liverpool's Churches, Synagogues, Temples, Shrines and Mosques should all gather together and each donate. No God can heal the damaged bodies of the living which cruel evil men and women have torn. But our money can. Money can fund terror or fund healing. Money is not always the root of all evil.

Kirkby Times has NEVER asked for you to donate money. Now we demand you donate it. This money will be going to Russia, and in particular to the children of Beslan. Can you think of a more worthwhile cause at the moment?

Please circulate the information in this article freely.

Thanks