Cappelen Damm Supports Rebuilding of Utøya

After July 22, Norway will never be the same. Norwegian book publisher Cappelen Damm has decided to produce a special memorial book that will document how Norway reacted to the recent catastrophe. With the help of a Facebook page, the publisher is collecting photos, blog posts, speeches, Tweets and other messages to include in the book. You can also follow how the production of the book is coming along on the Facebook page.

Photographer and journalist Andreas H. Lunde is the editor for teh book. Lunde was one of the first people to arrive at the government buildings after the bomb hit.

“We’re inviting all of Norway to join and help,” Lunde says. “Everyone who has photos or texts they think would contribute to the book should contact us. The Facebook page is a way to contribute or just share your stories.”

The book will be called 22.07.11 Fra hat til kjærlighet. Hendelsene som endret Norge (From hate to love: the event that changed Norway) and will come out in November. All proceeds will go to the 22 juli-fonden, the foundation created for the rebuilding of the island camp on Utøya where the massacre occurred. More information about the foundation and how you can contribute can be found at Utøya.no.

Others have also announced they will be donating to the foundation, including hotel magnate Petter Stordalen who has contributed NOK 5 million. Even children’s book character Alfie Atkins, known as Albert Åberg in Norway and published by Cappelen Damm, has been inspired by Stordalen and donated NOK 100,000 (with the help of his creator Gunilla Bergström).

“There will be many more Utøya-books in the spring,” says Ingunn Lindborg, information manager at Cappelen Damm. “It will affect publishing for a long time.”

The photo above is one of the contributions to the book. Photo: Aleksander Wiken, CC-licens.