World Red Cross Red Crescent Day One Week After Bin Laden Death

Sunday, May 8 is the 183rd anniversary of the birth of Henri Dunant and the one week anniversary of Osama Bin Laden's death. 

To Durant, "Who?" you may say.

Dunant is the father of the international humanitarian movement and recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize, whose activism and advocacy led to the founding of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and the codification of the Laws of War.

This year, the Laws of War, aka the Geneva Conventions, come under sharp spotlight with the recent killing of Osama bin Laden by US Special Forces.

Questions such as “are targeted assassinations right or moral?” or “is torture acceptable under certain, or any conditions?” burn more heavily upon us, as a national debate rages over whether the means justify the ends. The very existence of these debates underscores how, as society adapts to evolving circumstances, society’s moral code is continually put to the test.

War has been at the core of human history from the very beginning. But it wasn’t until the last few centuries that men stopped using spears and catapults and graduated to firearms. With the advancement in military technology, man’s ability to kill has grown exponentially. Indeed, one of the first displays of man’s killing prowess was at the 1859 Battle of Solférino, in which more than 5,000 men were killed and more than 23,000 wounded. It was a bloodbath.

Dunant, a witness to the fighting and concerned citizen, enlisted locals to give aid and comfort to the sick and wounded. As a result of his actions and subsequent advocacy, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) movement was created and today, what is known as Geneva Law includes an expanded body of laws governing the condition of sick and wounded members of armed forces, the treatment of civilians in time of war, victims of international armed conflicts and prisoners of war to name just a few.

“Every year, World Red Cross Red Crescent Day reminds us to think, respect and honor those who have gone through a very difficult time, to look beyond the labels of appearance, nationality or belief system and just take care of each other,” says Glen Beasley, Executive Director of the chapter in Hyannis.

Continues Beasley, “The Red Cross is a very unique organization because, reflecting our primary mission and our core values, we consider everyone the same when we care for people. We train, coach and expect our volunteers to step away from worldly or governmental pressures and focus strictly on the humanitarian principle.”

Responding to a question about a recent Red Cross survey revealing that only one in five youth are familiar with the rules of war, Beasley stepped away from his role as spokesperson for the Red Cross.

“I’d like to see more of a focus in the schools on the history of the moral code we live by, whether it’s the Geneva Conventions or religious belief or humans treating humans. Having people think, talk and debate these ideas will make them stronger when they are called to make a decision. That’s what education is for. So that when they walk away, they have the ability to do the right thing. That’s a father speaking.”

If you would like to volunteer for the local Red Cross, contact the Chapter by emailing volunteer@cciredcross.org or sign up for an introductory training session via the web site www.capecodandislandsredcross.org.