Red Cross Red Crescent
ISSUE 3.2010redcross.int
THE MAGAZINE OF THE INTERNATIONAL
RED CROSS
AND
RED CRESCENT
MOVEMENT
The high price of hunger
Investing in food security via the local economy
Pakistan’s perilous floods
A glimpse beneath the surface of the ‘superflood’
Hope on two wheels
Intrepid bikers bring aid deep into DR Congo’s jungles
values Volunteer
The International Red Cross andRed Crescent Movement
is made up of theInternational Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), theInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties (IFRC) and the National Societies.
The International Committee of the RedCross
is an impartial, neutral and independentorganization whose exclusively humanitarianmission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.The ICRC also endeavours to prevent suffering bypromoting and strengthening humanitarian lawand universal humanitarian principles. Establishedin 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the GenevaConventions and the International Red Cross andRed Crescent Movement. It directs and coordinatesthe international activities conducted by theMovement in armed conflicts and other situationsof violence.
The International Federation of Red Crossand Red Crescent Societies
works on the basisof the Fundamental Principles of the InternationalRed Cross and Red Crescent Movement to inspire,facilitate and promote all humanitarian activitiescarried out by its member National Societies toimprove the situation of the most vulnerablepeople. Founded in 1919, the IFRC directs andcoordinates international assistance of theMovement to victims of natural and technologicaldisasters, to refugees and in health emergencies.It acts as the offi cial representative of its membersocieties in the international field. It promotescooperation between National Societies andworks to strengthen their capacity to carry outeffective disaster preparedness, health and socialprogrammes.
The
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
is guided by seven Fundamental Principles:
humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity
and
universality.
All Red Cross and Red Crescent activities have one central purpose:
to help without discrimination those who suffer and thus contribute to peace in the world.
International Federation ofRed Cross and Red Crescent Societies
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
embody the work and principles of theInternational Red Cross and Red CrescentMovement in more than 186 countries. NationalSocieties act as auxiliaries to the public authoritiesof their own countries in the humanitarian fieldand provide a range of services including disasterrelief, health and social programmes. Duringwartime, National Societies assist the affectedcivilian population and support the army medicalservices where appropriate.
T
hese words (right) speak volumesabout the motivations, commitmentand courage of volunteers aroundthe world — as well as the rewards of givingone’s time to help others.As we prepare for 2011, the anniversary of the tenth international Year of the Volunteer,
Red Cross Red Crescent
magazine reports onthe contributions volunteers make and onefforts, within the Movement and without,to calculate that contribution in economicand social terms. While we all know thecontribution is tremendous — especially intimes of crisis — it’s rare in this world of fi-nancial stress, global consumerism and geo-political conflict that simple acts of kindnessare afforded concrete value. That needs to change. It’s time worldleaders recognize that worth is not onlymeasured in taxable income, commodityexports or consumer spending. As leaderssuch as United Nations Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon have recognized, volunteersplay a key role in achieving the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (reducing poverty, pre-venting and eradicating disease, reducingchild mortality and improving maternalhealth — to name just four of the goals).In this and coming issues of
Red Cross Red Crescent
, you’ll see examples of volunteersdoing just that: preventing maternity-relateddeaths in Pakistan; reducing polio in West Af-rica and Afghanistan; boosting local agrarianeconomies in drought- and conflict-strickenareas; and delivering aid and healthcare tochildren and other vulnerable people.
Editorial
ISSUE 3.2010
|
RED CROSS RED CRESCENT
|
1
Volunteer values
Many of these volunteers regularly puttheir health, livelihoods, family life — andtheir lives — on the line. So how can webetter support, protect, prepare, train,motivate and retain them? Are we doingenough? Volunteers interviewed in thisissue’s cover story address some of theseconcerns, including the economic value of their work, the need for insurance or othersupport, the importance of neutrality andthe sacrifices they make.Along with profiles of volunteers (suchas our interview with Haitian nurse Ger-maine Pierre-Louis on page 8), we willtackle many of these issues in a seriesof stories to run throughout the comingyear. As part of this series, we put thequestion to you on page 8: what shouldthe Movement do to better support, mo-tivate and protect volunteers? On page23, we ask for your opinions about humantraffi cking: how should the Movement re-spond? Tell us what you think about theseand other stories — and we will publish acollection of your views in a future issue.As we take on more issues of discussionand debate within the Movement, we willalso begin to publish your letters. Pleasesend us your views, comments and let-ters via
rcrc@ifrc.org
or at the address onpage 3. Thank you in advance for all your contri-butions.
Malcolm Lucard
Editor
Red Cross Red Crescent
“The value of this work isuncountable. If I help one person,that one person goes on to help more people and it continues likea chain.”
Shuang Shuang
, a volunteer who provides assistanceand counselling to HIV-positive people in Fu Shun, China,with support from the Red Cross Society of China
“I feel safe volunteering withthe Red Crescent. It does not get involved with all this politicsbusiness and that is its strength.This is why I will continuevolunteering.”
Hashmat Ali
, volunteer for thePakistan Red Crescent Society
“Every morning, I wake up sayingto myself that I cannot accept anyone’s suffering.”
Germaine Pierre-Louis
, volunteer for the Haitian RedCross Society and one of three recipients of the 2010Florence Nightingale award
“You cannot have as muchhappiness as when you help a person suffering and he says‘Thank you’.”
Fawwad Sherwani
, volunteer for thePakistan Red Crescent Society
Search History:
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
p.
Red Cross, Red Crescent Magazine. No. 3, 2010
Red Cross / Red Crescent magazine covers a range of humanitarian issues. Articles include features on the activities of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as they seek to help people around the world. The magazine is free of charge. You can find previous issues here: http://www.redcross.int/EN/mag/archives.html
7.9K
Reads
38
Readcasts
51
Embed Views
Recommended
More From This User
English
Notes
Load more
