Red Cross approves new emblem, allowing Israel to join

[Thom Little]

The Red Cross and Red Crescent movements on Wednesday gained an additional emblem that paves the way for Israel to join the global relief network after nearly six decades of exclusion.

The 192 signatories of the Geneva Conventions approved the new "red crystal" emblem - a diamond-shaped red crystal on a white background - into which the Red Star of David of the Israeli relief agency Magen David Adom (MDA) can be placed.

"I can inform you that the protocol has just been adopted," said Didier Pfirter, a Swiss diplomat who has been coordinating global efforts to muster support for the new emblem.

.......

Twenty-nine nations voted for the new symbol and 27 voted against the move, most of them Arab states. Ten countries also abstained from voting on the matter.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/655198.html

[DRoseDARs]

1. This is so stupid....

Red Crystal? What, was Rainbow Bright or Strawberry Shortcake on the commitee that picked this out? Israel's "Red Cross" organization already had the very logical Red Star (of David) in use. I understand that the IRC is a Swiss body and its symbol was based on a reversed Swiss flag, and the muslims were allowed to use a red cresent shape for their flag. This fugly "crystal" should not have even been considered. What a waste. :thumbsdown:

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Finally!

It is about damn time!

[still_one]

5. I agree

What people may not realize is that Magan David is known to give medical treatment to anyone injured no matter what their religious or ethnic background

[PsychoDad]

29. I still can't understand...

Why the emblem of Magen David Adom wasn't allowed by IRC, while the cross and cresent were allowed.

If I take offense to the emblem used by someone who offers me aid when I or those I care for are in need, then it's my problem.

Peace.

On edit, just my opinion. If you are going to exclude one symbol which may carry some objection, then exclude them all. Replace the red cross and red cresent with the new red "crystal". And why didn't they just call it a Red Diamond?

[realisticphish]

3. sometimes

a cross is just a cross. i dunno, it seems to me that it undermines the whole purpose of the organization. Making a jewish, muslim, and christian versions to me goes against the concept of helping everybody.


Well, it's their right to change it... but, EVERYBODY knows the red cross. how many are going to recognize the red "crystal" in dangerous situations?


edit: also, to agree with DRoseDARs... yeah, whats wrong with a star of david? the crystel thing is, as you said, fugly

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Or, perhaps this is a step in the right direction.

Now know one has to be offended by who sends help. Think of the crystal as the Earth...(not flat) but four points, north, south, east, and west all connected to one another, and all working to help one another without concern about who they are treating or who is treating them.

[realisticphish]

6. yeah

IF this was a new overall organizational symbol. But it's not. It's just another one of a set of logos. If they replaced EVERYTHING with one sybol, like this crystal, even though it's butt ugly, that would be fine with me. but now people will associate this one with israeli aid, like they associate the cross with western aid, and the crescent with middle-eastern aid. The red cross has NEVER been about religion, and emphasizing it like this puts it more in the spotlight, imho. They don't pass out bibles, or preach, or have anything whatsoever to do with religion. it's about working to help one another regardless of who they are, as you say. I seriously doubt that people who recieve aid give a crap about a red plus sign on a white background

again, it's entirely within their right, and it doesn't change them in any way, in my eyes.

[still_one]

7. the precident has already been broken with the red cresent

as far as your statement that the red cross has NEVER been about religion, what does a cross symbolize?

[realisticphish]

8. it symbolizes

the flag of switzerland, where it was founded.

and, yes, the flag of switzerland was, centuries ago, based on the christian cross (afaik). But the organization Red Cross was not based in a religious context

[still_one]

12. that may be, but the cross itself can symbolizes a religious symbol

otherwise they would NOT have allowed the Muslims to use the Red Cresent. By that very fact they are admiting that the red cross can be interpreted as a religious symbol

[Behind the Aegis]

9. and yet...

...people still have a problem with it. Israel compromised and didn't ask for a Magen David and went with a crystal and it is still not good enough! For decades, Israel has been excluded, despite treating people, no matter their background, because Arab nations didn't want to see a Magen David in their lands.

[realisticphish]

10. granted

i certainly understand the argument, and don't think the organization was stupid, or whatever, in choosing this. I just think there might be ramifications that hurt in the long run. I don't know, i'm not a genious about politics; the middle east has to deal with a lot of religious friction, and the rules have to change sometimes. i'm just looking at it from the viewpoint of a non-jewish american :shrug:

[Behind the Aegis]

15. don't have to be a genius. :)

While there are Arab countries that do not allow Jews to even enter their borders, the same is not the same for Israel (there are a few exceptions). However, let's put all the politics aside. If there is a natural disaster (and given the human race's disrepect, in general, for the environment that is increasing), should it really matter who helps you?

Take Katrina. The US turned down experts from around the world, including Israel. So, I ask you (in general, not you as a poster)...you are sitting on your rooftop, bodies and shit are floating by and here comes a rescuer comes by and s/he wears a symbol that is not your faith, would you really say, "No, thanks! I will wait for a Christian, Muslim, Jew?" I am guessing, if like me, you'd be all over that rescuer like a duck on a junebug! So, why can't there be a universal symbol? Since there can't be one, why not just accept that this is a need addition to help ease human suffering?

[DRoseDARs]

13. And that's what really irks me about this: If they got all pissy about...

...the Red Cross shape and demanded a Red Cresent so they'd never have to see the cross shape, then what do they care about a Red Star shape? Is it any more likely that that shape will be seen on muslim lands than the cross shape when they already have a cresent shape representing the organization on muslim lands? Why bother putting up such a fuss over a shape you're not going to see any more than the one you already banished in favor of you're own chosen design...?

...except to spite Israel, which is what this all boils down to. Tell the muslims to fuck off on this issue. They got a shape of their own, so quit pouting like a bunch of five-year-olds. Let Israel keep its Red Star and get over it. That, or adopt a universal shape. No more cross, no more cresent, and no *horrors* star *horrors* to worry about.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. LOL!

I was just posting and then saw your post! :)

I agree..."adopt a universal shape."

These people, the caretakers, if really good ones, don't care who their victim is, all they care about is helping, so, why should the victim care who is saving them? I wouldn't!

[still_one]

17. it won't happen

even though Judism is the Mother of Christianity and Islam, Jews still represent a much smaller population to Christians and Muslims, and those groups will not compromise because when it gets down to the bottom line, for many it really is about religion

Look a Faux News, it is almost laughable that they are promoting this "war against Christians or Christmas". Do NOT use Happy Holidays or you will be attacking Christians. Of course, historically Christ's birth was not around the 25th of December, but that is NOT the point with them.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. I agree with you.

When it comes right down to it, until we are all gone, we will always be the villans.

[still_one]

19. that won't happen

it has been tried for thousands of years, and always a remnant returns

[Behind the Aegis]

20. We are a tough lot, aren't we?

Our forebearers have suffered worse. We shall survive this minor inconvenience. We shall survive the slings and arrows of other bullshit. We shall survive the haters on the right and the left. We shall survive!

[still_one]

21. absolutely

[DRoseDARs]

22. Does it make me a bad person being pleased that Christians celebrate...

...a pagan holy day dedicated to the winter solstice? :)

[Behind the Aegis]

23. LMAO!

You so crazy! :rofl:

No. I don't think you are a bad person because you find a little joy in that Christians celebrate a co-opted holiday. The fact is it is true. True Christians are not bothered by that fact. True Christians celebrate the words and deeds of Jesus. They don't really care when his birthday was or wasn't; only His message is important!

[DRoseDARs]

25. Jesus had a message? I thought if you simply believed then you were saved

Silly j00s, Heaven is for mindless, unquestioning sheep! :crazy:

Right, and next you'll be telling us that blessed are the peace-makers and the meek shall inherit the Earth. What a bunch of New Age nonsense... :eyes:

;)

[Behind the Aegis]

28. YOU!!!!

(I am shaking my fist at you in a funny way.)

You totally got my 'joke.' You then made one of your own. But, you also understood what I was saying about the meaning of the words of Jesus. THAT is what we, as humans, should do!

You brought a smile to my face and made a laugh cross my lips...I will put in a good word for you to the Man upstairs! :) You know we are the 'chosen people,' so my word carries more meaning. ;-)

(Seriously...thank you for debating and not attacking!)

[Crayson]

11. a great symbol under which all relief workers can come together

The red cross is indeed a reversed swiss flag.
In fact in many US movies i see reversed "red crosses" on first aid kit and ask myself, WTF is this swiss flag doing there.. hehe..

And the cross IS a christian symbol and you can't deny that the red cross really had christian background at that time.
Love your next as you love yourself... (don't know how that phrase is spelled exactly in english, but I'm sure you know which one).
The good hearted samaritean...
Do upon others as...
Those are the motivations which are behind the red cross.

Ignorant as we are, we only discovered in more recent times that Islam, Jews and Buddhists share those same values.
That those values are the core of humanity.

And in times of a "new crusade" (as it is viewn by many in the middle east) there is a need for a non religious symbol which unites and which everybody can accept.
Personally I hope that the old symbols vanish with the coming of more people like me who cherrish the human values but are not actually religous.

as a red cross official put it:
"If the founder Henry Dunant would have come up with this symbol from the beginning we would have been spared many dangerous situations."

[still_one]

14. interesting that you indicate "we only discovered in more

recent times that Islam, Jews and Buddhists share those same values"

really

For one thing Christianity and Islam were derived from the Jews, so to have only just discovered these shared values in recent times is more predjudice than ignorance. Buddhism and Hinduism perhaps might have more of an argument of ignorance, but I tend to think that also relates more to prejudice, if you look at history where the western nations were trying to set up their colonies in Asia

[TreasonousBastard]

24. Shoulda been that way in the beginning, but...

it's too late now.

Or, maybe not. Rename the whole thing to something else?

Originally, the idea of various different flags was knocked down because of the fear that individual nations having their own "Red Cross or something or other" flags would cause problems with the international nature of the organization-- having all those different flags and emblems in a war zone would cause obvious problems.

That was the problem with a Jewish flag. Unlike the Red Crescent (also not the greatest idea, but another compromise) only one country would carry that emblem.

Taking the cross image from the Swiss flag and objecting to it may be ridiculous on some level, but it's these damnable modern geopolitics that we're stuck with.

Jeez... Can't even set up tents in an earthquake without someone getting all pissed off. Wotta world.

[The Icon Painter]

26. Did I mis-read this?

"red crystal on a white background - into which the Red Star of David of the Israeli relief agency Magen David Adom (MDA) can be placed."

To me, this says that the Israeli symbol will be combined with the 'crystal' to make a usable identifier for the new member. I do not understand this as meaning that the 'crystal' will replace the Magen David. Am I the only one who reads it this way? It might be a good idea if the cross, the crescent and the Shield of David were each placed inside this crystalline frame to form the individual symbols of the International Relief Community.

And then again, maybe I'm a teakettle. :dunce:

[DRoseDARs]

27. Yeah, you're a teakettle.

:P

No, Israel is being unfairly stuck with this absurd symbol while the original Red Cross remains and the muslims get to keep their Red Cresent... because no one wants to hear them whine endlessly about the Red Star. Hell, I suspect Israel's delegation agreed to use this crystal symbol on that possibility alone. ;)

[montana_hazeleyes]

30. okay

People are so wacky. So if I get run over in Candlestick parking lot and someone runs over in a Dallas Cowboy shirt to help me I guess I'll refuse his help and wait for someone in a niner shirt to come help.

[Jed Dilligan]

31. I want my Red Feathered Serpent

And I want him now! Hail Quetzalcoatl!

[merwin]

32. kick

[TechBear_Seattle]

33. Additional emblem for the Int. Red Cross and Red Crescent Movmts.

ICRC press release:

8-12-2005 Press Release 05/73

Additional emblem for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement today welcomed the decision of the Diplomatic Conference held in Geneva to adopt a Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, creating an additional emblem alongside the red cross and red crescent.

The additional emblem, known as the red crystal, will provide a comprehensive and lasting solution to the emblem question. It will appear as a red frame in the shape of a square on edge, on a white background, and is free from any religious, political or other connotation.

The Movement is grateful to the Government of Switzerland, as the depositary State to the Geneva Conventions, for its unfailing commitment to guide the process which has led to the adoption and signing of the Third Additional Protocol.

The signing of an agreement between the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Magen David Adom (MDA) on 28 November, also contributed to the successful outcome of the Conference by defining operational arrangements that will enhance these Societies’ cooperation when carrying out their humanitarian mandate.

The signing of the Third Additional Protocol marks the end of the diplomatic process, and it is now the responsibility of the Movement to adapt its rules and procedures to the new situation.

Following the adoption of the Protocol, the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has decided to call an International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, in 2006. The Conference brings together those States that are party to the Geneva Conventions, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the 183 member Societies of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The Conference will be asked to amend the statutes of the Movement, to take into account the creation of the new emblem, in order to realize the objective of universality.

The Wikipedia has some pictures of the new emblem and how it will be used with existing emblems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Crystal_%28symbol%29

Added My bad, forgot the URL: http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/emblem-news-081205