Behind the times

March 13, 2007 at 12:00 pm | Posted in ICRC, Random, Red Cross | Leave a comment

On the 14th January the latest addition to the ICRC’s list of emblems increased with the addition of the Red Crystal which now supplements the perennial Red Cross and Crescent. I do recall a lecturer mentioning that this might occur but that was last year and since then I’d obviously forgotten – until now. Admittedly, I haven’t been watching the news that much lately but I do read a lot online at work and I am surprised that the Red Crystal did not receive greater fanfare.

At any rate we (very much a global we) now have three symbols to assist in the protection of humanitarian affairs. Only time will tell whether the ICRC can successfully promote the Crystal as a symbol of protection for civilians that is treated on the same level as the Red Cross and Crescent. Granted and sadly the latter aren’t always respected.