February 1963 — VOL. 44, NO. 2 —
The Red Cross
Centenary
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To Red Cross the people of the
world are divided into those who are fortunate enough to be
able to give help and those who need help. It has been so
for a hundred years, and today more than three million Canadian
members are dedicated to assisting victims of war, disaster,
disease, famine and misfortune of many kinds.
Because of the very magnitude of its work and the great
number of its activities, the image of Red Cross tends to
become blurred. Its hundredth birthday seems to be a good
time to bring the picture back into focus.
This association of people, moved by the high virtue of
charity, is the busiest and farthest—flung instrument
of privately financed mercy in the history of the world. It
is a staunchly private organization, subsisting on voluntary
contributions of time, talent and money. It is not governmental,
and it makes no discrimination on the basis of race, colour,
religion or political ideology.
Since its organization, Red Cross has been in the thick
of every war and every natural calamity. Some of its work
is danger—ridden, like picking up wounded on the battlefield,
and that service is properly given lustrous laurels by all
civilized mankind. But it serves in a hundred other, less
spectacular but none the less life—saving, ways.
This cannot be done without rubbing some people the wrong
way. The nature of Red Cross work demands organization if
it is to carry out the far—flung humanitarian relief
that is needed. Its material gifts must be fitting to their
purpose, properly packed, despatched on time, and efficiently
stored. Its personal services must be given by people who
have qualified themselves, are available at the right place
and time, and perform their work without partiality and as
members of a team. And it must come to the public every year
for contributions which make all this possible.
But whatever criticism is made, and it is remarkably small
considering the world—wide nature and all—embracing
services of this voluntary endeavour, the Red Cross remains
humanity's greatest example of humanitarian progress. Within
it there is no room for the petty prejudices and cold selfishness
of race toward race, but only for a great dedication to the
expansion of human well—being.
How it started
The Red Cross owes its origin, says the Harmsworth Encyclopaedia,
to the upwelling of sympathy roused throughout Europe by the
sufferings of the wounded in the Crimean War (1854—6)
and in the Austrian—Italian wars, especially at the battle
of Solferino (1859) where there were 40,000 dead and wounded
after fifteen hours of fighting.
Henri Dunant, of Geneva, was nearby on that June day. He
worked alone among the wounded in the church at Castiglione
for hours, but was unable to keep up with the flow of men
with damaged bodies. He went out into the streets and got
together a group of women to work with him.
Three years later, in 1862, Dunant published a little book,
Un souvenir de Solferino, in which he told the harrowing
story of the battle and its aftermath. Then he wrote :
"But why have I told of all these scenes of pain and distress,
and perhaps aroused painful emotions in my readers? ...
It is a natural question. Perhaps I might answer it by another:
Would it not be possible, in time of peace and quiet, to form
relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the
wounded in wartime by zealous, devoted and thoroughly qualified
volunteers?"
The book was translated into several languages, and in 1863
a conference in Geneva was attended by representatives of
sixteen European states. It recommended that relief societies
be formed in every country, to be authorized by the national
governments to co—operate with the army medical services.
It is fitting that when the Nobel Prize was awarded for
the first time, Henri Dunant was one of the recipients. He
died in 1910, aged 82, and was buried at Zurich, Switzerland.
Development of Red Cross
While Europe had been awakened to the need, and had declared
in favour of measures to meet it, there was much to be done
before effective work could be carried out.
One of the first principles had to do with protection of
those who should volunteer. An emblem was needed which would
demand and receive unqualified recognition. Because it was
a Swiss national who had proposed the movement, and because
Switzerland, one of the smallest states in Europe, had so
cordially invited the convention to meet within its borders,
it was agreed to acknowledge the courtesy by using the flag
of Switzerland, but in reverse colours.
At a convention in August 1864, diplomatic representatives
of 26 governments agreed to the Geneva Convention. It provided
that the wounded were to be respected, military hospitals
were to be regarded as neutral, the personnel and material
of the medical services were to be accorded protection.
The Convention was revised in 1907 so as to cover sea warfare,
in 1929 to cover the treatment of prisoners of war, and in
1949 to cover civilians.
By the time of the Armistice in 1918 the Red Cross had attained
a position of primary importance in the world. In 1919, a
Committee of Red Cross Societies was formed with the aim "to
work out and propose to the Red Cross Societies a programme
of action on behalf of the general welfare of humanity."
The League of Red Cross Societies was founded. Starting
with 26 societies, it now has 88 societies with 157,000,000
members throughout the world.
This was a critical period, because so many people believed
that the League of Nations had banished war and that therefore
the Red Cross was no longer needed. The Red Cross maintained
its stand that so long as there was even the remote chance
of war it was pledged to preparedness, and, in any event,
the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse do not ride only in wartime.
The humanitarian impulse which had given birth to the Red
Cross should be pressed forward into the prevention and alleviation
of human suffering in all forms at all times.
International volunteers
The Red Cross is not an organization of ideas alone, but
of acts. In times of famine, epidemics, cyclones, earthquakes
and floods, the Red Cross has proved to be a reliable instrument
for prompt and effective material assistance. Throughout some
bitterly discouraging years, it has pioneered in the improvement
of relations between countries by eliminating ill will, suspicion,
jealousy and red tape. It has led the way in bringing about
a feeling for the underlying community of human interests.
It has given a practical demonstration of democracy by drawing
together groups from various nations to solve their common
problems.
The Red Cross is not a government; it is not a bureaucracy.
It is made up of individual people all over the world possessed
of the desire to achieve in a great common cause. They are
people of all races and interests and social classes who have
come together to work for things which they believe in.
Depending on their individual skills, volunteers in every
country perform office duties, run errands for patients in
hospitals, serve as nurses' aides or recreation supervisors
or coffee dispensers at the scene of disasters; they drive
veterans to ball games, make bandages and layettes, act as
aides in the collection of blood for transfusions, or help
to raise funds. Meanwhile, they undergo training so that they
will be able to do more than merely wring their hands if a
local or national disaster strikes.
Thousands are persons with professional skills essential
to the agency's work. Physicians, nurses, social welfare workers,
teachers and nutritionists contribute time as instructors
and are available in emergencies. Business executives direct
local fund drives and serve on committees and boards.
Organization of Red Cross
A world wide movement must have at least a skeleton organization
to pull together its many activities. In the Red Cross this
consists of five divisions: The International Conference of
the Red Cross, which is the supreme deliberative authority;
the Standing Commission, which ensures continuity of co—ordination;
the International Committee of the Red Cross, a neutral, independent
institution composed of 25 Swiss citizens, which works for
continual improvement of the Geneva Conventions; the League
of Red Cross Societies, which is a world federation of 88
Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Lion and Sun Societies, and
the national Red Cross Societies with their many branches.
The International Committee, direct successor of the committee
which, in 1863, undertook the task of putting Dunant's ideas
into practice, can be called humanity's intermediary in time
of war, civil war and internal disturbances. It is an institution
which is private, independent and strictly neutral in all
political, ideological and religious matters. Its intervention
is intended to ensure respect for war victims in their capacity
as human beings, and to give them moral and material assistance.
This committee has no governing functions, though it is
the principal agent of international humanitarian law. It
develops this law by preparing drafts for the introduction
of new provisions or the revision of existing ones.
The committee has a special function of great importance:
the oversight of conditions under which prisoners of war live.
At the end of 1946, its card index relating to prisoners and
internees included about 39 million cards. The committee reunites,
or helps to reunite, members of families dispersed by war
events.
Because of its undoubted neutrality and integrity, the International
Committee is ideally situated to be the body which centralizes,
forwards and distributes relief supplies. It affords a guarantee
to the donors that such supplies will be distributed equitably
in accordance with their wishes.
The League
Formation of the League of Red Cross Societies in 1919,
and the consequent broadening of the programme of the Red
Cross to include the relief of suffering in peace as well
as in war, led to a more general acceptance of the Red Cross
idea throughout the world.
As stated in its statutes, the League's duties are: to act
as permanent liaison agent between national Red Cross societies;
to co—operate in all spheres of their work, especially
for the improvement of health, the prevention of disease and
the mitigation of suffering; to represent and speak for the
national societies on the international level in accord with
resolutions adopted by the board of governors; to encourage
and facilitate the establishment and the development of activities
of national societies; to be the guardian of the integrity
and interests of the member societies.
A fundamental principle of the League is absolute freedom
from political or religious discrimination. Its expenses are
met by voluntary contributions from its constituent societies.
It maintains close liaison with organizations whose work is
of interest to the Red Cross, notably the United Nations and
its specialized agencies.
Of the League's work it may be said that it is achieving
one of the noblest aspirations of humanity: the establishment
of closer ties, true understanding and a spirit of brotherly
service among all nations.
National societies
And now we come back to "the national society, the bed—rock
of Red Cross work.
In the organization of the Red Cross at Geneva a hundred
years ago it was agreed that the societies of the various
countries would do more effective work if they were national
instead of international in character. The treaty provides
that in every country forming a national society there shall
be a central committee, recognized by its own government and
by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The central national committee is expected to encourage
the formation of local branches and to be responsible for
their work; to provide supplies to be used in emergencies;
to have a trained force of workers ready to go into action
at any moment; and in time of war it must not only distribute
supplies but send doctors, nurses and assistants into the
field.
The Canadian Red Cross Society is making a very significant
contribution to national life. Founded in 1896 and affiliated
with the League of Red Cross Societies in 1919, it has now
1,646,964 senior members and 1,511,045 junior members.
Its purpose, as described in the Canadian Red Cross Society
Act, is: to furnish volunteer aid to the sick and wounded
of armies in war; in time of peace or war to carry on and
assist in work for the improvement of health, the prevention
of disease and the mitigation of suffering throughout the
world.
The biggest disaster activity recorded in the Annual Report
for 1961 was the establishment of food and first aid stations
in Newfoundland during the 107 days of forest fire which involved
13,000 residents in 37 communities. In addition, immediate
emergency relief was made available from coast to coast to
smaller groups and individual families who had encountered
disaster, usually in the form of fires.
The good fortune of Canada in escaping disasters which worked
havoc in so many other countries left the Red Cross free to
carry on its constructive and preventive work. The full—time
nursing staff was the same as in the preceding year, 168 nurses
serving in the Outpost hospitals, nursing stations and the
blood transfusion service. All divisions pressed ahead with
instruction in home nursing and homemaker service in 5,502
homes, water safety service with 3,686 instructors participating,
the operation of eight lodges for relatives visiting veterans
in hospital, the instruction of 15,000 veterans in arts and
crafts, visiting bedridden patients, and a host of other projects.
Knitted and sewn articles are made by women in Red Cross
branches and assembled for emergency relief at home and abroad.
In 1961 the bulk of this product of generous hands went to
Africa, the Middle East and the Far East.
Junior Red Cross
Among the 75 countries having Junior Red Cross sections,
Canada holds an eminent place.
Recognized as an in—school programme in all ten provinces,
with more than a million and a half members in 43,000 class—room
branches, the Junior Red Cross devotes itself to carrying
on humanitarian work for young people at home and abroad.
As an important by—product, the movement develops a sense
of responsibility in children by encouraging them to think
of and help children less fortunate than themselves.
They gave this help, in 1961, to more than 17,000 Canadian
children. Their contributions provided heart surgery, special
drugs, eye glasses, hearing aids, dental care, wheel chairs
and orthopaedic appliances. They sent help to needy children
in 23 countries. They exchanged correspondence, albums, recordings
and art with their counterparts in forty countries. They helped
in community hospitals, crippled children's homes, senior
citizens' homes, child welfare centres and veterans' hospitals.
The most ambitious effort of the year was the "Adopt—a—Greek—School"
project, through which 379 chests were made, filled with school
supplies, and shipped to the Greek Red Cross.
International Service
There are no boundaries in the Red Cross world. As soon
as needs for a disaster area are made known to the Canadian
Red Cross an efficient group of relief people begin assembling
the required supplies, and through the co—operation of
the Royal Canadian Air Force and domestic and international
air lines the packages are rushed to the scene of the disaster
without charge for transportation. In 1961 there were 39 countries
given aid, and 892 missing persons were located for their
relatives.
The largest effort was required in behalf of the victims
of the hurricane in British Honduras. A relief fund raised
under chairmanship of the President of the Royal Bank was
handed to the Red Cross for expenditure on emergency supplies
and building materials. The Women's Work Committee shipped
82 cases of clothing, and the Junior Red Cross sent clothing,
health kits and school supplies. Two Canadian workers helped
the local branch of the British Red Cross Society.
Doctors and nurses of the Canadian Red Cross teams were
commended by the International Committee and the League for
their work in the Congo, and presented with commemorative
medals.
This was a memorable episode in Red Cross history. The Secretary
General of the United Nations appealed to the International
Red Cross for doctors and nurses to staff the hospitals and
medical centres which had been vacated by the Belgians. Within
a week 27 teams were on their way, each consisting of a general
surgeon, a physician with training and experience in tropical
medicine, and three nurses. Two Canadian teams were among
the first to arrive at Leopoldville, followed by an anaesthetist
and a medical director for the Congolese Blood Transfusion
Service. Most of these were from the Province of Quebec, because
they spoke French.
The praise of the late Dag Hammarskjold, then Secretary
General of the United Nations, is noteworthy: "Of all the
demands of emergency aid to which the Red Cross has been asked
to respond in recent years, none has involved so much individual
sacrifice as meeting the appeal for assistance in the Congo."
These medical teams, he went on to say, inspired by the highest
humanitarian motives, have saved hundreds of lives and averted
what might easily have become a medical catastrophe. He concluded:
"In recognition of this great humanitarian work, inspired
by Red Cross founder Henri Dunant, I wish to express my personal
gratitude ( and I am sure the gratitude of men of goodwill
everywhere ( for yet another demonstration of the untiring
and selfless response of Red Cross workers to relieve human
suffering."
Life—saving blood
An article in CIL Oval said several years ago: "Giving
blood is the simplest way in which an individual can serve
others. It takes about half an hour of your time. It is harmless:
in fact it often has a slight beneficial effect."
Canadian Red Cross has a national blood transfusion service
unique in its completeness.
During World War II the Canadian Red Cross Society collected
blood from volunteer donors so that members of the armed forces
might have adequate quantities of dried serum for the treatment
of casualties. Then the Red Cross was approached by a number
of hospital associations and departments of health with a
request that similar service should be provided in peace time
to meet civilian hospital needs.
Red Cross took on the task of collecting, processing, storing
and delivering blood of the right type to the right place
at the right time. Its purpose is to supply every hospital
in Canada, free of charge, with whole blood and blood products
to meet their transfusion therapy needs.
This is the achievement of hundreds of thousands of men
and women who give their blood voluntarily, regularly and
anonymously as donors, who serve as volunteers in clinics
and in the workrooms preparing supplies. A total of 679,319
bottles of blood was collected in 1961.
Red Cross, which maintains medically competent personnel
( physicians, nurses and technicians ( in its depots and laboratories,
helped by voluntary nontechnical workers, refuses either to
pay for or charge for the blood that it collects from volunteer
donors and distributes to hospitals. The provincial governments
provide the premises and maintain them, the Red Cross provides
the staff and equipment, and citizens donate their blood.
The Women's Work Committees, assisted by Junior Red Cross
branches, have manufactured all the surgical supplies such
as swabs, wipes and dressings, used by the service in its
depots and donor clinics.
This brief outline of the Red Cross on the occasion of its
Centenary has omitted scores of references which might have
been made to the work done during the Moroccan paralysis epidemic,
to which the Canadian Red Cross contributed 17 specially qualified
doctors and physiotherapists (more than any other country
except Switzerland), 1,156 Junior Red Cross relief kits, and
many thousands of items for hospital and rehabilitation use.
The story has not mentioned the drugs and supplies and the
hospital bedding contributed by Canadian Red Cross to Hungarian
refugees, or the Siblin Vocational Training Centre, in Lebanon,
made possible by gifts from Canada. It has not gone into detail
about the Red Cross physicians and nurses and helpers who
served in the wars in which Canada was engaged.
Organized in 1863 for the relief of wounded soldiers, the
Red Cross has given that task every attention, and it has
extended its work of mercy into peace time. As Mr. Hammarskjold
said, it has won the gratitude of men of goodwill everywhere.
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