Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work…

[The place names link to maps so that you can get a quick idea of the region.]

PAKISTAN: ICRC remains active in North-West Frontier Province. Together with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, they’ve just completed the first phase of an agricultural support program, helping 45,000 families kick-start farming in areas most affected by the fighting of the previous months. Video.

YEMEN: The ICRC has opened a new camp in Sa’ada for civilians fleeing conflict.

AFGHANISTAN: Meet Najmuddin. After losing his legs to a landmine, he obtained artificial legs – and a job – from the rehabilitation center of the ICRC in Kabul. Now, together with the ICRC, he is promoting the social reintegration of the people with disabilities in Afghanistan.

WEST BANK: This winter, the ICRC will provide 70,000 olive seedlings to farmers having a difficult time with their olive crops.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: The ICRC psychosocial and economic support programs in North Kivu help women, like Marie, who have suffered sexual abuse in the midst of conflict.

GLOSSARY:
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

[Original post by Robin Parker]

Step #1: Watch this video.

Step #2: Save the Day.

Last week, as I attempted to focus and push through the work days until Thanksgiving, I was glad to find this amusing video about the seven Red Cross Fundamental Principles.  All Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world adhere to these seven principles:

• Voluntary Service
• Impartiality
• Neutrality
• Independence
• Unity
• Universality
• Humanity.

Curious how these principles apply to real life?  This cartoon may not be true to life (we don’t really have dinosaur battles anymore these days), but it gives situations to explain the principles.  So have a laugh and learn something!

Over Thanksgiving, most of us spent time eating, sleeping, shopping and taking a break to munch on some extra leftovers. However, for our friends to the north in Richland, Washington, Thanksgiving meant two things: the annual Red Cross Turkey Trot and Sarah Palin.

Former vice presidental candidate Palin came out with 25 of her relatives to participate in the 5k Turkey Trot for the local Red Cross, which drew over 3,000 runners. We applaud all our friends in Richland for their support of the Red Cross, especially at a time of year when it sounds much cozier to be at home, smelling roasting turkey and watching the Macy’s parade (as I personally did…no trotting for me here in the Mitten). Nice work, Sarah Palin, on taking time out of your book tour to run for the Red Cross — every penny (and step) counts!

Running not your thing? No worries. Try our brand new Holiday Giving Catalog! It’s equally as effective (donation-wise, we can’t promise it provides any exercise) and can be done from the comfort of your easy chair.

Who would have guessed that this beauty is made out of old skis and recycled pop bottles? I guess our AmeriCorps are just that inventive. For the THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR IN A ROW, our Red Cross AmeriCorps tree won “best in show” at the Gerald R. Ford Museum! If you get a chance this holiday season, pop downtown to the museum and take a peek at our tree.

TIP: Jordan, our AmeriCorps director, said it looks best at night. (I would venture to add it also looks best when holding a steaming cup of hot cocoa in your hand, surrounded by friends and family.)

At the American Red Cross, we focus quite a bit on preventing, preparing for, and responding to emergencies that can occur in our homes or workplaces, as we should.  Recently, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has implemented a campaign to remind all of us of another frequent emergency location – the roads.  

The IFRC reports that road-related emergencies kill about 3,000 people a day; that is equal to one person every two minutes. We have the power of prevention in our hands.  The IFRC has published a commitment card for those of us on the road to read and take to heart.  Here is a list of the road safety commitments they want us to make:

• Use a seatbelt
• Wear a helmet on a motorcycle 
• Drive at a safe speed and distance suitable for the conditions
• Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Don’t use a mobile phone while driving
• Be visible as a pedestrian or cyclist 
• Know and respect the highway code
• Maintain vehicle in a good condition
• Be licensed and trained for the vehicle you drive
• Know how to react in case of a crash

What can you do to prevent emergencies on the road?  Read the IFRC’s report, check out the National Road Safety Foundation, or find a way to get involved in the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s Teen Driver Safety Week next year (road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 29 worldwide).  

And drive safely.

Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work…

[The place names link to maps so that you can get a quick idea of the region.]

UGANDA: “Some had never been hugged until they scored their first goal…” Former child soldiers meet not on the battlefield, but the soccer field for a friendly match supported by the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support.

WORLDWIDE: In advance of Universal Children’s Day, the ICRC is calling for a stop to crimes against children in war.

BANGLADESH: Two years after Cyclone Sidr, close to 250,000 families have their lives back.

KENYA: Delegates from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are gathering in Nairobi this week to discuss strategies to effectively address the humanitarian challenges of the coming decade. You can read daily bulletins from the assembly.

GLOSSARY:
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

[Original post by Robin Parker]

Soon enough, we will all be up to our elbows in mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, passed out in front of a football game and wondering, just as we do each year, the eternal question: “Why did I eat so much?!”

Thanksgiving is probably my second favorite holiday (Christmas wins first prize) because I just love cooking and relaxing with my family, without worrying about gifts or scurrying around town. We eat dinner, then we cover the living room of my parents’ house in sleeping bags and blankets, take naps, watch Christmas movies and eat pie. What could be better?

Well, I don’t know what could be better. But I know what could be worse — if we all spent the whole day coughing, sneezing and aching all over each other, spreading H1N1 like so much holiday cheer. For all of you out there who will either be bunking down at home like me or hitting the road, we have some tips for you to keep your holiday as healthy and happy as possible.

Before traveling…

• If sick, stay home. It’s disappointing to not be able to join in the family celebration, but act responsibly and stay home to avoid spreading the flu.

• It’s possible to spread the flu virus one day before actually showing symptoms.  Those who have been in close contact with a sick individual should be extra careful about using good hand hygiene and cough etiquette and very aware of what might be flu symptoms.

While traveling…

• Wash hands with soap and water as often as possible. If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.

• Use sanitizing wipes to disinfect hard surfaces such as airplane tray tables, luggage handles, cell phones, door handles and seat armrests.

• Remember to wash hands or use a hand sanitizer before eating any meals or snacks. It’s important to remember that you are touching a lot of surfaces that others are touching as well.  Make sure your hands are clean before you put anything into your mouth.

• Bring personal blankets, pillows and earphones to avoid using something which may have been in contact with the flu virus.

• After washing hands in a public restroom, turn off the faucet with a paper towel. Then use another paper towel to dry hands and open the door when exiting the restroom.

Have a safe celebration

Thanksgiving is all about food, family and friends. Here are some steps that will help keep the celebration happy and healthy:

• Avoid the usual kisses and handshakes when greeting friends and family.

• If hosting the holiday dinner and someone in the household becomes ill, make sure that they can be isolated into a separate area for care, or ask another family member to host dinner to avoid spreading the flu.

• Wash hands frequently, before preparing food, while cooking, and especially before eating.

• Keep plenty of hand soap in the bathroom, preferably in a pump container. Skip the pretty hand towels this year and instead use disposable hand towels or a roll of paper towels.

• Consider putting the glasses away this year and using plastic cups, or provide a way for guests to identify their drinks. Don’t drink out of anyone else’s glass.

• Put serving utensils in every dish, including snacks like nuts, pretzels, etc. This allows people to spoon out their portion instead of reaching in with their hands.

For more information about flu prevention, visit us at http://redcrossggr.org/get-trained/h1n1.

The holidays are incumbent upon us and with that comes the tickly thrill of shopping for many. Whether “Black Friday” is your thing or you’re a Handmade Pledge gal like myself, shopping for others (and ourselves) will soon be the top item on everyone’s list.

For you fashionistas and chic ladies (and gents) out there, we have a deal for YOU! During November, 10% of the purchase price of select bags purchased online from the Louis Vuitton USA website will be donated to the American Red Cross. With prices clocking in between $665 and $1,275, the donations are bound to add up quickly.

The really cool thing about this partnership is that Louis Vuitton is also working with other national societies to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Solferino and the birth of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. In particular, Patrick Louis Vuitton has designed a Special Order Red Cross kit to be auctioned off at Sotheby’s in London along with 5 other Special Order pieces by artists Damien Hirst, Chef Ferran Adria, photographer Annie Leibovitz, musician/composer Gustavo Santalalla, and designer Marc Jacobs.

What they’ve created is as diverse as the artists themselves: a butterfly armoire by Hirst, a trolley case with a knife tray by Adria, camera bags by Leibovitz, an instrument case by Santalalla, and a dog carrier by Jacobs.  Proceeds from this auction will benefit the French Red Cross.

So if Vuitton is your bag (pun totally intended), make sure to check this deal out. Who said it’s too early to start shopping?

We AmeriCorps in the office are preparing for our statewide Member Celebration next week, and we needed a way to show other AmeriCorps members from around Michigan what it is we do here at the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids.

So I decided to chronicle in photos what an AmeriCorps member here might do in an “average” day.  Here are some of the pictures we took.  Thanks to Ben for being the Average AmeriCorps Guy!

Ben the Average AmeriCorps Guy sits down to check his morning email. It seems it will be an uneventful day.

Ben then makes a trip to a local elementary school to teach about fire safety. He brings along his trusty sidekick, Freddie the Fire Truck.

Returning to the office, the Average AmeriCorps Guy meets with fellow AmeriCorps to discuss community partnerships.

During his lunch break, Ben the Average AmeriCorps Guy helps to build the recycled bottle Christmas Tree.

Ben and Kirsten (the Average AmeriCorps Girl) lead a volunteer orientation.

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(Afterward, they have a marker war.)

The American Red Cross receives a fire call.

Ben the Average AmeriCorps Guy goes to provide assistance in the way of shelter and comfort items.

All in a day’s work…