The American National Red Cross has partnered with Causes to launch the first advocacy campaign in the organization’s history. The petition urges U.S. school districts to adopt an international humanitarian law curriculum designed by the Red Cross. By hosting the petition on Causes, the Red Cross can take advantage of its online community of supporters and provide an accessible medium for signature gathering.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, international treaties created to set standards for humanitarian concerns and international law. These treaties are the basis for humanitarian law across the world. The Red Cross saw this as a fitting time to promote the importance of these conventions and humanitarian law. As a humanitarian organization dedicated to alleviating the suffering of people affected by armed conflict, they believe that part of their responsibility is to educate the world about the role of international humanitarian law in reducing human suffering due to war.
The Red Cross will build momentum for this petition by reaching out to their cause communities, Facebook fan page and supporters across America. Their goal is to reach 100,000 signatures by mid-August. Join the Red Cross and Causes as we work to ensure that future generations understand and respect the importance of protecting human rights in a world of conflict: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/193
I realy hope you can do it…..
The Geneva Conventions and humanitarian actions are being taught by many groups and many teachers around the world. The United Nations and Global Classrooms support these ideas through curricular activities as do Facing History and Ourselves and others. Perhaps the Red Cross should support an existing program first and see how it goes. Districts already heap too many curriculum requirements on teachers and it is hard to get through the subject standards as it is. Human Rights Watch and Save Darfur and other groups have optional materials and assembly programs. Maybe we should just provide the information to school districts as reference and resource material? Clearly, protecting human rights is a priority and educating the public is necessary, but more requirements in a time of budget shortfall? Ugg.
Go ahead! We are with you.
A thinly-veiled propaganda effort that reflects pre- 9/11 thinking. The Red Cross should focus on rescue, aid, and preparation for disasters. Not politically-correct petition drives, or forcing over-burdened teachers to promote the rights of those who wish to murder us.