"What needs reforming in the world?" and "How do I fit into God's agenda for reform?" are two of the main questions I have been chewing on since arriving in Europe. For the last few Fridays, I have attended a class called "Reformation 21" facilitated by Jonathan Tame, a leader for Youth With a Mission (YWAM), that has definitely encouraged me to think more deeply about these questions. 
The class has been exploring how the 16th century Reformation inspired great changes and advocacy in society such as religious freedom, the knowledge explosion, individual human rights, separation of powers and environmental and business ethics. It also has faciliated discussion about how the development of post-modernism has impacted our worldviews and contributed to a secular/sacred divide in our thinking that has created tangible tension. It has been an interesting time and I have definitely appreciated learning more about the Reformation and how the reformers of the time changed the face of society. I also have been intrigued by the thought-provoking class discussions about how to operate in the world today in a way that is Christ-centered and directed, yet avoids furthering the personal and societal wounds caused by those in history who acted in the name of Christ, but were misdirected.
Last Friday, I took the afternoon to visit the United Nations offices in Geneva (Palais des Nations)and the International Red Cross Museum. The UN in Geneva has more than 8,500 staff members and hosts almost 9,000 meetings a year, making it one of the busiest intergovernmental conference centres in the world and a focal point for multilateral diplomacy.
Staff affiliated with the Geneva offices of the UN work in the following areas: health, labor, intellectual property human rights, humanitarian action and disaster relief, economic, trade and development activities, disarmament efforts,science and technology, as well as research and training. It was so exciting to be in a place where the advocacy and policy work of those interesting in the welfare of people around the world come together to try to make a difference in the lives of others!
Next, I visited the Musee International de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge (The International Museum of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent), which was humbling to say the least. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement focused on protecting human life and health, to ensure respect for the human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering.
The creation of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement was inspired by compassion and commitment of Henry Dunant. Dunant was a Swiss businessman, who after witnessing the Battle of Solferino in 1859, became a tireless advocate for the formation of national voluntary relief organizations to help nurse wounded soldiers during times of war. Dunant's efforts were honored publicly when he was awarded the first Noble Peace Prize in 1901.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is actually comprised of three distinct operating organizations:
1) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a private humanitarian institution focused on protecting the life and dignity of the victims of international and internal armed conflicts
2)The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which leads and organizes relief assistance missions to respond to large-scale emergencies.
3) 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which exist in nearly every country in the world. Each society works in its home country according to the principles of international humanitarian law.
It was such a privilege to take a walk through the history of the movement; to witness the raw dedication and passion of Dunant, as well as countless others who have provided healing and hope to the wounded and hurting of the world during and after times of conflict.
No comments:
Post a Comment