-
-
Red Cross discrimination
The Red Cross, although a humanitarian organization, continues to openly discriminate against homosexuals and men who sleep with men in their effort to keep the blood supply "safe". Although the guidelines tend to appear quite outdated in today's society, there doesn't seem to be any effort to change or update the current system of blood screening.
Anyone who actively gives blood knows about the barrage of questions that the Red Cross nurses ask during the screening process. These safety measures are delegated by the Food and Drug Administration. Since safety of our blood supply is paramount, this is a necessary precaution. But, out of these questions, one question in particular stands out: "have you had sexual contact with a male, even once, since 1977?"
If you answer "yes" to this question, you will be refused the opportunity to give blood.
The American Red Cross, on their website (under "donor eligibility guidelines") describes these guidelines as "intended to protect the health and safety of the donor as well as the patient who will receive the transfusion". The guidelines go on to classify men who sleep with men in the same category of intravenous drug users and people who exchange money for sex, under the heading "HIV/AIDS". This representation alludes to the rumor that gay men and men who sleep with men, along with intravenous drug users and prostitutes are the only persons who can become infected with HIV/AIDS. This is false representation of a safety measure, and propagates the rumor that people in this classification are the only individuals who can contract or spread HIV/AIDS.
These guidelines can be found at: http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,0...
It does not matter to the Red Cross if you are a monogamous gay male in a healthy relationship. It doesn't matter to the Red Cross if you've cheated on your spouse (straight or gay), it doesn't even matter if you've contracted syphilis or gonorrhea (as long as you wait 12 months before donating!)...but it does matter if you have "sex with men", or even fooled around with a man, even once in 30 years.
With all of our scientific knowledge about the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, it seems surprising that the Red Cross would continue to perpetrate false information about Homosexuals and the spread of HIV/AIDS in the name of safety. The Red Cross blames the Food and Drug Administration for this policy, and the FDA blames the Red Cross for not being discriminatory enough in protecting the blood supply. So we are left in a bind of open discrimination by our government and a world health organization.
The Red Cross and the FDA also fail to acknowledge that men (and women) who sleep with many partners are also at a high risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS. There is no question in the guidelines reflective of persons who have sexual contact with multiple partners, or persons who have unprotected sexual contact with others, or persons who engage in unsafe sexual practices. These persons, as long as they do not use intravenous drugs, charge for sex, or have sexual contact with men can still donate, and be a "hero".
Although our blood supply organizations should continue to carry out the highest standards of blood safety, the current guidelines must be revised to reflect our modern culture if organizations like the Red Cross intend to promote safety and well being. The truth about HIV/AIDS and other diseases must be reflective of scientific fact, and not old rumors. The truth about the safety of our blood supply is, if you look closely, a half truth riddled with discrimination.
The Red Cross, although a humanitarian organization, continues to openly discriminate against homosexuals and men who sleep with men i... more -
World's poorest people hit hardest by disasters
More poor people are falling victim to global disasters than ever before, says a new report that tracks carnage.
This higher level of vulnerability is occurring even though emergency preparedness is generally better and there were fewer floods, droughts and earthquakes in 2007 than in previous years, says the 2008 World Disasters Report released Thursday by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
More than 201 million people were affected by disasters, a 40 per cent increase over 2006. But of those killed, a disproportionate number came from vulnerable people in developing countries.
Almost two-thirds of the world's disasters dating back to 2004 have occurred in Asia and the Pacific and in Africa, the report said. "It is a sad reality that the people most affected and hardest hit by disasters are amongst the poorest in the world," Charlie Musoka, manager of emergency response for the Canadian Red Cross, said in a statement.
In all, 405 natural disasters were reported in 2007 and they inflicted a cost of almost $63.5 billion. Another 141 "technical disasters" occurred, industrial, transport or miscellaneous accidents, such as a ferry sinking or a mine collapse.
Together, they claimed the lives of 23,167 people across the globe in 2007. While that is far lower than the yearly average of 113,000 deaths of the last decade, those figures take into account the year that most skewed the average - 2004, when the Asian tsunami that followed the earthquake off the coast of Indonesia killed more than 230,000.
But this year is shaping up to be just as bad.
The toll of dead or missing from the May 2 cyclone that struck Myanmar rose this week to 138,000, while the number of dead in the China earthquake 10 days later has risen to almost 69,000 and is expected to keep climbing, amid fears that rivers now blocked by landslides could burst. In all, more than two billion people have been affected by disasters in the last decade, the report said. Floods, at 28 per cent, tropical cyclones at 12 per cent, earthquakes at 11 per cent and epidemics at nine per cent accounted for the majority of disasters categorized between 2004 and 2008, the study said.
- Mike Blanchfield, Canwest News Service More poor people are falling victim to global disasters than ever before, says a new report that tracks carnage. ... more -
US hid detainees from Red Cross
The U.S. military hid the locations of suspected terrorist detainees and concealed harsh treatment to avoid the scrutiny of the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to documents that a Senate committee released Tuesday... The U.S. military hid the locations of suspected terrorist detainees and concealed harsh treatment to avoid the scrutiny of the Intern... more
-
Red Cross raises specter of food wars
# Red Cross warns rising prices could lead to food-related violence
# Organization's president says it is a future risk that needs to be considered
# Red Cross will have a role when food violence "reaches the level of armed conflict"
# Red Cross in 2008 plans to spend $1 billion on relief operations # Red Cross warns rising prices could lead to food-related violence ... more -
Red Cross warns of food riots over soaring prices
GENEVA - The Red Cross warned Tuesday of a possible surge in "food-related violence" because of soaring prices that are increasing hunger around the world.
Most of the debate surrounding the global food crisis has focused on boosting aid to poorer countries, but there is also concern about the potential for violence as people become desperate for food, said Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Follow the link to entire complete text. GENEVA - The Red Cross warned Tuesday of a possible surge in "food-related violence" because of soaring prices that are increasing hun... more -
After Sangatte: Europe's Untold Refugee Crisis
December 2007: The War On Terror had been raging for over six years, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and US bombs were falling on suspected Al Qaeda strongholds in Somalia.
The result was an increasing flow of refugees escaping war, disease and poverty, 4 million were displaced in Iraq at that time.
With the collaboration of the UK and French governments in 2002 the Red Cross Sangatte refugee camp in Calais, France, was shut down and bulldozed into the ground, an attempt by both countries to halt the flow of refugees into the UK.
Five years later, the refugees were still heading for Calais, in ever increasing numbers, but instead of those fleeing the Balkans war, now most were escaping the war on terror.
After Sangatte captures the plight of those refugees living on the streets of Calais, France.
Ahmed, an Iraqi refugee exposes the suffering of those already there and what awaits those on the way. December 2007: The War On Terror had been raging for over six years, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and US bombs were falling on suspected A... more -
Aid Agencies Concerned: Myanmar Cyclone vs Chinese Quake
With the world's attention shifting to the disastrous earthquake in China, humanitarian aid organizations are appealing to Canadians not to forget the devastation caused by a cyclone in Myanmar, also known as Burma. ... more -
Red Cross boat sinks in Burma
A Red Cross boat delivering supplies to victims of last weekend's cyclone sank Sunday when it hit debris in the Irrawady Delta region, as the U.S. prepared to deliver relief supplies to Myanmar.
The four relief workers on the double-decker boat were not hurt, said Eric Porterfield with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The boat was carrying rice, water, clothing and other household items.
The boat was traveling from Yangon to Mawlamyinegyun when it sank near Bogalay town, which was extensively damaged by the cyclone, the IFRC said.
"This is a great loss for the Myanmar Red Cross and for the people who need aid so urgently," Aung Kyaw Htut, the distribution team leader for the Myanmar Red Cross, told The Associated Press. A Red Cross boat delivering supplies to victims of last weekend's cyclone sank Sunday when it hit debris in the Irrawady Delta region,... more -
Devastation in Myanmar
The merciless devastation caused by Cyclone Nagis has relegated the already impoverished nation of Myanmar to a state of utter desperation. In dire need of aid the Myanmar government has denied countries and relief organizations access to help its own citizens. The merciless devastation caused by Cyclone Nagis has relegated the already impoverished nation of Myanmar to a state of utter despera... more
-
Afghan prison under Red Cross scrutiny
The Red Cross criticized the way the U.S. handles prisoners at the highly secretive Bagram military base, urging reforms Monday that would allow detainees to introduce testimony in their defense.
The criticism of the prison, which few outsiders have seen, goes to the heart of the system the Bush administration uses to justify holding detainees outside the U.S.
Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said many of the 600-plus detainees at Bagram complain they do not even know why they are being held. Kellenberger spent a half day at the prison during a one-week visit to Afghanistan that ended Monday. The Red Cross criticized the way the U.S. handles prisoners at the highly secretive Bagram military base, urging reforms Monday that w... more -
Saving the Kenyans
The Red Cross struggles to provide food for the hundreds of thousands left homeless and jobless in the wake of Kenya's disputed national elections. The Red Cross struggles to provide food for the hundreds of thousands left homeless and jobless in the wake of Kenya's disputed nation... more
-
At least 300 motorists stranded in snow north of Los Angeles
Jackknifed tractor-trailers Thursday blocked a stretch of Interstate 5 in Southern California, stranding at least 300 people on a snowy mountain pass, the California Highway Patrol said.
Hundreds of vehicles are stuck Thursday near the summit of Tejon Pass, north of Los Angeles.
Emergency crews worked to open the highway for 300 to 400 vehicles traveling north and south on I-5's Tejon Pass near Gorman, said California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Ehly.
The interstate remained shut for 40 miles south of Bakersfield to north of Santa Clarita, Ehly said.
"We've got the Red Cross bringing food for the people in their vehicles," he said, adding that no motorists were in any danger as they waited to resume traveling in six inches of newly fallen snow. Jackknifed tractor-trailers Thursday blocked a stretch of Interstate 5 in Southern California, stranding at least 300 people on a snow... more -
Crisis in Kenya: How YOU Can Help Effect Change
As thousands of residents are displaced and hundreds dead in Kenya following a deadly election dispute, Kenyans face a desperate economic situation and the threat of a food shortage in what aid agencies are calling a humanitarian crisis. It's refreshing to see major news organizations such as CNN offering the public practical, proactive methods for providing aid and relief to the people of Kenya.
Here are some of the ways you can help:
? International Committee of the Red Cross
? The World Food Programme | UNHCR
? Concern | Mercy Corps
? CARE | World Vision As thousands of residents are displaced and hundreds dead in Kenya following a deadly election dispute, Kenyans face a desperate econo... more -
Red Cross Club EMHS
Highschool students donate blood and help communtiy.
-
More weather woes
More than 2,000 travelers are stranded at Red Cross shelters in Colorado due to a threat of avalanche, that closed a stretch of the interstate 70. More than 2,000 travelers are stranded at Red Cross shelters in Colorado due to a threat of avalanche, that closed a stretch of the in... more
-
Where to look for more fire info...
What you need to know:
*
American Red Cross: A service for evacuees to register their status and for loved ones to search for evacuees. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or go to http://disastersafe.redcross.org
*
American Red Cross: Information about relief efforts and resources on the California wildfires. Click this link
*
InciWeb: Reported incidents throughout California culled from a variety of government agencies. http://www.inciweb.org/state/5
*
State of Californias site for useful phone numbers, updates and news releases from the governors office: http://www.calfires.com/
*
San Diego Humane Society & SPCA: http://www.sdhumane.org/
*
Fire weather from the National Weather Service: http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/
*
NOAAWatch page for weather, fire and other information: http://www.noaawatch.gov/
*
CalTrans Highway Conditions: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo
*
Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies:
http://www.firescope.org/
*
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: http://www.fire.ca.gov/
*
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov/
*
National Interagency Coordination Center: http://www.nifc.gov/news/nicc.html
*
National Fire News: http://www.nifc.gov/fire_info/nfn.htm What you need to know: * ... more -
J&J Sues Red Cross for using Red Cross
Johnson & Johnson Inc. sued the Red Cross over using the Red cross they have Trademarked.
-
related topics
Red Cross
Contributors (37)
Red Cross
