The Northern Light is… … a monthly update to keep our valued volunteers of the Canadian Red Cross and partners informed on what’s new in the Northern District of Nova Scotia, serving the counties of Colchester, Cumberland, Pictou, Antigonish and Guysborough! If you have any articles or news you would like us to include contact us at (902) 895-3894, or fax (902) 895-3860. Deadline is the last Monday of every month.

There maybe a third sibling in the Red Cross family, but…. There’s still only one MISSION

Canadian Red Cross welcomes the Red Crystal

O ttawa, December 8, 2005 - The Canadian Red Cross welcomes today’s decision at a Diplomatic Conference in Switzerland to adopt a Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, thereby creating an additional emblem for use by the International

Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Over 190 countries currently use either the red cross or the red crescent emblems. However, these emblems are sometimes perceived as having religious, cultural or political connotations. This has affected respect for the emblems, especially in certain conflict situa-tions, and has diminished the protection the emblems offer to victims, humanitarian and medical personnel. In addition, some countries would like to use other emblems, or both the red crescent and red cross emblems together. This was not possible under the terms of the Geneva Conventions and the statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The additional emblem, to be known as the Red Crystal, will appear as a red frame in the shape of a square on edge, on a white back-ground. The red crystal is perceived to be free from any religious, political, ethnic or other connotation. It will have the same status as the existing red cross and red crescent emblems recognized by the Geneva Conventions. It is hoped that the adoption of the red crystal as an additional emblem of the Movement will help to increase respect for the emblem, increasing the protection that it offers. The adoption of an additional emblem also paves the way for the admission of certain Na-tional Societies, such as the Magen David Adom of Israel and the Palestine Red Crescent Society, into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Canadian Red Cross has actively supported efforts of the Standing Commission of Red Cross and Red Crescent, the ICRC and the International Federation over the past several years to achieve a lasting solution to this complex issue. We are pleased with the resolution, and welcome the additional emblem.

Looking for additional info?

Follow these links on the World Wide Web

www.redcross.ca www.ifrc.org www.icrc.org

Truro Social Pg 2.

Amherst Social Pg 3.

Loan totals Pg 4.

Fund Raising Pg 5.

Events Calendar Pg 6.

pictured first page, bottom right corner left - Gloria Demers right - Annette McPhee

Heidi Reta Don Heather Smith Halverson Marks Marks

Martin Cerys Mona Fisher Fisher O’Brien

T he Truro Service Center held their Volunteer Social night on December 8th. The evening was a great success with many of the area’s volunteers attending. There was a potluck dinner and

many pictures taken for the archives. Volunteers were treated to a year in review video / photo montage produced by Martin fishers.

"W hen humanity finally learns to control the elements ... When the winds will be quiet and the earth cannot be torn apart ...

When there will be no loneliness ... ... no destitution ... ... no war ... When the last hungry man, woman or child is fed ... ... Only then will there be no need for the Red Cross." - Albert Schweitzer

Helen Menzies

from left - Peter Melanson Theresa Melanson

Gerard Cooke Wanda Fullerton

Joshua Lohnes

From left Muriel Gray @ desk Wanda Fullerton Theresa Melanson

T he Christmas Social in Amherst was held Dec 14th at which time, volunteers and staff all got together to have a pot luck supper.

Even though the weather was not the best, there was a great turn of about 20 volunteers.

What you would get Training course to write the RAC exam Free exam Free Radio Callsign All we need to know is how many people would be inter-ested for course numbers.

T he Truro Amateur Radio Club would like to offer our volun-

teers a free opportunity to gain an Amateur Radio License which would be extremely valuable during times of disaster.

Contact Martin @ 895 3894

V olunteer opportunities at the Truro and Amherst Service centers. If you have 2 hours per week to

spare on a weekday morning or afternoon and would like to get involved in the HELP program we would love to hear from you. Contact: (Truro) Martin 895-3894 (Amherst) Angie 667-8794

S tudents at the Redcliffe middle school in Truro have been pre-

sented with a banner in appreciation for all their work in raising money for Tsunami relief. Money collected by schools participating in the fundraiser has amounted to getting over one million kilos of supplies to needed Tsunami effected communities. Thank You students and schools that participated, your kind-ness is truly making a difference.

visit - www.redcross.ca/tsunami for more details

- Left to right - Norma Shaw - Red Cross; Alan Kennedy - Principal at Redcliffe Middle school; Heather Patriarche - Red Cross

We need Your Help!

Northern Statistics - December totals

Loans 121

Returns 115

Transactions 236

Clients 108

Donations 61

Total Donations $2252

S tudents from the Nova Scotia Community College in Stellarton raised money for hurricane Katrina

victims. The school raised $1055.60 for the Red Cross relief fund. Begun by human services at the college, the fundraiser grew quickly to involve the entire campus.

- Left to right - Joyce Campbell - Red Cross; Sara Langille - Human Services student; Margaret Aucoin - Instructor; Shan-non Shirduk - Student; Joyce Chiasson - Red Cross

International Development Week

W hat is International Development Week: International Development Week is held during the first week of February. International

Development Week is an occasion to celebrate Canadians making a difference in the world. This event provides Canadians with a great opportunity to increase awareness of what role they play in the field of international development, learn more about life in developing countries, and also find out what they can do to become involved in international development. Who can participate: The great thing about this is everyone and anyone can participate. You and people around you can organize activities to do around your region. To all youths out there, you can get involved too in international development. There are even sites that were specially made for you. youth zone site - www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/youthzone.htm butterfly208 site - www.bp208.ca/main.php Where is more information held: For more information on what is going on in your community check your local newspaper. Knowing and understanding the development issues is the first step to making a difference.

by Ashley Childs

Red Cross volunteer Truro Grade 10

Jan 9th ERT Team Meeting Colchester County Truro Service Center 6:30pm guest - Dominic Fewer of EMO N.S. Jan 10th ERT Team Meeting Pictou County (location to be announced) 6:30pm guest - from Salvation Army Jan 31st ERT Team Meeting Cumberland County (Amherst) (location TBA) 6:30pm

ERT Meeting TRURO

ERT Meeting PICTOU

ERT Meeting AMHERST

! Here’s a calendar for you to use, just print and cut !