Red Cross what a Pantomine

[Andy H]

A Glasgow theatre has had to change a pantomime costume after being told it was breaking the Geneva Convention.

The dress worn by Nurse Poltis in the Pavilion Theatre production of Robin Hood originally had red crosses on the hat and tunic.

These were changed to green crosses after the British Red Cross informed the theatre it was breaking the law and could face prosecution.

Unauthorised use of the emblem violates the Geneva Conventions Act 1957.

The British Red Cross said it had contacted the Pavilion Theatre over the use of a red cross on a nurse's costume in the pantomime, The Magical Adventures of Robin Hood.

A spokesman for the humanitarian organisation said: "We have no desire to be the villains of the pantomime or to appear heavy handed, but we do have a very serious obligation to protect the Red Cross emblem.

"The emblem is a special sign of neutrality and protection recognised by all sides during armed conflicts.

"Misuse of that emblem - even when done in an innocent and light-hearted manner - has to be addressed. Repeated and widespread misuse of the Red Cross emblem could dilute its neutrality and its ability to protect.

"When we contacted the theatre management, they quickly changed the cross on the nurse's costume to green and we applaud them for that."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...-west-12135540



Well I guess all those childrens nurse uniforms with big Red crosses should destroyed as well. Obviously the Green Cross used all over Europe will be assocaited with evil pantomine nurses. Kids will be screaming in fear as they approach the house of the Green Cross.

Fancy wording 'ability to protect and dilute its neutrality' Do they really forsee this being an actual issue in the real world? If they do I would like to see some evidence to back up this absurd claim

that emoticon is offensive to donkeys

Regards

[Silent Hunter]

Originally Posted by Andy H

Fancy wording 'ability to protect and dilute its neutrality' Do they really forsee this being an actual issue in the real world? If they do I would like to see some evidence to back up this absurd claim

The argument is that people who might see the Red Cross as a belligerent force if they see the symbol associated with combat medics or a similar armed force, which might make Red Cross aid workers targets in a war (something similar has happened in Afghanistan where aid given out by US soldiers has made it harder for groups like MSF to operate).

An ICRC article on it here.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations do this a fair bit; Half-Life 2 had a complaint made against it, as did the James Bond film The Living Daylights (which had a disclaimer to some of the video releases) where the Red Cross is used to hide opium shipments.

It's their trademarked symbol, they're legally entitled to do this. May not seem fair, but there's a reason for it.

[copenhagen]

Originally Posted by Andy H

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...-west-12135540



Well I guess all those childrens nurse uniforms with big Red crosses should destroyed as well. Obviously the Green Cross used all over Europe will be assocaited with evil pantomine nurses. Kids will be screaming in fear as they approach the house of the Green Cross.

Fancy wording 'ability to protect and dilute its neutrality' Do they really forsee this being an actual issue in the real world? If they do I would like to see some evidence to back up this absurd claim

that emoticon is offensive to donkeys

Regards

They better be getting on to Anne Summers then!

[Andy H]

Hi SH

I fully understand the real world implications but are you telling me that a nurse wearing a red cross in a childs pantomine will undermine the role of the Red Cross in its wider role!

I credit the public with more intelligence than the Red Cross on this matter.

Its news to me that the Red Cross is protcted as a Trademark symbol of the Red Cross!

Regards

[Silent Hunter]

Originally Posted by Andy H

Hi SH

I fully understand the real world implications but are you telling me that a nurse wearing a red cross in a childs pantomine will undermine the role of the Red Cross in its wider role!

I credit the public with more intelligence than the Red Cross on this matter.

Its news to me that the Red Cross is protcted as a Trademark symbol of the Red Cross!

Regards

No, it probably wouldn't.

[Miss Saigon]

I wonder how much time they have spent suing sex shops and the makers of Halloween costumes?

[Silent Hunter]

Discussing this on another forum, it was commented that Jim Davison was probably a bigger violation of the Geneva Conventions...