Red Cross marks anniversary

Today is the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, and the Red Cross is planning to mark the occasion by offering a free International humanitarian law class from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 21.

The class will be taught by Kathryn Hope and Pam Alesky of Washington, D.C.

The Geneva Conventions protect noncombatants, including wounded, sick or imprisoned military personnel, in time of war.

“The Red Cross has an obligation to inform the American public about the important role the Red Cross plays in the Geneva conventions, as far as disseminating information, and teaching people what the Geneva Conventions are all about,” said Rob Waterhouse, executive director of the Loess Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross. “Human beings in a time of war have certain rights.”

The four-hour class is designed for the layperson, Waterhouse said. “It just gives average folks a basic understanding of what the Geneva Conventions are about, and how it applies to civilian populations in time of war.

The class will be held at the Loess Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St., Council Bluffs. It is free and open to the public. People interested in registering for the class should call 712-322-4017.