Friday, October 29, 2010

The Man Behind the Red: Henry Dunant



This Saturday will mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Henry Dunant, who won the first ever Nobel Peace Prize for his role in starting the Red Cross movement.
Henry was a complex guy. He had great ideas (and a great beard), but apparently not so great business sense and not so great social skills, which is why - I'm sorry to say - he ended up dying pretty sad and lonely.

But now, 100 years later, the small town where he spent the last quarter of his life is paying him tribute. This TIME Magazine article gives a fascinating look into the man, his work, and the last place he called home.

P.S. Read all the way to the last paragraph. Pretty cool coincidence, huh?
            

Dunant Yourself!


Chances are, if you remember nothing else about Red Cross founder Henry Dunant, you'll remember his beard

Man, could that guy grow a killer beard. 

And now - thanks to the DunantMyself web app from the Austrian Red Cross - you, too, can have your own awesome Dunant beard! How awesome is that!

So Dunant Yourself in honor of the 100th anniversary of his death. Yes, it's goofy. That's what's great about it. It's a ridiculous(ly awesome) way to show your support for the Red Cross/Red Crescent humanitarian movement. You can even post the photo directly to facebook!

I dare you to make it your profile pic. Also thanks to our friends at the Oregon Red Cross Chapter for sharing this!