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Henri Dunant, first winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and subject of countless biographies is perhaps best known for his work in establishing the Red Cross. As a volunteer for that organization, I could extol you all day on the merits of it. Rather, I would prefer to look at Dunant's other great legacy - the Geneva Convention.
The Crimean War was making people aware of the atrocities that war could include. 12 Nations sat down to codify a system of rules for armed engagements, which to this day most countries still abide by (or have at least agreed to). The entire contents are enclosed below:
Spoiler
Article 1. Ambulances and military hospitals shall be recognized as neutral, and as such, protected and respected by the belligerents as long as they accommodate wounded and sick. Neutrality shall end if the said ambulances or hospitals should be held by a military force.
Art. 2. Hospital and ambulance personnel, including the quarter-master's staff, the medical, administrative and transport services, and the chaplains, shall have the benefit of the same neutrality when on duty, and while there remain any wounded to be brought in or assisted.
Art. 3. The persons designated in the preceding Article may, even after enemy occupation, continue to discharge their functions in the hospital or ambulance with which they serve, or may withdraw to rejoin the units to which they belong. When in these circumstances they cease from their functions, such persons shall be delivered to the enemy outposts by the occupying forces.
Art. 4. The material of military hospitals being subject to the laws of war, the persons attached to such hospitals may take with them, on withdrawing, only the articles which are their own personal property. Ambulances, on the contrary, under similar circumstances, shall retain their equipment.
Art. 5. Inhabitants of the country who bring help to the wounded shall be respected and shall remain free. Generals of the belligerent Powers shall make it their duty to notify the inhabitants of the appeal made to their humanity, and of the neutrality which humane conduct will confer. The presence of any wounded combatant receiving shelter and care in a house shall ensure its protection. An inhabitant who has given shelter to the wounded shall be exempted from billeting and from a portion of such war contributions as may be levied.
Art. 6. Wounded or sick combatants, to whatever nation they may belong, shall be collected and cared for. Commanders-in-Chief may hand over immediately to the enemy outposts enemy combatants wounded during an engagement, when circumstances allow and subject to the agreement of both parties. Those who, after their recovery, are recognized as being unfit for further service, shall be repatriated. The others may likewise be sent back, on condition that they shall not again, for the duration of hostilities, take up arms. Evacuation parties, and the personnel conducting them, shall be considered as being absolutely neutral.
Art. 7. A distinctive and uniform flag shall be adopted for hospitals, ambulances and evacuation parties. It should in all circumstances be accompanied by the national flag. An armlet may also be worn by personnel enjoying neutrality but its issue shall be left to the military authorities. Both flag and armlet shall bear a red cross on a white ground.
Art. 8. The implementing of the present Convention shall be arranged by the Commanders-in-Chief of the belligerent armies following the instructions of their respective Governments and in accordance with the general principles set forth in this Convention.
Art. 9. The High Contracting Parties have agreed to communicate the present Convention with an invitation to accede thereto to Governments unable to appoint Plenipotentiaries to the International Conference at Geneva. The Protocol has accordingly been left open.
Art. 10. The present Convention shall be ratified and the ratifications exchanged at Berne, within the next four months, or sooner if possible.
In faith whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the Convention and thereto affixed their seals.
Done at Geneva, this twenty-second day of August, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
(Here follow signatures)
Art. 2. Hospital and ambulance personnel, including the quarter-master's staff, the medical, administrative and transport services, and the chaplains, shall have the benefit of the same neutrality when on duty, and while there remain any wounded to be brought in or assisted.
Art. 3. The persons designated in the preceding Article may, even after enemy occupation, continue to discharge their functions in the hospital or ambulance with which they serve, or may withdraw to rejoin the units to which they belong. When in these circumstances they cease from their functions, such persons shall be delivered to the enemy outposts by the occupying forces.
Art. 4. The material of military hospitals being subject to the laws of war, the persons attached to such hospitals may take with them, on withdrawing, only the articles which are their own personal property. Ambulances, on the contrary, under similar circumstances, shall retain their equipment.
Art. 5. Inhabitants of the country who bring help to the wounded shall be respected and shall remain free. Generals of the belligerent Powers shall make it their duty to notify the inhabitants of the appeal made to their humanity, and of the neutrality which humane conduct will confer. The presence of any wounded combatant receiving shelter and care in a house shall ensure its protection. An inhabitant who has given shelter to the wounded shall be exempted from billeting and from a portion of such war contributions as may be levied.
Art. 6. Wounded or sick combatants, to whatever nation they may belong, shall be collected and cared for. Commanders-in-Chief may hand over immediately to the enemy outposts enemy combatants wounded during an engagement, when circumstances allow and subject to the agreement of both parties. Those who, after their recovery, are recognized as being unfit for further service, shall be repatriated. The others may likewise be sent back, on condition that they shall not again, for the duration of hostilities, take up arms. Evacuation parties, and the personnel conducting them, shall be considered as being absolutely neutral.
Art. 7. A distinctive and uniform flag shall be adopted for hospitals, ambulances and evacuation parties. It should in all circumstances be accompanied by the national flag. An armlet may also be worn by personnel enjoying neutrality but its issue shall be left to the military authorities. Both flag and armlet shall bear a red cross on a white ground.
Art. 8. The implementing of the present Convention shall be arranged by the Commanders-in-Chief of the belligerent armies following the instructions of their respective Governments and in accordance with the general principles set forth in this Convention.
Art. 9. The High Contracting Parties have agreed to communicate the present Convention with an invitation to accede thereto to Governments unable to appoint Plenipotentiaries to the International Conference at Geneva. The Protocol has accordingly been left open.
Art. 10. The present Convention shall be ratified and the ratifications exchanged at Berne, within the next four months, or sooner if possible.
In faith whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the Convention and thereto affixed their seals.
Done at Geneva, this twenty-second day of August, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
(Here follow signatures)
- Click image to enlarge.
There are and have been many criticisms of the Convention. According to the Wikipedia article:
In the modern era, since the Geneva Conventions do not apply to Civil Wars, they are of questionable influence. Once again, the wars in the Crimea raise questions about the atrocities of war.Despite its intent of ameliorating the ravages of war, the inception of the 1864 Geneva Convention inaugurated "a renewal of military activity on a large scale, to which the people of western Europe…had not been accustomed since the first Napoleon had been eliminated."
As we play our war games, it helps that we only have to watch the numbers tick down. If instead of numbers, those were our soldiers, or conscripted slaves, or insect aliens it would be pretty disheartening. Let us remember that while
it is also true thatGenghis Khan wrote:A man's greatest pleasure is to defeat his enemies... to hold their wives and daughters in his arms
Since there were 12 signatories, there are 12 players. The map is from the era shortly after Geneva Convention went into practice. (Unification Germany would have been better but it's too small for 12 players). The Zombie spoils will represent POW camps. Reinforcements are unlimited, which won't matter early on, but will ensure a great late game. Note the new scoring system! Due to the longer nature of the games, I have opened the completion window for an extra month.Sir Winston Churchill wrote:When You Have To Kill A Man It Costs Nothing To Be Polite
NO SIGN-UPS REQUIRED - Everyone is eligible!
To sign up all you need to do is join and win at least one game started between August 1 and August 31 with the following settings:
Settings
Maps: Eastern Hemisphere
Players per game: 12 (Twelve)
Game Type: Standard
Initial Troops: Automatic
Round Limit: Any
Play Order: Sequential
Spoils: Zombie
Reinforcements: Unlimited
Special Gameplay: Fog of War (Trench Optional)
Round Length: Casual or speed
Medal Criteria
You need at least 300 points for the Challenge Achievement Medal
If you play 24 games or less then:
Each join (bronze token) is worth 1 point
Each win (gold token) is worth 100 points
If you play 25 games or more then:
Each join (bronze token) is worth 1 points
Each win (gold token) is worth 10 points
The settings that must be present are Eastern Hemisphere, 12 player standard, Foggy, Zombie, Unlimited, automatic, sequential
Please double check and make sure you have all these settings set.
The other settings are open.
Wins will still be counted until October 31.
Notes
- Games must start between CC Time: 2014-08-01 00:00:00 and CC Time: 2014-08-31 23:59:59 to be considered for the Challenge.
- Any issues will be solved by me, DoomYoshi and my word is final.
I just make my own games, they'll fill quickly with a bunch of people that also don't like playing against them...
