The International Committee of The Red Cross (ICRC): Universal Story Generator and Community Hero. Vision from Willi Paul, Mythologist and Planetshifter.com

"The highest concern of all the mythologies, ceremonials, ethical systems, and social organizations of the agriculturally based societies has ever been that of suppressing the manifestations of individualism; and this has been generally achieved by compelling or persuading people to identify themselves not with their own interests, intuitions, or modes of experience, but with archetypes of behavior and systems of sentiment developed and maintained in the public domain."

Source: Joseph Campbell in his essay "Symbol Without Meaning" in The Flight of the Wild Gander, (2018, 130)

Hey Willi, check out the first principle (from Sharing Cities), 'Solidarity', which talks about the Community as Hero:

Solidarity. Sharing Cities represents a revived story about cities that recognizes community as the heroic protagonist in urban transformation. Aristotle, the leading philosopher during Athens' golden age, believed that the city existed for the well-being of its people. In this story, people work together for the common good rather than compete for scarce resources. This age-old wisdom challenges popular narratives that portray high technology and competitive markets as heroes in the story of cities. A Sharing City is of, by and for all people no matter their race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. In other words, Sharing Cities are primarily civic, with residents focused on taking care of each other, their city, and partner cities too. Their primary function is to produce residents capable of working together for the common good, the foundational skill that makes all other things possible in society. Looking forward, and to paraphrase the Buddhist monk Thích Nhât Hanh, the next Buddha will be community. A multitude of loving, human-scale communities managed by capable residents is how we'll protect all life on earth. The solution is us.

Source : Peter Ruddock, Transition Palo Alto
11 core principles for Sharing Cities

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Since 1863, the Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been to protect and assist victims of armed conflict and promote understanding and respect for international humanitarian law. As an independent, neutral organization, the ICRC has a permanent mandate under international law to take impartial action for prisoners, the wounded and sick, and civilians affected by conflict, including:

+ Visiting prisoners of war and civilian detainees to monitor their treatment and conditions

+ Educating military personnel and armed groups about their obligations under international humanitarian law

+ Exchanging messages between members of families separated by armed conflict

+ Helping discover the fate of missing family members

+ Providing medical assistance for war wounded, displaced people and others

+ Providing emergency relief such as water, sanitation, food and shelter

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The Seven ICRC fundamental principles:

Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality: these seven Fundamental Principles provide an ethical, operational and institutional framework to the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. They are at the core of its approach to helping people in need during armed conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies.

These principles unite the components of the Movement – the ICRC, the National Societies and the International Federation – and are key to its distinct identity. Adherence to these principles ensures the humanitarian nature of the Movement's work and brings consistency to the broad range of activities it undertakes around the world.

Humanity
The Red Cross, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors-in its international and national capacity-to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Impartiality
It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality
In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Red Cross may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Independence
The Red Cross is independent. The national societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with Red Cross principles.

Voluntary Service
The Red Cross is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Unity
There can be only one Red Cross society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Universality
The Red Cross is a worldwide institution in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other.

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A Current Story from the ICRC Community:

Damascus (ICRC) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is calling for restraint and access to the wounded after the deadly escalation of fighting that has hit Damascus in recent days. "The fighting appears likely to cause much more suffering in the days and weeks ahead, and our teams need to be allowed to enter Eastern Ghouta to aid the wounded," said Marianne Gasser, the ICRC's head of delegation in Syria. The medical personnel in Eastern Ghouta can't cope with the high number of injuries. The area does not have enough medicines and supplies, especially after medical facilities were reported to have been hit.

"Wounded victims are dying only because they cannot be treated in time. In some areas of Ghouta, entire families have no safe place to go," Ms Gasser said. "On the other side of the front line, people in Damascus are in constant fear that their children will be hit by falling mortars. This is madness and it has to stop. Civilians must not be targeted."

The ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent accessed Eastern Ghouta in December to facilitate the evacuation of 29 wounded patients. The ICRC's last humanitarian aid delivery to Eastern Ghouta took place in November.

Source

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We can no longer count on and promote individuals in local or global issues no matter the struggle or the ally. As in the ICRC model, teams of experts and volunteers are required to support communities besieged by flooding, fires and war. As we support movement away from Campbell's allegiance to the individual as hero, we can also benefit from adding resilience to Campbell's four functions of mythology. Who can argue that building resilience is not a community challenge; not a job for solo actors.

Survival - not of the fittest, but as a community - is now prime. The ICRC enters the conflict and shares the initiation, journey and community hero role. It is the community in chaos and then in post-crisis and recovery that matters.

The seven ICRC fundamental principles, including humanity, independence and universality, support community stories and the community as hero.

Recall: It takes a village?

Let's leave the self-serving, individual hero bombasts to the Hollywood myth machine.

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