Emergency USA

EMERGENCY USA is a USA based organization devoted to the promotion of a culture of solidarity, peace and respect for human rights.
EMERGENCY USA provides support to projects that offer free, high quality medical and surgical treatment for the victims of war and poverty.

Florence 2011 Conference

The atmosphere at the EMERGENCY conference in Florence was infused with the question: “What kind of world do you want?”

Within the conference grounds was a building with a free-standing photo display featuring patients and staff members who participated in the medical programs of EMERGENCY in Italy. 

These photos originated from a documentary that was screened during the conference.  The 30-minute film features interviews and footage of people sharing their stories and dreams, representing a narrative that focuses on the marginalized and immigrant communities in Italy – and explaining the inspiration behind EMERGENCY's initiation of clinical services in Italy.

Behind this photo exhibit, there was a space for conference participants to have their own photos taken against a background of blue sky and clouds, followed by the opportunity to write a little note on the photo in response to the question “What kind of world do you want?”.  

What would you write?  

While trying to think of a way to express my dream of a better world with just a few words, I remembered a thought-provoking comment that I heard the author James Hillman make during a Q & A session after a reading.  In essence: wars will end only when the archetype, or ideal image for a hero is no longer a warrior, but when our heroes are poets, teachers and healers.  

So I wrote a little note to that effect on my photo – “a world where doctors and poets are our heroes”.

This to me is one key illustration of the power and importance of the EMERGENCY narrative.  Healing is given clear priority and a place of honor as beautiful, ethical and valuable – as opposed to the destruction and neglect of lives in war. Very simply, I couldn't agree more.

Dr. Nafisa Abdullah, one of my heroes and a member of the EMERGENCY USA Medical Advisory Council, posing for her photo for the campaign "What world do you want?"

The first formal presentation that I attended was on Thursday the 8th, titled “An F-35 or Kindergarten?”  The theme:  a very frank and detailed examination of the consequences, fiscal and human costs that result from diversion of funds from the care and education of children to weapons. However simplistic this concept is at a glance, it is compelling when given full and tangible form.

The main auditorium of the Palazzo Dei Congressi (building pictured below) seated 1000, and it was filled to near or full capacity during the majority of the conference.

In an adjacent building, on Friday the 9th, there was a breakout session and special meeting of representatives from international groups that are established outside of Italy.  We heard presentations given by E-UK, E-USA, and E-Japan, which are already legally registered charitable entities.  We also heard from representatives from Belgium and Switzerland, groups just beginning to develop capacity for growth and preparing to formalize.  Eric Talbert did a fantastic job of representing E-USA with a presentation featuring an overview of our organization's efforts, and images of smiling E-USA volunteers and descriptions of actions we have taken in 2010 - 2011.  

Highlights: the UK group focused on recruitment of clinical personnel and provided excellent details on the process; the newly formed group from Japan expressed a balance of hope and serious domestic concerns as a consequence of the recent devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami.  The members of the newly formalizing group in Belgium had enjoyed an opportunity for an art event in Brussels that was supported by members of European Parliament, and with a humorous twist, the representative from Switzerland mentioned that there might be the occasional bank account available for fundraising purposes.

During information sessions on Saturday and Sunday, there were frequent mentions of Francesco Azzarà, the EMERGENCY medical logistician who was kidnapped and still held in Nyala, South Darfur. Thoughtful expressions of concern and solidarity with him and his family were frequent.  Often after details were conveyed regarding one of the international programs, the last slide of the presentation featured a photo of clinical staff at the program posing with a banner “Liberate Francesco”.  

There was also a huge banner with Francesco’s image displayed in one of the large public squares in the center of the historic district of Florence.  This was a noteworthy testament to the public concern for his well-being, as well as being an expression of the city’s solidarity and support of EMERGENCY.

Dr. Gino Strada was not physically at the conference due to the need for his attention in Sudan working for Francesco’s release, but he did make a virtual appearance on the stage on a couple of occasions “bigger than life” his face projected on the 20 foot screen broadcast live via internet videoconferencing.  In those moments, in spite of the distance, his presence was fully felt and it was a lift to the spirits to be reminded of his characteristically dry sense of humor and his singular focus on the bottom line as he spoke.  At one point, the conference technical crew had caught him immediately after he had completed a surgery at the Salam Centre so he basically walked into the scene straight from the operating theatre and we had clear sense of his priority, and of "being there" with him.

President of EMERGENCY Cecilia Strada, Vice President Alessandro Bertani, and Humanitarian Office Coordinator Rossella Miccio were on the stage leading and facilitating the presentations.  This was the first time that I was able to meet with Cecilia.  Her presence of mind, her heart and focus on the essence of the organization's ideals, and her character as a leader, were inspiring to witness to say the least.  I am very encouraged to see her influence EMERGENCY's development.

During the very last session of the conference, the microphone was opened to anyone, and amongst those who stood up to share questions and comments, was Dr. Nafisa Abdullah from the E-USA Medical Advisory Council.  She expressed heartfelt appreciation of EMERGENCY in Afghanistan on behalf of the people, especially the women, there.  Eric Talbert also addressed the audience with a message of appreciation and solidarity from the network of volunteers and supporters across the U.S.

Looking back, I notice that many of the attendees that I spoke to expressed a striking balance of pragmatic realism (my hypothesis is that this is related to the full awareness regarding conditions on the ground where EMERGENCY works) combined with motivation to re-imagine current reality and norms. 

The conversation and presentations challenged each person to adopt a calm, consistent and effective stand in questioning the status quo.  The message:  step-by-step, we each increase the stature given to peace and human rights while we dismantle popular acceptance of the violence and neglect of human lives that occurs through investment in war.  We know this message and method well:  dream big, take action in accordance with the values of peace and respect for human dignity, and let the facts speak for themselves.

Anna Gilmore

September 2011

photo credit: Michael Waiwah Shum

Attendees of the conference from the U.S. (left to right): Anna Gilmore, Dr. Nafisa Abdullah, Lynda Harkness, Dr. Ed Newton, Eric Talbert, and from Germany, Dr. Ataullah Zulfacar.