This week the red cross focused on disease/sickness prevention, home fires, and disaster preparation.The organization made posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and more. One especially appealing post was the following photo:
“25 years ago, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook Northern California to its core. Amid confusion, hunger and sorrow, over 69,000 people turned to the American Red Cross. Learn more about the response and preparing for the next emergency on redcross.org:http://rdcrss.org/1CwIkMS”
This post put the Red Cross in a positive light. The image of a worker providing aid for a relief worker established a sense of credibility. This makes me believe in the integrity of the work that the organization does, and works to persuade potential donors. The supporting text relies heavily on pathos with word choices like “confusion, hunger, and sorrow.” These words emphasize the severity of the situation, and why the Red Cross’ involvement was so important. The inclusion of the number 69,000 further establishes logos and credibility. The fact that so many people turned to the Red Cross for help portrays the importance of the work that the organization does.
Care discussed World Food Day, their Share A Meal campaign, Ebola, domestic violence, Syria, and more. Many of the organization’s Facebook and Twitter posts this week were especially appealing. One super interesting post was this one:
“The air turns chilly in the US and talk of pumpkin spice lattes is on the rise, but in #Syria, where #refugees are without power or shelter, the cold can be life-threatening. http://shout.lt/HJqg“
This post is filled with interesting rhetorical approaches. The reference to Pumpkin Spice Lattes is great, and appeals to a wide range of people in the potential audience. The drink is popular among Americans, and its growing popularity is real. The contrast between something as unimportant as a caffeinated drink and life-threatening living conditions overseas makes the reader feel almost uncomfortable and achieves the purpose of emphasizing the severity of the situation in Syria. The post mentions that many live without power or shelter, and this is bound to capture the attention of anyone lucky enough to have stable living conditions. The phrase “the air turns chilly” paints a picture of fall in the United States, and evokes a sense of comfort as well as appealing to the senses. The link to he article at the end provides the reader with more information and establishes even more credibility for CARE.
Doctors without Borders focused on Ebola, malnutrition, and South Sudan. Utilizing Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, the non-profit made many touching posts this week, especially regarding Ebola. One post was a stand out:
“Kollie James is the 1,000th #survivor of #Ebola treated by #MSF and has now been discharged from the treatment centre in #Foya, #Liberia. He said to his #father upon leaving the centre, “Pa, I am well”. Kollie and his father Alexander, an MSF healthcare worker, survived the infection but, tragically, #Ebola took the lives of his mother, uncle and two sisters who were unable to receive treatment in time. Among the 4,500 patients #MSF has admitted to its care centres in West Africa, more than 2,700 were confirmed as having #Ebola. Despite all the loss and suffering caused by this disease, we are now able to celebrate the 1,000th survivor.”
This post appeals strong to pathos/ emotion. This young man has recovered from a terrible, life-threatening virus. You can see the gratefulness in his eyes. The post includes figures that put the work of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) into perspective. Kollie is the 1,000th survivor of Ebola, among the 4,500 Ebola patients the organization has treated. The presence of such large numbers emphasizes the large amount of work the organization is doing. The fact that Kollie has family members that died from the virus shows how lucky he is to have survived, all thanks to Doctors Without Borders.
Humanitarian Awareness 