Laura Walker McDonald

We are appalled to learn of the killing of Hussein Hasan Hussein Al-Sumairy – a Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) first responder – in Khan Younis earlier today. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Hussein’s family, colleagues and friends.Hussein was killed in Khan Younis while on duty and providing medical services in response to escalating hostilities. PRCS provides essential support to communities in Gaza, particularly in emergency medical services. It is unacceptable that first responders in Gaza continue to face risk to their lives while carrying out a humanitarian mission. It is an outrage that so many staff and volunteers of the PRCS and other first responders have been killed and injured while providing their services since the escalation of armed conflict in Gaza began in October 2023. Medical personnel, units and transport, as well as humanitarian workers and objects used for humanitarian operations must be respected and protected. All feasible steps must be taken to support their work and ensure their safety.

📍 Gaza | We share our heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of Hussein Hasan Hussein Al-Sumairy, who was killed today while providing emergency medical service in Khan Yunis.

Medical personnel and humanitarian workers must be able to carry out their work safely.

No no no. Catherine O’Hara. 💔

The casual violence of Teams only recommending positive answers to tasking requests

Intercross: The Podcast Closes, The Conversation Continues Podcast Episode · Intercross: The Podcast · 12/18/2025 · 9m

If you haven’t already, go back and listen to the ICRC’s Intercross podcast, whose final episode is available today - and is a fantastic trailer for the series. Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure, it’s a rare look behind the scenes of the ICRC’s work.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

📣 Last call for applications! More info ↓

Sometimes a TV show or a movie that's intended to be satirical hits like a tragedy because it's too real.

For me, the IT Crowd is that show.

With that caveat, and a quizzical eye re: CSI:Cyber as @thegrugq.bsky.social notes, endorse this list of hacker movies and shows github.com/k4m4/movies-...

YouTube video by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) How should the Geneva Conventions be interpreted in today’s wars?

@icrc.org has updated our Commentary to the Fourth Geneva Convention, translating 1949 protections into today’s realities.
Protecting civilians in the hands of the enemy, in occupied territory - the 4th Geneva Convention remains more relevant than ever.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXd41pXzQuY

Deep State Radio is carrying ICE recruitment ads. Questionable targeting abounds

Interesting! But on the RCT design: will households who get cash spread benefits with neighbors? If they don't, some preparedness activities won't be possible without tackling risk community-wide. Hope the report is released @give-directly.bsky.social...

A Liver on Ice How a liver goes from a brain-dead donor to a living recipient.

This liver transplant journey from @asimovpress.bsky.social is absolutely fascinating and beautifully written: www.asimov.press/p/liver

Public interest tech leaders: check out this opportunity to lead Upturn, a wonderful organization that is doing critical work monitoring and advocating for better use of tech by the state in the US. #jobs @harlanyu.bsky.social congratulations on your tenure! Look forward to hearing what you do next!

YouTube video by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) ‘Power without conscience’ is a warning we can’t ignore

That week, our Chief Legal Officer Cordula Droege intervened at the UN Security Council on this very topic. Watch her intervention here www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO8f... and read it here www.icrc.org/en/statement...

Wartime Kill Switch: Human or AI? - Open to Debate As modern warfare becomes increasingly automated and reliant on artificial intelligence, the question of who, or what, should have ultimate control over lethal decision-making systems has never been m...

It was a privilege to represent the @icrc.org debating the role & limits of human agency in AI-enabled warfare with @opentodebate.bsky.social last month. We took a scary, heady topic out of boomer/doomer hype and into practical opportunities & challenges opentodebate.org/debate/warti...

Finally watching Downton Abbey so that I can take my grandmother-in-law to the movies and now I say things like 'are you on the telephone'.

Today! See you at noon.

Conflict Is Necessary At Work... Really with Amy Gallo Podcast Episode · The Anxious Achiever · 09/25/2025 · 40m

I needed to listen to this excellent podcast episode today: on the productive discomfort of conflict at work. Encouraging to think it can strengthen relationships! Thanks @morra.bsky.social

Joining SCSP's Jeanne Meserve and a fantastic panel at next week's AI Unlocked event to share the ICRC's views on the opportunities and risks of AI in crises, including conflicts. Friday 3rd, 12pm, Alamo Drafthouse theater 3 in Crystal City. Come and say hi! www.scsp.ai/ai-unlocked

When Africa’s internet breaks, this ship answers the call Undersea internet cables are critical in today’s hyperconnected world. The crew of the Léon Thévenin maintains one stretch of this global network.

Fantastic glimpse into life on board an undersea cable repair ship from @restofworld.org restofworld.org/2025/africa-...

The latest episode of the ICRC's InterCross blog breaks down the principles that guide humanitarian action, with interviews with the Washington delegation's leadership team and Paul Spiegel @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social. traffic.libsyn.com/d19a74fa-ef4... congrats to @dbonessi.bsky.social!

Croissants in America are just bread in shapes. It’s a hard lesson every time. 🥐

I built a Mastodon bot that reports on Covid wastewater levels, which gives me weekly updates on how cautious to be depending on where I'm going. It turns out that @wvgg.co ported it to Bluesky and improved it, with twice weekly updates! Insta-follow for me. Recommended.

ICRC president: Mass evacuation of Gaza City unfeasible and incomprehensible

Here is the ICRC’s latest statement on the situation in Gaza. www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...

This was a really sobering rundown on the current humanitarian situation in Gaza. As measured as possible, and you can hear the self-control that required.

Humanity @ War: Using AI in Armed Conflict Podcast Episode · Intercross: The Podcast · 08/28/2025 · 19m

Does artificial intelligence make wars better or worse? At the SCSP AI Expo in June, we asked Mark Montgomery at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and his answers may surprise you. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... #autonomy #UAVs #humanitarian

Hey, as a librarian I need to tell you:

Our funding depends on usage.

So go ahead and check out that book even if you don't think you'll finish it. No one will know. Check out that DVD even though you might not like it. Get ambitious in your quest for knowledge.

Governing Space Settlements Ethically with Erika Nesvold Podcast Episode · Chatter · 09/28/2023 · 1h 31m

Discovered the @lawfaremedia.org Chatter podcast recently. Their thread of space settlement episodes is food for my little nerd heart. This one is at the sweet spot of my profession and my geekiness: Governing Space Settlements Ethically with @erikanesvold.com podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Beyond the Forecast: American Red Cross on the Hurricane Front Lines - Intercross: The Podcast Today we’re doing something different on the podcast. We’re going to hear from our colleagues at the American Red Cross about their disaster relief response efforts in times of hurricanes. Experts…

It's a privilege to work at the ICRC, but the volunteer-driven, community help that a National Society provides is beautiful. Catch this great InterCross episode on American Red Cross' disaster response work.
blogs.icrc.org/intercross/2... #DisasterResponse #RedCross #FirstResponders

Politico reporting in their Playbook newsletter on July 3 2025 that ‘polling and strategy firm JL Partners asked 1000 US voters if they support or oppose replacing the current president of the United States with the British monarch. The survey found 19% supported the idea, with 48% opposed and the rest on the fence.

1 in 5 Americans open to the idea of the British King as their head of state.

We knew they’d be back eventually.

They’ve got the wristwatches, we’ve got Greenwich Mean Time.

Offline and in danger: the humanitarian consequences of connectivity disruptions ICRC Protection Specialist Cléa Thouin addresses the humanitarian consequences of connectivity disruptions in armed conflicts.

We all depend on connectivity - calls, texts, radio, internet: if those lifelines are cut in a crisis, how would you reach your loved ones? Get help? Find out where is safe? ICRC colleague Clea Thouin on these impacts for people affected by armed conflict. blogs.icrc.org/law-and-poli...

Out of space: Picturing the big, crowded business of satellite internet Space-based internet is remaking Earth’s orbit — and fueling a gold rush.

Great visual piece from @restofworld.org on our increasingly cluttered low earth orbit, #satellite internet and the price of connectivity in less-connected countries.