love vs hate

Who hasn't sat on a terrace on a summer day and ordered a fresh Coca Cola? Unmistakable symbol, originally made of red letters on a white background, with writing similar to handwriting. Invented as a medicinal drink by a pharmacist, John Pemberton, of Atlanta, Georgia. The name, label and advertising was developed by Frank Mason Robinsonthat he saw in the repetition of the letter C( oca) C( hello) and in that type of writing in red, the best call to attention for the product. And so over time, either with red letters and white background or with red background and white letters, it became a strong and recognized symbol around the world!

Coca Cola, simply or Coca Cola with a slice of lemon and ice cubes, making our memories fly, for long, hot and thirsty summer days! A drink of extremes, which is Adored by the majority, adults and children or Hated by a minority!

Red conveys this duality between; passion, energy, sexual desire and glamor (heart color); and power, danger, violence and war (the color of blood and fire). Because it symbolizes contradictory and extreme emotions, it is said to be the most emotionally intense color!

This color stimulates the nervous system and circulatory system. In this way, an environment with an excess of red can cause us restlessness, nervousness, some mental confusion. It is said of someone choleric: “I was red with anger!”.

The color red is also associated with bohemia, fun and sin, being used in brothels over time. It is also the color of danger, of prohibition!

In the beginning, the chromatic system referred only to the Black, White and Red triad. White represented what was colorless, Black what was dirty, and Red was considered the “only color.” Red had several shades and were used for different purposes.

The red color dates back to pre-history, originating from clay, and humans covered their bodies, leaving their skin painted in that color. This color appears in the year 15,000 BC, in cave paintings in the caves of Altamira, Santillana Del Mar, Cantabria, Spain. In the Neolithic, the garance herb appeared, having a root that produces a red color and was later removed from metals and mercury. However, in the Middle Ages, this red obtained in this way was less luminous and cheaper. People used it. While the red then discovered, extracted from the eggs of the insect: cochonilla, gave a brighter, more luminous and intense pigment, the "Carmine" but, which due to its origin and extraction became expensive, thus starting to be used by the aristocracy and by the Church, from the century. XIII/XIV (Pope and Cardinals) and therefore, to symbolize Power. However, the duality of color remains, as in the images attributed to the representation of the “Devil”, this appears, always colored in red.

In painting, red became a popular color in the 19th century. XX, being commercialized from 1910, having been Henry Matisse, the first recognized painter to use it.

In the Western world, red is associated with luxury, parties and shows. Who doesn't know the red curtains of theaters?... and above all, it touches us in a special way, with regard to family and traditional festivities, because together with green, it constitutes the color par excellence, of Christmas!

I will leave you this week with a historical curiosity, which unfortunately due to the current situation in Europe, is again very present: The color red, in a cross, at least for the elderly, immediately reminds us of issues related to health and for humanitarian purposes, as it represents the Red Cross (red cross, on a white background), whether Portuguese or international. It is defined as a non-governmental organization that works to defend people in vulnerable situations caused by armed conflicts. It was founded by a Swiss businessman, Henri Dunant, in 1863, who was shocked by the death of a battle that took place in 1859, in Italy, for the unification of this country, against the French, Battle of Solferino. In 1864, members of the then-formed Red Cross sent invitations to various European governments, the United States, Mexico and Brazil, so that the first humanitarian determinations in history could be defined in this matter. From this broad reflection, which took place in Geneva, the city where the aforementioned businessman resided, the “Geneva Convention for the improvement of conditions for wounded in the armed forces” was born, constituting this document as the first safeguard for the protection of doctors who acted in a war scenario, in a neutral and voluntary way. In 1901 Henri Dunant was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize!

The Geneva Convention still defines the International Laws relating to International Humanitarian Law. I leave you the current version of the Geneva Convention, in a time that we want peace, but threatened by war:

1. Countries at war cannot use chemical weapons against each other.
2. The use of explosive bullets or material that causes unnecessary suffering to victims is prohibited.
3. Bombardment of balloons with projectiles is prohibited.
4. Prisoners of war must be treated humanely and protected from violence. They cannot be beaten or used with propagandist interests.
5. Prisoners of war must provide their full name and rank. He who lies may lose his protection.
6. Nations must identify the dead and wounded and inform their families.
7. It is forbidden to kill someone who has surrendered.
8. In battle areas, there must be demarcated areas where the sick and wounded can be transferred and treated.
9. Special protection against attacks will be granted to civil hospitals marked with the red cross.
10. Free passage of medication is allowed.
11. Crews from ships sunk by the enemy must be rescued and safely brought ashore.
12. Any army that takes control of a country must provide food for its local inhabitants.
13. Attacks on unprotected cities are prohibited.
14. Submarines cannot sink commercial or passenger ships without first removing their passengers and crew.
15. A prisoner may be visited by a representative of his country. They have the right to converse privately, without the presence of the enemy.

Here we will be again, in a fortnight's time. Meanwhile, they will be well accompanied by our dear Maria Pia, who fills our souls with a chic lightness!

With or without red, elevate your happiness!

Matilde Proença