Chapter 14 – Canada and Peace Lesson 2B
Topic: Genocide
Materials Needed: Global Issues for Students: Genocide DVD
What is Genocide?
- It is the planned effort to destroy a cultural or ethnic group in whole or in part.
- Millions of people were systematically killed in tragedies such as the Armenian Massacre and the Holocaust.
Is it still happening today?
- Yes it still happens today even with the effort of the UN.
- The UN set up The International Criminal Court to deal with leaders of genocide.
- Rawanda was one of the most recent, Hatu and Tutsi groups.
How can these atrocities be allowed to happen in today’s world?
- In the past, world governments ignored warning signs, waited too long to get involved or simply did not think it was in their national interest to intervene.
- In 1999, the US bombing of Kosovo set a controversial precedent for armed intervention to prevent genocide or other crimes against humanity.
What else can be done to prevent genocide?
- Non-Governmental organizations monitor government around the world.
- Genocide survivors work hard to keep the memories of their ancestors alive.
*Watch the movie.
Focus Questions during the Movie
1. Who was Raphael Lemkin? Why is he significant?
2. What role has propaganda played in the destruction of specific cultural groups?
3. Why did Turkish leaders target Armenians during WW1?
4. How were Jews dehumanized in Nazi Germany?
5. What theories help explain why the world did not intervene to prevent the Holocaust?
6. How did Pol Pot want to remake Cambodian society?
7. Why did Slobodan Milosevic initiate a campaign of “ethnic cleansing”?
8. What was the result of the 1998 Rome Treaty?
9. Describe some ways that genocide can be prevented.
Assignment
Research an act of genocide during either modern or ancient times. The following is needed to fully gain an understanding of it. (10 Marks)
1. Which country was the genocide occurring?
2. Why was it happening? (Religious, political ect)
3. Who was/were the leader(s) of the genocide?
4. What happened to them once they were caught?
5. From your research, how would you have prevented this act? Two points are needed with proper insight and reality to the situation.