Genocide A Retrospective EQ: What is genocide? Where and how have genocides occurred in World History?

GenocideGenocideA RetrospectiveA Retrospective

EQ: What is genocide? Where EQ: What is genocide? Where and how have genocides and how have genocides

occurred in World History?occurred in World History?

Warm Up: The Spectrum of Warm Up: The Spectrum of ViolenceViolence

There are two kinds of people in this There are two kinds of people in this world…world…

PURPLE PEOPLE and PINK PEOPLEPURPLE PEOPLE and PINK PEOPLE

Least HarmfulLeast Harmful Most Most HarmfulHarmful

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Defining GenocideDefining Genocide Genocide is the systematic harassment and Genocide is the systematic harassment and

extermination of a specific group of people extermination of a specific group of people on the basis of their ethnicity, religion or on the basis of their ethnicity, religion or other defining cultural or physical other defining cultural or physical characteristicscharacteristics

What are some examples of Genocides in What are some examples of Genocides in past world history?past world history?– The Holocaust, Armenia, Cambodia, Bosnia, The Holocaust, Armenia, Cambodia, Bosnia,

Kurdistan and RwandaKurdistan and Rwanda Where is genocide occurring RIGHT NOW?Where is genocide occurring RIGHT NOW?

– Sudan (Darfur) and Chechnya, “possibly” the Sudan (Darfur) and Chechnya, “possibly” the Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo

““Genocide Convention” Acts that Genocide Convention” Acts that are a part of Genocideare a part of Genocide

““Any of the following acts committed with Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group national, ethnic, racial or religious group such as”such as”– Killing members of the groupKilling members of the group– Causing serious bodily or mental harm to Causing serious bodily or mental harm to

members of the groupmembers of the group– Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions

of life calculated to bring about its physical of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or partdestruction in whole or part

– Imposing measure intended to prevent births Imposing measure intended to prevent births within a groupwithin a group

– Forcibly transferring children of one group to Forcibly transferring children of one group to another groupanother group

Reacting to/Preventing Reacting to/Preventing GenocideGenocide

Outside nations are obligated by the “Genocide Outside nations are obligated by the “Genocide Convention” to intervene once it has been determined a Convention” to intervene once it has been determined a genocide is occurring… reaction methods can include:genocide is occurring… reaction methods can include:– Sending troops to intervene/fight (ie. invade that Sending troops to intervene/fight (ie. invade that

country)country)– Send material, military or financial support to a Send material, military or financial support to a

country’s government (as long as it is NOT country’s government (as long as it is NOT participating in the genocide) to combat the genocideparticipating in the genocide) to combat the genocide

– Levy sanctions or boycott a country if they are Levy sanctions or boycott a country if they are participatingparticipating

– Provide aid and shelter to refugees fleeing genocideProvide aid and shelter to refugees fleeing genocide To help prevent genocide in the future:To help prevent genocide in the future:

– Better education to students about equality and fairnessBetter education to students about equality and fairness– Educate people about genocide and why it is not the answer Educate people about genocide and why it is not the answer

(Can’t we all just get along?) using past examples(Can’t we all just get along?) using past examples

Comparing GenocidesComparing Genocides

With a partner…With a partner… Look at the background information on both Look at the background information on both

the Darfur and Rwandan genocides that has the Darfur and Rwandan genocides that has been provided…complete the attached been provided…complete the attached Compare/Contrast activity as instructed Compare/Contrast activity as instructed looking for common and different themes looking for common and different themes between each genocidebetween each genocide

This Week: Film – Hotel RwandaThis Week: Film – Hotel Rwanda

– Reaction Essay Due Friday, May 27Reaction Essay Due Friday, May 27thth

ResourcesResources

www.darfurisdying.com

http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign/savedarfur_google

http://www.darfurgenocide.org/

The Darfur Genocide: The Darfur Genocide: BackgroundBackground

Darfur is the western Darfur is the western state of Sudan, the state of Sudan, the largest country in Africalargest country in Africa

The conflict began in The conflict began in 2003 as a result of rebel 2003 as a result of rebel violence against the violence against the Sudanese government Sudanese government by residents…they by residents…they desired independence.desired independence.

Local government Local government backed militias known backed militias known as the as the Janjaweed Janjaweed quickly moved against quickly moved against civilians in the regioncivilians in the region


The violence is ethnically based (not religious as some The violence is ethnically based (not religious as some claim, everyone is predominately Muslim) with the Arab claim, everyone is predominately Muslim) with the Arab JunjaweedJunjaweed militias focusing their ire on black Africans in militias focusing their ire on black Africans in the region.the region.

To date, over 500,000 people have been killedTo date, over 500,000 people have been killed Over half the villages in Darfur have been burned to the Over half the villages in Darfur have been burned to the

groundground Over 2.5 million are living in refugee camps in neighboring Over 2.5 million are living in refugee camps in neighboring

ChadChad Even these camps are not safe, as Even these camps are not safe, as JanjaweedJanjaweed militias have militias have

attacked them (even raping women who leave them to attacked them (even raping women who leave them to gather firewood)gather firewood)

The US government declared the situation a genocide in The US government declared the situation a genocide in Sept. 2004 Sept. 2004

The The Janjaweed Janjaweed have engaged in several tactics outlined in have engaged in several tactics outlined in the Genocide Conventionthe Genocide Convention

They have killed members of the Black populationThey have killed members of the Black population They have caused serious bodily or mental harm to members of said groupThey have caused serious bodily or mental harm to members of said group They have created living conditions with the intent to bring about its physical destruction in They have created living conditions with the intent to bring about its physical destruction in

whole or partwhole or part


Sadly, only the US has Sadly, only the US has recognized the situation in recognized the situation in Darfur as a genocide…no Darfur as a genocide…no other country nor the United other country nor the United Nations has acknowledged Nations has acknowledged such a severity of events.such a severity of events.

The Sudanese government The Sudanese government denies that a genocide has denies that a genocide has occurred as well as denies occurred as well as denies that they support the local that they support the local JanjaweedJanjaweed militias in their militias in their activities in Darfuractivities in Darfur

There are many There are many international aid international aid organizations bringing help organizations bringing help to the displaced people of to the displaced people of Darfur, providing mainly Darfur, providing mainly food and water, items that food and water, items that are in scarce supply in this are in scarce supply in this semi-desert regionsemi-desert region

Omar Al-Bashir…in power since 1989


Events in Darfur have spilled over Events in Darfur have spilled over and caused wars in neighboring and caused wars in neighboring nations (Chad, Central African nations (Chad, Central African Republic)Republic)

In 2006, the Sudanese government In 2006, the Sudanese government decided to allow African Union decided to allow African Union troops to “observe”troops to “observe”– They have no power to intervene in They have no power to intervene in

any hostilities, prevent violence or any hostilities, prevent violence or help civilianshelp civilians

The UN did try to send The UN did try to send peacekeeping troops in 2006 but peacekeeping troops in 2006 but Sudan refused their implementationSudan refused their implementation

Recently, sanctions against Sudan Recently, sanctions against Sudan have been proposed, as evidence have been proposed, as evidence has surfaced that Russia and China has surfaced that Russia and China have been sending weapons and have been sending weapons and supporting the Sudanese supporting the Sudanese governmentgovernment

In July 2008, the International In July 2008, the International Criminal Court filed 10 war crimes Criminal Court filed 10 war crimes charges against Omar al-Bashir, 3 charges against Omar al-Bashir, 3 counts of genocide and 5 counts of counts of genocide and 5 counts of “crimes against humanity”“crimes against humanity”

Documents

Genocide A Retrospective EQ: What is genocide? Where and how have genocides occurred in World History?