A Genocide WebQuest

1. A Genocide WebQuest Can We Stop It?

2. What is genocide? GENOCIDE is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group. Maus and Maus II chronicle the life story of Vladek Speigelman, a victim of the most well known example of genocide in human history, the Holocaust. However, there are unfortunately numerous other examples of genocide including several instances of genocide occurring right now as 2011 begins. Genocide is not something that only exists in history books. It is the every day experience, a never-ending threat, of millions of people throughout the world who live in fear.

3. Introduction Vladek’s account of his experiences during the Holocaust was our starting point for examining how groups of people can move from coexisting together in a society to one group trying to wipe out a single race. There have been many minorities that have been persecuted and oppressed with little attention or effort on the part of others to put an end to their grief, suffering, and needless death. This webquest will require you to stand up for a group of people that no one stood up for, or is standing up for, when they needed it/need it most.

4. Assignment: Your responsibility with UPA Four is to try to bring attention and awareness to the community at large regarding the crimes committed against a particular group of people. Your goal, by either composing a persuasive letter to your Congressman, Vern Buchanan, or by writing a letter to the editor of the local paper, is to persuade others to get involved and stand up for those unheard voices. You want to get the word out to the community, so that leaders and citizens alike will commit time and money to help victims of genocide throughout the world.

5. Introduction Continued Task Process Credits and Conclusion Resources

6. Task • Purpose: Increase Awareness (to inform and persuade) • Audience: Congressman Vern Buchanan or readers of a local newspaper such as The Bradenton Herald or East County Observer • Subject: You will choose one of the following: Darfur genocide, Armenian Genocide, Cambodian Genocide, Tibet-China Conflict, Rwanda Genocide • Product: A Persuasive Business Letter

7. Step # 1 First, you will need to choose a conflict. Look under “resources” (begins on slide 11) and read up on each conflict before making a decision. Search through each website and read, read, read! Which global conflict interests you? By the end of the day Monday, January 30, you must have decided which conflict is going to be the focus of your research and the topic of your UPA letter.

8. Step # 2 Next, Choose 3 sources based on the websites presented to you on this web quest. Make sure to take detailed notes on each source. These notes will come in handy when you are writing your paper! At the top of each page of notes, be sure to include the bibliographic information for the site. Use the link below to figure out how to write the bibliographic information properly. Once on the site, click on MLA and, most likely, web document. Then fill in all the information you know to get the proper format for your notes. citation machine

9. Step # 3 Okay, by now you know your conflict and have three valuable resources to gather information from. -In your persuasive letter, you want to sound like an expert on your global conflict. In order to give a convincing argument to the congressman, you need to first understand why genocide occurs. -Read the stages of genocideand summarize each stage in at least two sentences. ***By understanding the process of genocide you will have a better idea of what to ask the congressman to do about it. ***

10. Step #4 Now it’s time to look back at the sources you found on your global conflict, so that you can use them in your letter. Look at the following website to learn how to format a business letter (Be sure to read this page and click on “sample letters” to see examples.) business letter format Reflect on your notes and add any pertinent information. Keep in mind that you want to include both emotional and logical appeals. Find quotes that present startling facts that will grip your reader!

11. The next few slides are full of resources! RESOURCES PAGE ONE • Utilize the following websites to choose your global conflict- • 100 Years of Genocide • Armenian National Institute (Ottoman Empire) • Cambodian Genocide (Cambodia) • Cultural Genocide (Tibet) • United Human Rights Council (Sudan) • Leave None to Tell the Story (Rwanda) • Save Darfur (Sudan)

12. RESOURCES PAGE TWO • This link includes information about the psychology of violence, cruelty and aggression. Think about this question while reading- How can humans be so cruel and inhumane to other humans? • Stanley Milgram Experiment on Cruelty (go to next slide for more links)

13. RESOURCES PAGE THREE Historical Overview • Research information about the nature of genocide, why it occurs and a historical overview of a selected genocide utilizing the following resources: • Genocide in the 20th Century- The History Place - This website has a Link to the UN Genocide convention and explanations of genocide occurrences in all countries • Peace Pledge Union Information - This website is a great resource for all countries. Website includes survivor stories, thorough backgrounds on genocide in each country, and a great explanation of genocide. Also includes documents and articles for further study on genocide as well. • Holocaust, genocide and human rights • International Crisis Croup

14. A Call to Action: World Wide Genocides RESOURCES PAGE FOUR • This includes information about current world-wide genocides and reports on actions being taken to help stop it • The following websites will assist in researching this information: • Holocaust, genocide and human rights • United Nations Human Rights • Web Genocide Documentation Center Human Rights • Prevent Genocide International

15. Credits • The following resources were used in the creation of this WebQuest: • Bernie Dodge WebQuest • 100 Years of Genocide • 100 Years of Genocide • Jewish Holocaust (Europe) • Armenian Genocide  (Turkey) • The Forgotten (Armenians) • Cambodian Genocide (Cambodia) • Cultural Genocide (Tibet) • Genocide in the 20th Century (Bosnia) • Darfur: A Genocide We Can STOP (Sudan) • Leave None to Tell the Story (Rwanda)

16. Conclusion They came first for the Communists...but I didn't speak up because II wasn’t A Communist. Then they came for the Jews...but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Unionists ...but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Unionist. . Then they came for the Catholics ...but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Catholic.. Then they came for me..and by that time...there was no-one left to speak up. for me. Rev. Martin Niemoller, commenting on events in Germany 1933-1939 They say that unless one learns from one's mistakes, history repeats itself. Genocide is a real threat to ethnic groups in our world. We, as a caring society, need to fight against the complacency of people who choose to ignore this horrifying cleansing act. By completing this challenging WebQuest you have gained a tremendous amount of information that most people either do not know or chose to forget. Be assured that genocide does go on, even now, in many places in the world. You as a citizen of the world need to be constantly aware of injustices that are going on, not just in foreign countries, but in your own back yard. Elie Wiesel said “Indifference can be tempting...It is so much easier to look away from victims. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person's pain and despair." May indifference never tempt you.