Genecides: 20th-21st Centuries
Genocide is not a modern invention, and it is not a subject one takes up for easy reading, yet the impact of genocide on millions of people throughout the world is something that must not be ignored. Genocides have occurred throughout known human history, but recent and present centuries have witnessed genocides that may be unparalled in the number of people killed and otherwise affected through ethnic cleansings. A definition of "genocide" is not easy to come by, and there is often great disagreement over whether specific events constitute genocide or not. For simplicity's sake, I have chosen to use the UN's definition as it appears in Article II, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of the United Nations approved 9 December 1948 (http://www.hrweb.org/legal/genocide.html). It is so easy and so understandable to become both overwhelmed and detached when we hear news of unimaginable horrors occurring in faraway, unfamiliar places, about which we seem helpless to either understand or do anything about. To confront my own ignorance and sense of helplessness, I began to research this enormous subject in order to try to understand a little of the historical, political, social and cultural complexity of these horrific events. With this map I want to share some of the information I have gathered about locations where major genocides have occurred (and are occurring) along with some background information about cause(s), results and who the victims and perpetrators are. Included too are a few selected references. I very much welcome any comments and suggestions from anyone about the content and presentation of this material.