Syrian Crisis Examined

Throughout the year we mix in current events with our study of the ancient world.  As a class we will discuss how understanding the past is essential to understanding the present.  Today we talked about the Syrian refugee crisis and how it is affecting Syrians, neighboring countries, Europe, and what impact it might have on the rest of the world.

Students started class by discussing what might be happening in this image.  It is an
image from 2013 of Syrians crossing into Iraq to escape the violence of the civil war.

Students then viewed CNN Student News which reported on the 

crisis as well as two men who swam from Turkey to Greece

The class then viewed and discussed John Green's explanation of the crisis.

Students reviewed the definition of a migrant vs a refugee.  

A migrant is a person who makes a conscious choice to leave their country to seek a better life elsewhere. Before they decide to leave their country, migrants can seek information about their new home, study the language and explore employment opportunities. They can plan their travel, take their belongings with them and say goodbye to the important people in their lives. They are free to return home at any time if things don’t work out as they had hoped, if they get homesick or if they wish to visit family members and friends left behind.

Refugees are forced to leave their country because they are at risk of, or have experienced persecution. The concerns of refugees are human rights and safety, not economic advantage. They leave behind their homes, most or all of their belongings, family members and friends. Some are forced to flee with no warning and many have experienced significant trauma or been tortured or otherwise ill-treated. The journey to safety is fraught with hazard and many refugees risk their lives in search of protection. They cannot return unless the situation that forced them to leave improves.

As a class we brainstormed reasons why migrants would want to move to another country versus the reason why refugees would want to move to another country.

Students viewed and discussed an image from a refugee camp in Jordan.  

Students viewed and discussed a map of the routes being taken into Europe.

Students viewed and discussed an image of refugees crossing the Mediterranean. 

Students viewed and discussed an image of refugees arriving at a Greek island. 

We closed with an image of a father swimming his child to the
 safety of a rescue boat after the boat he was traveling in sank. 

Student Reflections

"I leaned that migrants choose to go but refuees are foreced to go to flee danger."

"I learned that the Syrian Civil War has been going on for over 4 years!"

"I think that some European countries are breaking international rules by punishing refugees."

"Our country should just ignore it so that we don't get into fights with other countries." 

"Our country should donate food, water, shelter, and clothes to help."

On our first half day hat day a portion of the money raised by our student council will be donated to the UN Refugee Agency. The money will be used to do the following.

• Deliver rescue kits containing a thermal blanket, towel, water, high nutrient energy bar, dry clothes and shoes, to every survivor;
• Set up reception centres where refugees can be registered and receive vital medical care;
• Provide temporary emergency shelter to especially vulnerable refugees;
• Help children travelling alone by providing specialist support and care.  

Our donation will support UNHCR emergency work in Europe and other countries where refugees and internally displaced people are in need.

http://donate.unhcr.org/international/general/#_ga=1.29610806.829388110.1441552177


Source Credits

Videos
http://www.cnn.com/studentnews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVV6_1Sef9M

Images

http://www.timesofisrael.com/senators-push-to-allow-more-syrian-refugees/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/statephotos/9312291491/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/compass/articles/2015/5/7/five-charts-that-help-explain-europes-migrant-crisis.html

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/09/10/378258/syria-refugees-die-en-route-to-europe/

http://www.worldbulletin.net/headlines/164267/refugee-boat-taking-off-from-turkey-sinks

http://abcnews.go.com/International/dozens-refugees-die-boat-sinks-off-coast-greece/storyid=33748347

Definitions

http://www.ssi.org.au/faqs/refugee-faqs/148-what-is-the-difference-between-a-refugee-and-a-migrant