A Resource Guide for teachers to support aspects of senior Social Studies Curriculum Human Rights in the Asia Pacific 1931 1945 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP Ministry of Education
National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data Main entry under title: Human rights in the Asia Pacific 1931-1945 (Social responsibility and global citizenship) A resource guide for teachers to support aspects of senior social studies curriculum. Co-published by B.C. Association for Learning & Preserving the History of WW II in Asia. ISBN 0-7726-4560-4 1. World War, 1939-1945 - Prisoners and prisons, Japanese. 2. Prisoners of war - Canada. 3. World War, 1939-1945 - Japan. 4. World War, 1939-1945 - Atrocities. 5. Human rights. I. British Columbia. Educational Programs. Curriculum Development Branch. II. B.C. Association for Learning & Preserving the History of WW II in Asia. D805.J3H85 2001 940.54 7252 C2001-960138-7 2001 Ministry of Education, Curriculum Branch, Province of British Columbia. PROPRIETARY NOTICE This document contains information that is proprietary and confidential to the Province. Any reproduction, disclosure or other use of this document is expressly prohibited except as the Province may authorize in writing. Permission to copy and use this publication in part, or in its entirety, for non-profit educational purposes within British Columbia and the Yukon, is granted to all staff of BC school board trustees, including teachers and administrators; organizations comprising the Educational Advisory Council as identified by Ministerial Order; and other parties providing direct or indirect education programs to entitled students as identified by the School Act. Design by Arifin Graham of Alaris Design. Layout and typesetting by Dave G. Butcher of DGB Typesetting. Map illustrations by Lyle Ottenbreit of Vision-L Ltd. Photo credits: pages 26 and 57 supplied by BC ALPHA. Cover/header/title page photos: Japanese Soldiers: Used with permission from Innovative Publishing Group, Inc. Canadian Hong Kong Veterans: (also used on page 58) Don Languedoc Collection
Acknowledgements Many people contributed to the development of this resource. Two project managers, Greg Smith and Keith Regular of the Curriculum Branch, worked with Ministry of Education personnel and representatives of the partners in education as well as BC teachers, academics, and organizations and individuals knowledgeable about the events of the Asia-Pacific war. The Ministry would like to thank all who contributed to the creation of this resource developed to support aspects of senior Social Studies curriculum including History 12, Law 12, and Social Studies 11. Ernie Armitage, School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) Rick Beardsley, School District No. 38 (Richmond) Roxine Hameister, School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) Tatsuo Kage, Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens Association Human Rights Committee Thekla Lit, BC Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WW II in Asia (BC ALPHA) John Price, University of Victoria, Canadian Asia Pacific Resource Network Graeme Stacey, School District No. 23 (Central Okanagan) Joseph Tong, BC Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WW II in Asia (BC ALPHA) The Ministry would also like to acknowledge the significant contributions of three Canadians who survived the events described in this resource and gave suggestions to the project authors. Don McPherson, (Winnipeg Grenadiers) POW and slave labourer 1941-45 Lionel Speller, president of the Hong Kong Veterans Association of BC Marius van Dijk van Nooten, interned in Japanese prisoner camp at 11 years old 1941-45 iii
acknowledgements The Ministry would also like to acknowledge Beth Dye, Kit Krieger and the members of the Provincial Social Studies Overview Team for their review and timely advice in the development of this teaching resource. iv
Table of Contents ACKNOWLEGEMENTS... iii... 1 The Resource....................................................................... 3 Why Teach about Justice and Humanity in War?........................... 4 Guidelines for Teaching about Controversial Issues... 6... 8 INTRODUCTION Unit Overview Curriculum Connections........................................................ 10 TEACHER BACKGROUNDER........................................... 13 The Asia-Pacific War.............................................................. 14 Lessons for Global Citizenship... 20 Justice and Reconciliation: Then and Now................................... 23 LESSONS............................................................................ 29 Lesson One: War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity................. 30 Lesson Two: Nanking Massacre and Other Atrocities...................... 32 Lesson Three: Canadian Hong Kong Veterans... 34 Lesson Four: International Law, Reconciliation, and Redress............ 35 Lesson Five: Making a Difference.............................................. 38 Extension Activities............................................................... 40 RESOURCES AND HANDOUTS... 41 Handout 1.1 War Crimes and International Law......................... 42 Handout 2.1 Timeline of Origins and Events of the Handout 2.1 Asia-Pacific War................................................ 49 Handout 2.2 The Rape of Nanking and Other Atrocities............... 52 Handout 3.1 Canadian Prisoners of War................................... 58 Handout 3.2 Response Guide for Canadian Prisoners of War......... 63 Handout 4.1 Organizing a Mock Justice Tribunal........................ 64 v
table of contents Handout 4.2 What Victims and Survivors Want............................. 67 Handout 4.3 International Agreements Related to Compensation Claims............................................................... 69 Handout 4.4 Japan s Responses................................................. 70 Handout 5.1 Unit Self-Assessment............................................. 72 vi