In Search of a Perfect World - CBC Documentary

1.      Guatemala and Canada

 

A.     Based on the documentary, explain what is happening in Guatemala and how Canada is involved.

 

Guatemala’s government is taking land for mining from the Indigenous people, and most of the mining companies are Canadian. These mining companies had made deals with the Guatemalan government and gave them benefits, but the Indigenous people didn’t get anything, not even a notification.

 

B.     What can the Canadian government do to uphold Human Rights in Guatemala?

 

The Canadian government can ask the Guatemalan government to ensure that the compensation and agreement with the Indigenous people have been made; then, the work will start.

 

C.     Do you see any similarities between Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala and Canada? What are they?

 

Yes, there are similarities between the Indigenous people in Guatemala and Canada. In both countries, the land has been taken without the landowner’s Indigenous people’s permission, communication or even with any compensation.

 

D.     Are Indigenous Peoples “Equal Before the Law” in Guatemala? In Canada? Explain your answer.

 

Indigenous people are not getting “Equal Before the law” in Guatemala or Canada. In both countries, Indigenous people are losing their land without notice, communication, permission, or compensation, which they have owned for centuries. According to the United Nation’s declaration, they have equal rights as country inhabitants. But nowhere are they getting that right. If anyone asked for the right, they were stopped violently forever.

 

In Canada, it is a law that Indigenous people from Guatemala can sue a Canadian company for violating their human rights. Because Canadian companies operate from Canada, their work is accountable in Canada.

 

But the Canadian Indigenous people don’t have the same rights. They can’t sue any company that has taken their land.

 

2.      Refuges and Migrants

 

A.     Why do people flee?

There is a Myth that people flee for better living or to live in the first better country. But the reality is that people fly or migrants to save their lives; there is no option. If they return to their country, their lives will be in danger. They might get killed.

 

 

B.     What are the two types of rights that the documentary mentions in relation to Refugees and Migrants? Are they being respected? Why/Why Not?

 

Article 25 of the declaration: everyone’s entitled to a decent standard of living, and mothers and children need special care.  

 

Article 14 of the declaration: the right to asylum.

 

None of them are respected, not even in the refugee camps regulated by the UN. The UN doesn’t provide enough funding or help to fulfil the requirements of the camp workers or volunteers.

           

Many political leaders wanted to keep the refugee camp as poor as possible. Because they think that the refugees will be discouraged from coming to the refugee camp.

 

Though, that is not working. To stop refugees, world leaders need to prevent violence in the countries. Because fleeing from any country isn’t any luxury, people do this because they don’t have any other option to survive.

 

3.      Using the Case of Turkey in the Film, answer the question, “Why is Freedom of Speech and Media” important?

 

 

Freedom of Speech and Media are essential because they tell the facts and truth about what is happening worldwide. The people in power, those who discriminate against others to achieve their own goals, don’t like that.

 

4.      What is your biggest takeaway on the Promise of Human Rights? How can we (as Community Workers) work to uphold Human Rights? Back up your assertions.

 

 

Human rights are not maintained for the Indigenous people not only in Canada but in other countries, too. The most significant takeaway from this video is that some greedy Canadians also discriminate against Indigenous people in other countries. People from different countries, Indigenous people, and Canadian Indigenous people should have the right to sue companies that take resources from the Indigenous land.

As a community worker, I can work with them and empower them. My first step would be to make more people aware of Indigenous people’s rights. I can share my knowledge with my family, friends, colleagues, classmates, etc. The more people are aware, the more chances the government will be pushed to work for Indigenous people. Because the government needs votes to win the election of power, they will care what the majority demands.