HEY! How are you doing? Its been so so long since I have posted. I know I have missed out October's updates, I'll do that together with November.
Today.. I wanna talk about something that I feel strongly about. Being grateful.
It is easy to say that you are grateful for something, however the act of actually feeling grateful is usually not shown by many. (Before you think I am going to bitch about someone here, ah-ah not today)
So I was reading my morning news, and I came upon " C O N C E N T R A T I O N C A M P S". And my thought to myself was like.. this still exists? Like I know about the holocaust thing and how it happened during the WW2, but I mean in today's world? Where there are modern societies everywhere and so much medical advancements etc? (I am a very curious kid)
So I did my small scale research to satisfy this thirst to know more, and H O L Y. There are still so many out there, and the worst part was the ways they torture and treat their prisoners. I would call these places, hell on earth.
So let me share some of these new found knowledge with you:
(Also I do not want to include any image as I feel that we should still respect these people in the camps)
So let me share some of these new found knowledge with you:
(Also I do not want to include any image as I feel that we should still respect these people in the camps)
1. What is a concentration camp?
- It is a place which large number of people (Especially political prisoners, members of minorities etc) deliberately imprisoned in a relatively small area with inadequate facilities. They are sometimes forced to labour or to await mass execution.
2. When was the first concentration camp built?
- It is believed that the first concentration camp is the Dachau camp built in 1933. It was established by the National Socialist (Nazi) government, built for political prisoners.
(Read more here)
3. What are some of the famous concentration camps to date?
- Concentration camps are more known to be found during the WW2 period. The more infamous ones are Dachau, Belsen and Auschwitz found in Germany, established by the Nazi. They were widely used between periods of 1933 - 1939. (Read more about the holocaust here)
- Also watch this if you have the time, its pretty interesting: (and rather revolting to see and to think about it)
4. Are there still concentration camps now?
- As of now, the more happening and operating ones are in North Korea. Such as Hoeryong, Yodok and Kaechon interment camp.
- There are satellite images and also news that the US have about 800 FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) camp locations. However most of them are vacant but still running with actually staff keeping the place together. They will be put to use if the the Martial Law needs to be implemented and all it requires for that to happen is the president's signature and attorney general's signature. Some of these camp sites are being used as prisons.
- Unimaginable right?
5. What happens in a concentration camp?
- Apart from the poor and cramped living conditions, many inhumane activities takes place there. One thing for sure is that the lack of clean water and environment led to quick spread of diseases. With little medical attention given to them (since most of them are not expected to make out of the place alive), they are often left to die or used as human medical experiments.
- Some examples of medical experiments that they carry out includes deliberately infecting people with deadly or debilitating viruses and diseases, exposing them to biological or chemical weapons, injecting lethal or radioactive chemicals into their bodies, surgical/torture/mind altering/test involving experiments etc.
- Prisoners for experiments are usually chosen every month, they would usually be clothed and fed better than their peers. Usually chosen based on their health (Depending on what experiment they want to do) But of course it is never a good thing to be chosen...
- The one that made me the most sick was Vivisection. As cute as that sounds, it hella disgusting. I mean to do it on animals is already gross enough, but to do it on your fellow men. Where are the hearts of these people?
Vivisection: is a surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living organism, any thing with a central nervous system, so as to view the living internal structure. (In other words: they cut open the living thing to study how the internal structure works when it is alive)
And if you want an interesting read on this, read on Unit 731. A research unit set up in Japan during the sino-japanese war that practice this on their prisoners WITHOUT anesthesia. (I cannot imagine the level of pain and suffering for those on the table) Also this dude Joseph Mengele who was in love with the idea of cutting people up for fun. Warped ideas.
- Many other tortures include gas chambers, poison, rape, abuse.. (No human rights at all) I can go on for all the sinister things that takes place. But I guess I have provided enough gruesome reads above.
- Also forced labours, especially those in N.K now, who get the prisoners to work in agriculture farms, or factories etc. They normally work long hours non stop, and from what I read those in N.K, they are only given corn kennels 3 times a day to fuel them to work to their bone. Those in the Nazi camp were reported to be given less than 700 calories of food a day. Noting that the 700 calories can be from mouldy bread, unwanted vegetables etc. They are obviously all malnutrition..
- Last but not least (there might be more, but that is all I can remember for now), Executions.. Forced genocide have taken place in many concentration camp. Popular ways for mass execution would be using gas chambers or having a firing squad shoot the prisoners as they are all lined up.
-But I need to be fair as well, to say that there are some of the doctors/soldiers/guards in these camps who were being forced to do their job. They probably had one of their family member in captured or threatened by something the upper management have. To do something against their will is also torturous enough.
6. Are there any survivors of concentration camps?
- Less than a percent of the people in concentration camp make it out alive. (Either escapees or released) Most of them would not be able to live long enough to tell their story anyway due to their poor health or they would end up being caught and brought back to the camps.
- However notable survivors that I read where those from the Yodok Concentration Camp, such as Mr Kang Chol Hwan and Shin Dong Hyuk (His story was the most interesting). Most of them witness executions everyday, sightings of abuse and torture were common. They were taught to think of themselves as not-humans, but slaves/objects that do biddings and deserved to be ill treated.
-Read more stories here:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well I would have never expected my blog to have something so dark.. It kinds of taint my idea to make a happy blog. Haha. But today's read really impacted me alot.. And it taught me to be grateful for every single meal that I get to eat peacefully. For the rights that I receive and the security of our homeland. For the times that I get to make my own decision and to be with the people I love.
For those still stuck in these camps.. My heart really goes out to them.
For now when I think about something that I wished I had it better, I would think about these people and their life in camps.
With that, I would end this post with 3 things that I am grateful for today:
1. I am grateful for the I N T E R N E T. For that I could uncover so much information and knowledge within clicks.
2. I am grateful for being born in Singapore. I really do love my country despite so many people saying shit about the politics and stuff, but to me, life is hard everywhere. Might as well make the most out of it. Always think of the bright side, even if there isn't much, create one.
3. I am grateful for having some rights to live and make choices. I cannot imagine if I were to be placed in a camp and having to be raped or abused or chosen to be some mad doctor experiment.
Thats about it.
Thanks for sticking by to read. I hoped it was interesting..
Anyways I am so looking forward to December as awesome things as coming this way!!!
If you would like to know more about me, take a look at my Instagram , Twitter or Youtube account. In the mean time, stay safe and love yourself and others.
If you would like to know more about me, take a look at my Instagram , Twitter or Youtube account. In the mean time, stay safe and love yourself and others.
Love,
Sharleen
No comments:
Post a Comment