Introduction
Today, we live in a world with advanced technology. This development has greatly benefitted our human race and has offered convenience. However, technology has also managed to threaten our lives. Various nations and/or organizations has taken advantage of this situation, and are developing lethal weapons called Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). The dangers posed by these WMD have been greater than any other weapons created by mankind so far and constantly threatens international peace. Thus, this webquest has been produced to enlighten you of this unfortunate situation brought by WMD. Through this webquest, I hope you will be able to identify and understand the different types of WMD as well as become aware of the current situation in the world.
Have fun!
Task
Read the information that these sites provide and answer the questions accordingly.
1. What are WMD? What are the different types of WMD?
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/weapons+of+mass+destruction
A: WMD are weapons that cause ________ death/injury on a _______. WMD usually refer to _______, _______, and _______ weapons.
2. What are atomic bombs?
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/421827/nuclear-weapon
A: Nuclear weapons are weapons that release _______ in violent manner due to _______.
3. When were atomic bombs first used? Who used it? When and why were they activated? What were the results?
http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/atomic-bomb
A: On 6 August 1945, ordered by President _______, _________ dropped an atomic bomb in ________ , which killed _______ people. 3 days later, another bomb was dropped in _______ , which killed _______ people. Later, _______ people died due to ________. _______ used atomic bombs against ________ to win _______.
4. How many nuclear weapons are there today? What measures have been taken to reduce the number of nuclear weapons?
http://www.un.org/disarmament/WMD/Nuclear/
A: There are _______ nuclear weapons today and over _______ nuclear tests have been conducted. Various treaties have been established such as the _________.
5. What are chemical weapons?
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/108951/chemical-weapon
A: Chemical weapons are weapons that consist ________ compounds, generally _______ agents, that have the purpose to _______, _______, or _______ the opponent.
6. When were chemical weapons first used? What happened? (When were they activated? What were the results?...)
http://www.opcw.org/about-chemical-weapons/history-of-cw-use/
A: Chemical weapons have been used for many times in the past in the form of _______, _________, _______, and _______. However, the first mass attack that used ________ took place in ________ at _______ (during WW1). This attack has resulted in _______ deaths and more than _______ casualties.
7. What measures have been taken to reduce the number of chemical weapons?
http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/resources/fact-sheets/critical-issu…
A: There are treaties such as the 1925 ___________, which prohibits the operation of chemical and bacteriological agents in warfare. To further reinforce this convention, the CWC (Chemical Weapons Conventions) have been aiming to prevent countries from ______, _______, _______, _______ and _______ chemical weapons. Moreover, they are conducting inspections on ____________, and are providing ________ in case a country is attacked with chemical weapons.
8. What are biological weapons?
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/938340/biological-weapon
A: Biological weapons, also known as ________ weapons, are weapons that use __________ agents such as _______, _______, _______, _______, _______, that are used against _______, _______, and _______.
9. When were biological weapons first used? What happened?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1326439/
A: The __________ were the first to these weapons during _______. They tried to infect _______ in their enemy countries. The results were ________ because it impacted a _________ area.
10. What measures have been taken to reduce the number of chemical weapons?
http://www.ipb.org/web/index.php?mostra=content&menu=Weapons%20and%20th…
A: Treaties such as the 1925 ___________ prohibited the use of biological weapons. However this treaty was flawed as it didn't forbid the _______, _______, and _______ of biological weapons. Therefore, many treaties such as ______________, were established in order to supplement the 1925 __________. Moreover, recently, there has been attempts to ______________ among the public of the situation so that nations can actively engage in prohibiting biological weapons.
Evaluation
ANSWERS
1. WMD are weapons that cause indiscriminate death/injury on a large scale. WMD usually refer to nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.
2. Nuclear weapons are weapons that release energy in violent manner due to nuclear fission.
3. On 6 August 1945, ordered by President Truman, US dropped an atomic bomb in Hiroshima, which killed 80,000 people. 3 days later, another bomb was dropped in Nagasaki, which killed 40,000 people. Later, 100,000 people died due to radiation poisoning. US used atomic bombs against Japan to win WW2.
4. There are 22,000 nuclear weapons today and over 2,000 nuclear tests have been conducted. Various treaties have been established such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
5. Chemical weapons are weapons that consist chemical compounds, generally toxic agents, that have the purpose to kill, injure, or incapacitate the opponent.
6. Chemical weapons have been used for many times in the past in the form of poisoned arrows, boiling tar, arsenic smoke, and noxious fumes. However, the first mass attack that used chlorine gas took place in 22 April 1915 at Ieper, Belgium (during WW1). This attack has resulted in 90,000 deaths and more than 1 million casualties.
7. There are treaties such as the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which prohibits the operation of chemical and bacteriological agents in warfare. To further reinforce this convention, the CWC (Chemical Weapons Conventions) have been aiming to prevent countries from developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling and possessing chemical weapons. Moreover, they are conducting inspections on chemical weapon storage sites, and are providing provisions in case a country is attacked with chemical weapons.
8. Biological weapons, also known as germ weapons, are weapons that use disease-producing agents such as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi, toxins, that are used against humans, animals, and plants.
9. The German army were the first to these weapons during WW1. They tried to infect animals in their enemy countries. The results were unsuccessful because it impacted a small area.
10. Treaties such as the 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibited the use of biological weapons. However this treaty was flawed as it didn't forbid the development, production, and stockpiling of biological weapons. Therefore, many treaties such as The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), were established in order to supplement the 1925 Geneva Protocol. Moreover, recently, there has been attempts to raise awareness among the public of the situation so that nations can actively engage in prohibiting biological weapons.
Credits
By: Yoojung Lee