SonjaBe.com International Relations – Be Here | Be You | Be True

Yesterday I read that 16,000 Syrians have been killed since March 2011. This number represents 16,000 dreams, potential ideas, children, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters, all lost in the face of ignorance. I don’t know any of these people but I do know that each beating heart deserved to be alive had they been given the chance to live out their full potential. While I walk down the beautiful flower filled streets of Vancouver, violence and murder rages on the streets of Syrian capital, Damascus. How is this at all fair? Vancouver is perhaps not a “perfect” place for everyone but for all I know, I am given the chance to live my life at its fullest and to me that is the greatest gift ever. I have a choice to live my life in whichever way I choose. Syrians, and many others around the world, do not have this ... Read More »

Like many in my generation, I refuse to accept that there is nothing that can be done to stop the political and military abuses that directly harm humanity.  In this day and age, it seems absurd that a handful of powerful leaders can cause the death and destruction of the masses without facing any serious consequences.  But at the same time, it is unclear what to do when situations scale out of control.  Are military interventions valid?  Economic sanctions?  Who takes the lead on preventing atrocities?  How do they go about it?  The recent events in Syria have once again brought up these important issues, and put into question the feasibility of R2P. Read More »

Violence in Syria has pushed the Arab League of States to step up as the region’s Human Rights defender.  Can this organization become a force for the individual rights of Arab people? One of the bloodiest chapters of the Arab Spring is currently being written in Syria. The Assad family, who has ruled the country for 40 years, has met their countrymen cries for political change with violence and repression. Since January 2011, the revolt has claimed more than 5,000 lives, and has resulted in tens of thousands imprisoned. Read More »