The Holocaust was a defining event of the 20th. Century and is part of the UK's history. Although mainland Britain and Northern Ireland were not occupied during the Second World War, the impact on Britain was significant and wide ranging....

• Refugees fled here from Nazi persecution
  
• Britain was engaged in a war to defeat the attempt of the German Nazis to occupy and oppress the European continent with its supremacist ideology
  
• UK soldiers liberated Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp
  
• Survivors and refugees who rebuilt their lives here in the UK are part of our heritage
  
• Britain played a lead role in developing the international conventions protecting universal human rights as, after World War 2, the world came to terms with the impact of the Nazi policies

It is not only a day for us to remember those days of World War 2 but also it acts as a reminder to all of us of our personal responsibility to protect the civil and human rights of all peoples in our society as part of the international community. Events since the Holocaust - such as genocides commited in Rwanda and Bosnia - show us that we still have much to learn.

Holocaust Memorial Day encompasses the need to.....

• Take responsibility for own actions
  
• Stand up to injustice
  
• Learn, and educate each other, about different communities, cultures, religions, sexualities, and to accept and embrace diversity
  
• Avoid scapegoating communities because of actions of a few
  
• Combat extremism and highlight dangers in our society

THESE PRINCIPALS ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY, WHICH NEEDS TO VALUE EQUAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS.

We must NEVER forget.....

It is a matter of history that when Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower, found the victims of the death camps he ordered all possible photographs to be taken, and for the German people from surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead.

He did this because he said in words to this effect:
"Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the road of history some people will get up and say that this never happened."

This week, (September 2008) the UK removed "The Holocaust" from its school curriculum because it 'offended' some of the population who claim it never occurred. This is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily many countries are giving in to it. We must never hide the truth.

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended when during it more than 6 million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests were murdered, raped, burned, starved, beat, experimented on and humiliated while the German people, and everybody else, looked the other way!

Now, more than ever, with some people and countries claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it is imperative to make sure THE WORLD NEVER FORGETS what actually happened.

See a Presentation about refugees, genocide and starvation.
"And They Said It Shouldn't Happen Again"
(WARNING: THIS PRESENTATION IS NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN. CHECK CONTENT BEFORE SHOWING.)

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