Day to remember the Holocaust

A record number of children and young people from North Tyneside schools will take part in this year’s events during the last week in January to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD).

It is the time to remember especially the victims of the atrocities carried out to all who were murdered in the Nazi death camps of the Second World War, and who have died in the genocides of Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur and Bosnia, and the many who are still suffering.

The evils which bring about these acts of inhumanity have no place in a civilised world and raising awareness of the effects amongst tomorrow’s citizens has to be one of the best legacies we can leave.

This year’s theme suggested by the National HMD Trust is “Torn from Home”. Teachers and pupils are invited to work within their curriculums

through prose, poetry, song and art work to show the meaning of prejudice, persecution, intolerance, hatred and racism and what they do to people.

Older students have visited Auschwitz, the youngest may learn about bullying.

North Tyneside’s mayor Norma Redfearn will lead the main event in Quadrant with a guest speaker from the Jewish community and presentations from about 12 schools.

I am sure we will once again be very proud of our children. Other schools will commemorate and work in a way of their choosing.

There is sadly not enough space in the Council Chamber to invite the public, but the Holocaust Garden of Remembrance is always open to visit, and perhaps when people notice the light house lit up purple for the week, they may spare a few of their own thoughts on how to make the world a better place for our children and grandchildren.

COUN MURIEL GREEN, Chair, North Tyneside

HMD Committee