THE Mayor of Wirral was joined by volunteers in Wallasey today to plant fruit trees for Holocaust Memorial Day.
Councillor Jeff Green met with local environment and community empowerment volunteers ‘Earth Moves’ at the Gunsite in Wallasey to plant 10 native fruit trees and light candles in memory of those who were lost or suffered through genocide.
Commemorations take place on January 27 every year as it marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.
The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Jeff Green, said: “Earlier today we joined people around the country and beyond to remember the victims of Nazi persecution and all of those who suffered during subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Srebrenica and Darfur.
“I also reflected on the devastating news coming out of Ukraine, which indicates that the spectre of genocide is once again hanging over Europe.
“I would therefore encourage everyone to take a moment today to remember all those killed or who have suffered - and who continue to suffer - and to think about how they can, in however small a way, help to challenge bigotry and hatred.
“The recent rise in antisemitism in Britain and around the world shows that we can never become complacent.”
The theme for this year’s national Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration is ‘Ordinary People’, and organisers are asking everyone to reflect on how genocide is facilitated by ordinary people.
The theme also calls on people to consider how rescuers, who are also often portrayed as extraordinary, with amazing bravery and skill (which may be true in some cases) are often ordinary people who did extraordinary things, risking their lives, their livelihoods, and their families, to help others.
Paula Staunton of Earth Moves, said: “Earth Moves believes that we need to all come together and say no to antisemitism and other ‘isms’ that divide people. Alienation, discrimination and scapegoating minorities can lead to genocide.
“The holocaust was administered by thousands of ‘normal’ people. We need to challenge ideas of racial supremacy as soon as they arise.
“We need to remember and acknowledge the holocaust so we know the horror humans can inflict on each other and make sure it never happens again.”
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