Let us never forget the Holocaust

UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day kicked off the 2019 events for the New Zealand World Peace Bell in Christchurch Botanic Gardens. We (NZ World Peace Bell Association) willingly provide the Christchurch venue for the New Zealand Holocaust Centre. It happened about three years ago when Holocaust Centre people approached our member David Bolom-Smith saying they would be keen to hold a remembrance event in Christchurch if a venue was available. David considered the event fitted with our WPB ideals. As founder of the NZ WPBA, I agreed. UN Holocaust Day has since been included in our Calendar of bell-ringing events. The third Holocaust event in Christchurch happened on Sunday January 27.

 January 27 is the Remembrance Day unless the day falls on a Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.

The NZ Holocaust Centre provides the programme. Of the 50 plus people attending this year, about 12 were WPB members. Amongst special guests were; Andrew Turner, Deputy Mayor of Christchurch, Duncan Webb, MP for Central Christchurch and the Very Reverend Lawrence Kimberly, Dean of the (transitional) Anglican Cathedral. Special quests had to light one of six candles, each one representing 1 million of the innocent, mostly Jewish, people murdered owing to their race.

 Deputy Mayor, Andrew Turner, gave a brilliant address which was largely echoed by other speakers.  . As individuals we do not make government policy. But we do need to stand up to racism, bigotry, anti-antisemitism and anything else that divides people. Racism is frequently a by-product of a government's immigration policy.

We need only see what is happening in many countries in an effort to divide people. US President, Donald Trump, likely leads the pack with his blatant support of white supremacy and his proposed border wall to keep Mexicans out. In the UK, Brexit is largely about stopping the free movement of people between Continental Europe and Britain. Neo Nazism is infiltrating politics in many countries. Neo-Nazi demonstrations have caused havoc in Melbourne, Australia. One member of the Federal Government shamefully attended, even claiming his $3000 travel expenses from taxpayers.

In many countries, groups are targeted owing to their race and, or, religious identities.  

 This is at a time when the British newspaper Guardian reports one in 20 people in Britain do not believe the Holocaust even happened. Another eight percent say the scale of the Holocaust is exaggerated.  Figures are from a poll commissioned by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, a government-funded organisation established to educate about the Holocaust. Figures echo findings from similar surveys carried out in seven European countries in   November 2018.In the US nine per cent said they were unaware of the Holocaust. This is not to conclude those surveyed were Holocaust deniers. But people with little awareness of what happened can swallow myths and distortions. Most people agree there is a need for more education and consequently awareness of the Holocaust. It is no secret that those most ignorant of history are most likely to repeat it. On a positive note, Holocaust centres, established in many countries, initiate events to mark UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

At earlier Christchurch events a police presence was noticed. They kept their distance from the WPB venue and, I noticed, were enjoying chatting to children in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Maybe a worthy PR opportunity for Christchurch police officers.