This is Derbyshire --Next week, Derby remembers the victims of the Holocaust and other acts of genocide around the world.
MY dictionary defines genocide as 'the systematic killing of all the people from a national, ethnic or religious group, or an attempt to do this', and holocaust as 'complete consumption by fire, especially of a large number of human beings or animals; wholesale or mass destruction.'
Hitler's mass murder and cremation of millions of those who did not conform with his genetic ideals of the master race – Jews, other nationals and anyone else perceived to be "different": gypsies, those disabled in any way, intellectuals, artists, homosexuals, musicians, the weak and more – became "The Holocaust" to end them all.
It was said that "it must never happen again" yet since the Holocaust, millions more have become victims of crimes against humanity, in Russia, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Darfur, Bosnia and more. Both world and local news is still full of horror stories resulting from discrimination, racism and hatred.
In 2001, January 27 – the date on which Auschwitz, the largest Nazi death camp, was liberated by the Allies – was established as Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), but the commemorations extend to the many officially recognised genocides that have occurred since.
Here in Derby, we also commemorate the victims of the Holodomor, Stalin's systematic starving to death of more than 7 million Ukrainians between 1932-33.
Since 2001, Derby's HMD working party has organised events which now span not just the day but a full week. The group comprises volunteers supported by the Mayor's Office, representatives of the cathedral, city and university, refugee organisations, religious and other communities, ethnic minorities that have found refuge here and independent members.
As well as remembering those who suffered, events also celebrate the enormous contribution that those who created new lives here in Derby have made, and continue to make, to our city.
The group always welcomes new members and this year we are glad to involve two new communities.
The Sikhs' sacrifice in the war is often not recognised, but not only is the Sikh National Holocaust Museum right here in Derby, but our Sikh friends will also be participating in the event at Quad for the first time; while the Caribbean community will be hosting a panel discussion and telling a story at the Speakers' Evening at the university on January 30.
This year's theme is Journeys, and many of the events focus on journeys of various kinds and in the broadest sense of the word.
It is vital that the Holocaust and subsequent genocides should continue to be commemorated so that despite the carnage still being wrought in so many places in the world, we strive in whatever ways we can to fight discrimination, racism and exclusion of any kind wherever we find it. Only that way lies the road to peace.
Derby's HMD group launched a poster competition in schools on the theme of "Journeys"– a competition that has been taken up by the national HMD Trust. The winners will receive their prizes, given by members of Derby's volunteer HMD group, at the evening event at Quad on Monday.
Bridges, the band that will be performing at Quad on Monday, includes Jewish and Ukrainian musicians – two communities that would have been enemies under Hitler.
Over the years, Derby's contribution to Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations has received increasing recognition by the national HMD Trust.
This year the group is proud to announce that a poem by Charles Whitaker, a member of the Derby group, which he read at the city's HMD event last year, has now been adopted by the national HMD Trust and, read by Olivia Coleman, is included on its website.
Furthermore, Charles has been invited to the national commemoration in London's QE II Conference Centre on Monday, at which the poem will be read by Olivia. the event will also be attended by Holocaust survivors and many VIP guests.
The group is enormously proud of Charles, who is an independent member of Derby's HMD group, but speaks up in particular for the disabled.
DERBY COMMEMORATES THE HOLOCAUST WITH A SERIES OF EVENTS, FROM FILMS TO FOLK CONCERTS TODAY TO FRIDAY A special exhibition called Journeys will be held at Derby Cathedral. The event will feature the experiences of the Bosnian and Ukrainian people as well as winning entries from Derby primary and secondary schools for the Holocaust Memorial Day 2014 poster competition. MONDAY Prayer and time for reflection at the Bridge Chapel, Sowter Road, Derby, at 3pm. At 3.30pm, there will be a stone-setting ceremony at the trees dedicated to Anne Frank and Olga Nahlak over the road from Bridge Chapel. Stone setting is a Jewish custom whereby stones rather than flowers are left on graves. Olga Nahlak was a Ukrainian woman who saved a Jewish family by hiding them under her floorboards. She even faked a pregnancy so that, when the Jewish mother gave birth, no-one was surprised to see Olga with a baby and its crying aroused no suspicion. Olga's husband disappeared, presumed murdered, and she came to England where she lived and died in Derby. At 4pm, there will be a reception and exhibition as well as refreshments at the new Bosnian Centre, Curzon Street, Derby. Some transport will be provided from the stone setting. The exhibition will run until Thursday. From 6.30pm to 7.15pm, there will be a multi-faith service of commemoration in Derby Cathedral. With readings from the Bible and Koran and the Jewish Kaddish – traditional prayer for the dead, roll call of genocides, candle lighting and music from Landau Forte College. Evening event at Quad in Derby Market Place, starting at 8.15pm. It will include a presentation of prizes to the winners of the poster competition. The aim was to design a poster on the theme Journeys – this year's national Holocaust Memorial Day theme. The event will also include narrative and slides from Wirksworth resident Judy Sherwood, whose father, Moishe Chaim Grunbaum, was one of the German-born UK residents sent by the British government to camps in Australia on the infamous ship The Dunera. His memoirs of the terrible conditions on the voyage only came to light this year. The evening will also include: Sikh martial arts and live music; Music, slides and words from Ferid Kevric, Derby's Bosnian community leader, on his journey from Bosnia to Derby; Tom McCreedy – story-telling in gypsy campfire tradition; Music, song and dance from Jewish and Ukrainian traditions, both separately and together, with the band Bridges and dancers from Hoverla, the award-winning Ukrainian dancers from Derby. This is a remarkable collaboration since, historically, these two groups were in conflict. MONDAY TO SATURDAY The play Kindertransport will be performed nightly at Derby Theatre at 7.30pm Derby Theatre, with 2.30pm matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. Following the Wednesday matinee, there will be a question and answer session with Stephen Mendelsson, a Kindertransportee. The Kindertransport brought thousands of Jewish and other endangered children to Great Britain from Nazi Europe in 1939. Some returned to their homelands after the war but some never saw their parents again and remained permanently in England. Normal theatre charges apply to this production. TUESDAY A panel discussion – In Their Shoes – will be held at the Voicebox, Forman Street, from 7.30pm to 9pm. The event is free but call on 01332 295297 to register interest as space is limited. WEDNESDAY At 9.15am, Quad shows Into The Arms Of Strangers, a documentary about the Kindertransport. Steven Mendelsson, a Kindertransportee, will take part in a question and answer session afterwards. Entry is free but call the box office on 01332 290606 for tickets. Rabbi Roderick Young gives a talk – Weave a Wreath of Memory: The literature of the Holocaust – from 2pm to 3.30pm at Blagreaves Library, Littleover. He looks at literature written by women, men and children, some who survived and some who did not. Folk for Freedom concert at 8pm at the Old Bell Hotel, Sadler Gate, Derby. Entry is £5 on the door. All proceeds go to Amnesty. Lucy Ward is the headline act, with special guest Geoff Noble. THURSDAY At 9.15am, Quad will show Into The Arms Of Strangers, followed by a question and answer session with Steven Mendelsson. Entry is free but call the box office on 01332 290606 for tickets. A Speakers' Evening will be held at the University of Derby, Kedleston Road, from 7pm to 10pm. Speakers from different communities in Derby will talk on the theme of Journeys, with Q&A sessions. Speakers are Kamal Amier from the Somalian community; Karina Martin from Upbeat communities, on her recent journey to Northern Iraq; Ferid Kevric from the Bosnian community; and Edna Williamson from the Jamaican/West Indian Community. Reported by This is 6 hours ago.