In a moment in German politics, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) came together on Sunday to finalize their strategies for the upcoming European Union elections. The party conventions were marked by a sense of urgency and a call to action as both parties faced declining poll numbers and a shared determination to reinvigorate voter participation.
During the congresses held on January 28 both coalition partners officially approved their election platforms. Announced their leading candidates setting the stage for what is expected to be a fiercely competitive race. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, addressing the SPD gathering emphasized the significance of the forthcoming elections portraying them as a battleground against the rise of right-wing populism in Germany and throughout Europe.
With an approval rating currently standing at 13.5%, the SPD has made combating right ideologies a central pillar of its campaign. Katarina Barley, a politician who previously led the party’s efforts, in the 2019 European elections has once again been chosen to spearhead the SPD’s endeavours. Despite the difficulties faced in the past where the SPD experienced setbacks the party remains determined to turn things around and address the growing influence of illiberal forces within the EU. One vocal critic of Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán’s tactics is Barley.
On a note, the FDP, whose support has dipped below the crucial 5% threshold is campaigning with a focus on reducing bureaucracy at the EU level. Marie Agnes Strack Zimmermann, their candidate strongly criticized Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s administration for fostering a “madness of bureaucracy” that hampers innovation. The FDP also highlighted von der Leyen’s perceived alignment with policies by referring to her as “the Green Commission president ” aiming to differentiate their stance on regulatory reform.
These national campaigns take place against a political landscape in the EU that faces significant challenges, including a strained relationship with Hungary. Both the SPD and FDP have expressed concerns about Orbán’s behaviour and how the European Commission has handled this situation. In particular, there is controversy surrounding the decision to unfreeze EU funds for Hungary—a move seen by some as compromising the EU’s commitment, to democratic values.
As German political parties fine-tune their approaches and rally their supporters the upcoming EU elections become a moment not just for tackling internal political hurdles but also for shaping the future path of the European Union. From reforms to safeguarding democratic values, the results of these elections will undoubtedly hold significant consequences for Germany’s position, in Europe and the overall direction of the EU.
Finland and Ireland have recently launched a project called “Fostering Inclusive Quality Education in Finland and Ireland ” which is a significant step towards promoting inclusive education. This initiative, funded by the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and supported by the Agency began with an event in Dublin, Ireland on January 18 2024.
The main objective of this project is to strengthen the capacity of Finland and Ireland to create inclusive education systems. It aims to assist the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland and the Department of Education in Ireland by identifying goals and planning actions to ensure equitable learning opportunities. The ultimate aim is to improve outcomes for all students regardless of their backgrounds or abilities.
The kick-off event marked the start of a journey towards achieving quality education in both countries. It brought together stakeholders from regional and local levels providing a platform for engagement in project activities and facilitating peer learning between relevant authorities at regional as well as national levels.
During the opening ceremony Josepha Madigan, Ireland‘s Minister of State, for Special Education and Inclusion delivered a video message.
She emphasized Ireland’s commitment to providing education and achieving the objectives of the project. She referred to a Policy Advice publication by the National Council for Special Education, which calls for systemic reforms. Madigan invited stakeholders to engage in a dialogue aimed at progressively achieving a more inclusive education system.
Mario Nava, the Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) echoed the dedication to inclusivity and highlighted how the TSI program contributes to strengthening inclusive education across the European Union through various projects.
Merja Mannerkoski, a Senior Specialist at Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture reiterated Finland’s promise to ensure quality learning support provision throughout the country. She emphasized Finland’s reputation for excellence in education.
During the event, Professor Lani Florian from the University of Edinburgh delivered a keynote speech on inclusive education. Her presentation not only motivated participants but also encouraged further collaboration between national authorities and stakeholders to strengthen initiatives promoting inclusivity in education.
In the concluding discussions of the meeting, national stakeholders shared insights into their education system’s strengths and challenges. These conversations laid a foundation for identifying areas of focus throughout various stages of the project paving the way for transformative changes, in both Finland and Ireland’s educational landscapes. As Finland and Ireland set out on this endeavour the initiative serves as a symbol of optimism for the advancement of inclusive education offering a pathway to fair and equal learning opportunities, throughout Europe.
In a step towards empowering workers in multinational companies based in the European Union, the EU has introduced a set of transformative regulations to strengthen European Works Councils (EWCs). This move marks an era of workplace democracy focused on improving communication and decision-making between employees and employers.
The initiative places importance on EWCs, which play a crucial role in giving employees a voice in matters that transcend national boundaries. These councils address issues like company restructuring, labour shortages and the integration of technologies. With representation from over 11.3 million employees across Europe EWCs highlight the EU’s commitment to participatory workplace governance. However, despite their coverage that includes more, than half of the eligible workforce, there are still around 4,000 eligible companies that have yet to establish their EWCs.
The proposal put forth by the European Commission aims to revitalize the EWC framework through significant improvements.
Promoting Democratic Establishment of EWCs; The new rules strive to democratize the process of forming European Works Councils by granting equal rights to employees for initiating their creation. This proposed move has the potential to expand the benefits of European Works Councils (EWCs) to 5.4 million workers in 320 multinational companies. It aims to remove exemptions that limit worker participation.
One of the changes emphasizes the significance of timely and meaningful consultation between workers and multinational companies on matters directly impacting them. This fosters a transparent working environment.
Recognizing the role of resources in ensuring effective functioning the Commission proposes equipping these councils with the necessary tools and support to effectively fulfill their mandate.
To promote diversity and inclusivity the new rules include provisions for gender balance within European Works Councils. This reflects the EU’s commitment to achieving gender equality across all areas of work.
These anticipated reforms seek to enhance information flow and consultation thereby enriching strategic decision-making processes within companies while fostering mutual trust between management and workers. Additionally, these measures are designed to be cost-effective for companies without compromising their edge.
By taking these steps towards strengthening worker representation in multinational companies the EU establishes a precedent, for a more democratic, inclusive and resilient workplace culture.
This effort not only emphasizes the importance of collaborative training workshops in promoting improved work environments but also showcases the European Union’s strong commitment, to make sure that workers’ opinions are acknowledged and honoured in the international business arena.
The surprisingly strong effect could have implications for drug design and delivery.
The humble membranes that enclose our cells have a surprising superpower: They can push away nano-sized molecules that happen to approach them. A team including scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has figured out why, by using artificial membranes that mimic the behavior of natural ones. Their discovery could make a difference in how we design the many drug treatments that target our cells.
Cell membranes generate powerful electric field gradients that are largely responsible for repelling nano-sized particles like proteins from the surface of the cell — a repulsion that notably affects uncharged nanoparticles. In this schematic drawing, a negatively charged membrane (at top, in red) attracts small, positively charged molecules (purple circles), which crowd the membrane and push away a far larger, neutral nanoparticle (pink). Credit: N. Hanacek/NIST
The team’s findings, which appear in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, confirm that the powerful electrical fields that cell membranes generate are largely responsible for repelling nanoscale particles from the surface of the cell. This repulsion notably affects neutral, uncharged nanoparticles, in part because the smaller, charged molecules the electric field attracts crowd the membrane and push away the larger particles. Since many drug treatments are built around proteins and other nanoscale particles that target the membrane, the repulsion could play a role in the treatments’ effectiveness.
The findings provide the first direct evidence that the electric fields are responsible for the repulsion. According to NIST’s David Hoogerheide, the effect deserves greater attention from the scientific community.
“This repulsion, along with the related crowding that the smaller molecules exert, is likely to play a significant role in how molecules with a weak charge interact with biological membranes and other charged surfaces,” said Hoogerheide, a physicist at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) and one of the paper’s authors. “This has implications for drug design and delivery, and for the behavior of particles in crowded environments at the nanometer scale.”
Membranes form boundaries in nearly all kinds of cells. Not only does a cell have an outer membrane that contains and protects the interior, but often there are other membranes inside, forming parts of organelles such as mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus. Understanding membranes is important to medical science, not least because proteins lodged in the cell membrane are frequent drug targets. Some membrane proteins are like gates that regulate what gets into and out of the cell.
The region near these membranes can be a busy place. Thousands of types of different molecules crowd each other and the cell membrane — and as anyone who has tried to push through a crowd knows, it can be tough going. Smaller molecules such as salts move with relative ease because they can fit into tighter spots, but larger molecules, such as proteins, are limited in their movements.
This sort of molecular crowding has become a very active scientific research topic, Hoogerheide said, because it plays a real-world role in how the cell functions. How a cell behaves depends on the delicate interplay of the ingredients in this cellular “soup.” Now, it appears that the cell membrane might have an effect too, sorting molecules near itself by size and charge.
“How does crowding affect the cell and its behavior?” he said. “How, for example, do molecules in this soup get sorted inside the cell, making some of them available for biological functions, but not others? The effect of the membrane could make a difference.”
While researchers commonly use electric fields to move and separate molecules — a technique called dielectrophoresis — scientists have paid scant attention to this effect at the nanoscale because it takes extremely powerful fields to move nanoparticles. But powerful fields are just what an electrically charged membrane generates.
“The electric field right near a membrane in a salty solution like our bodies produce can be astoundingly strong,” Hoogerheide said. “Its strength falls off rapidly with distance, creating large field gradients that we figured might repel nearby particles. So we used neutron beams to look into it.”
Neutrons can distinguish between different isotopes of hydrogen, and the team designed experiments that explored a membrane’s effect on nearby molecules of PEG, a polymer that forms chargeless nano-sized particles. Hydrogen is a major constituent of PEG, and by immersing the membrane and PEG into a solution of heavy water — which is made with deuterium in place of ordinary water’s hydrogen atoms — the team could measure how closely the PEG particles approached the membrane. They used a technique known as neutron reflectometry at the NCNR as well as instruments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Together with molecular dynamics simulations, the experiments revealed the first-ever evidence that the membranes’ powerful field gradients were the culprit behind the repulsion: The PEG molecules were more strongly repelled from charged surfaces than from neutral surfaces.
While the findings do not reveal any fundamentally new physics, Hoogerheide said, they do show well-known physics in an unexpected place, and that should encourage scientists to take notice — and explore it further.
“We need to add this to our understanding of how things interact at the nanoscale,” he said. “We’ve demonstrated the strength and significance of this interaction. Now we need to investigate how it affects these crowded environments where so much biology happens.”
Paper: M. Aguilella-Arzo, D.P. Hoogerheide, M. Doucet, H. Wang and V.M. Aguilella. Charged biological membranes repel large neutral molecules by surface dielectrophoresis and counterion pressure. Journal of the American Chemical Society. Published online Jan. 16, 2024. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12348
Are firefighters at risk of increased exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in their protective clothing?
Last year, a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) showed that the textiles used in protective clothing worn by firefighters often contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a class of chemicals that has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and other health effects.
A firefighter’s protective clothing includes three layers made of different types of textiles. A pair of studies by NIST has found that these textiles often contain potentially cancer-causing chemicals called PFAS and that they can release more of those chemicals when subject to simulated wear and tear. Credit: B. Hayes/NIST
Now, a follow-up study from NIST shows that the textiles used in that protective clothing, called turnout gear, tend to release more PFAS when they are subject to wear and tear. Taken together, the two studies identified the PFAS compounds present in selected turnout gear textiles, how much of each was present, and whether simulated wear and tear increased the amount of PFAS that the textiles released.
“The firefighter community has raised concerns about PFAS in turnout gear, but before these studies, there was very little data that address those concerns,” said NIST chemist and study co-author Rick Davis. “Based on these studies we can confidently say that more than 20 types of PFAS might be present in firefighter gear and that the amount and type of PFAS vary depending on the type of textile used and the amount of stress it has been subjected to.”
The NIST studies do not assess the health risks that firefighters might face due to the presence of PFAS in turnout gear. However, they provide previously unavailable data that toxicologists, epidemiologists and other health experts can use to assess those risks.
NIST conducted these studies at the behest of Congress, which called on NIST to study PFAS in firefighter gear in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.
PFAS are used in many products because they can make things resistant to oil, water and stains. They are often present in clothing, furniture, food packaging and nonstick cookware, among other things. They play a particularly important role in turnout gear by helping firefighters to do their job without getting totally drenched.
Because PFAS don’t break down in the environment, they are often referred to as “forever chemicals.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that most Americans have detectable amounts of PFAS in their blood. Other studies have indicated that the blood of firefighters may have higher than average levels
of at least one type of PFAS. Research also suggests that firefighters may have a higher risk for certain types of cancer than the general population does, though that is not necessarily due to PFAS specifically.
Turnout gear includes pants, coats, gloves, boots and helmets. This study focused on the textiles used in pants and jackets, which typically contain three layers of material: a thermal layer nearest the body, a moisture barrier and an outer shell. In the earlier study, the researchers purchased 21 textiles that are typically used in each of these layers. They then tested those textiles for 53 different PFAS compounds and measured how much of each was present.
In the more recent study, the researchers stressed those same textiles using four techniques: abrasion, heat, laundering and weathering. The weathering was simulated by exposing the textiles to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and high humidity.
The researchers then measured the PFAS present after the textiles were stressed. The results showed that abrasion can cause measured PFAS concentrations to increase across all textiles tested. In addition, weathering and heat caused measured PFAS concentrations to increase in the outer shell materials. Finally, laundering had little effect, and in some cases reduced PFAS concentrations, presumably because PFAS were washed away into the wastewater.
Overall, both before and after stressing, measured PFAS concentrations were highest in outer shell fabrics that had been treated with a water-repellent coating. PFAS concentrations were lowest in the thermal layer, which is the layer nearest the firefighter’s body.
The researchers measured PFAS concentrations by first extracting PFAS from the textiles using a solvent. Based on this method, it is unclear what caused PFAS concentrations to change during stressing. Those changes might have been caused by chemical transformations, but it is also possible that stressing loosened the PFAS from the textile fibers, allowing more of it to be extracted.
Now that the researchers have measured PFAS in the textiles that have been stressed under highly controlled laboratory conditions, they are considering studying real gear that has been used for years. That may paint a more realistic picture, though a potentially more complicated one, as used gear might become contaminated with toxic compounds picked up at fire scenes.
Firefighter gear has to meet certain standards, including minimum requirements for water repellency. This research might point to new ways to meet those standards while reducing the risks of PFAS exposure. For instance, the amount and types of PFAS in the textiles varied from one manufacturer to the next, suggesting that some combinations might result in a lower risk of exposure than others. Or manufacturers might find alternative ways to meet the standards without relying on potentially toxic chemicals.
“Using PFAS in turnout gear may or may not be an acceptable risk, given all the other hazards that firefighters already face,” said NIST chemist and co-author John Kucklick. “This data will help people weigh those costs and benefits.”
“In front of the uncovered relics of St. Theodosius of Chernigov (1896), the priest who was dressing the relics, tired, dozed off and saw the saint in front of him, who said to him: “Thank you for working hard for me. I am still begging you when you serve liturgy, pray for my parents”. And he called their names – Nikita the priest and Maria. “Why do you ask me for this, saint, do you want a prayer from me, when you yourself stand before the Throne of Heaven and give the mercy of God to people?” – asked the priest “Yes, it is true, but the liturgical offering is stronger than my prayer,” St. Theodosius replied.
Memorial services, home prayers, and good deeds in their memory, such as almsgiving, donations to the Church, are extremely useful for the dead, but the mention of the Divine Liturgy is especially useful. There are many testimonies and events confirming this usefulness. Many who died with repentance, but failed to manifest it during their lifetime, were freed from torment and received repose. The church always offers prayers for the repose of the dead, even on the day of St. A spirit with kneeling prayers, at vespers there is also a special prayer for those “held in hell”. Each of us who wants to show our love for the dead and give them real help can do it by praying for them, especially with reference to the Holy Liturgy, when particles for the dead and the living are dropped into the Chalice of the Blood of the Lord with the words: “Wash away, Lord, the sins of those mentioned here, where Your Blood is, through the prayers of Your saints.” There is nothing better and greater we can do for them than to give them their names to be mentioned at the liturgy. They always need it, but especially during those 40 days when the soul of the deceased passes on the way to the eternal abodes. Then the body feels nothing, does not see the gathered loved ones, does not smell the fragrance of the flowers, does not hear the eulogies. But the soul feels the prayers offered to it, is grateful to their offerers and feels spiritually close to them.
Relatives and friends of the deceased! Do for them whatever is necessary and according to your power. Do not spend money on external decorations of graves and tombs, but on helping the needy, in memory of the relatives of the deceased, on the church where prayers are offered for them. Show mercy to the deceased, take care of his soul. We all have this path ahead of us – how then can we want to be mentioned in prayer! Let us be merciful to the dead. As soon as someone dies, call a priest to read him “Succession at the exit of the soul”, which should be read to every Orthodox immediately after his death. Try to have the funeral service in the church itself, and until then read the Psalter to him. The funeral may not be performed sumptuously, but solemnly in its full part, without abbreviations; think not of your own comforts, but of the deceased, to whom you are forever saying goodbye. If at that time there are several deceased in the church, do not refuse to sing them together. It will be better if there are two or three deceased, so that the prayer of all the relatives together will be even more fervent than if they are chanted separately, tired and shortening the service. Every prayer will be like another drop of water for the thirsty. See to it that Lent is performed for the dead. In churches where daily services are held, the dead are commemorated during these 40 days and even more. If the deceased is buried in a church where there is no daily service, then the relatives should take care to find one and order a Pentecost service there.
Also, it is good that their names be given for reading in the monasteries of Jerusalem or in other holy places. But the important thing is that the Lent should be ordered immediately after the death, when the soul is especially in need of prayer help.
Let us take care of those who go to the other world before us, let us do all we can for them, remembering that “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.”
Pro-Sikh freedom organization has shared a poignant letter written to French President Emmanuel Macron, the missive expressed the Sikh community’s disappointment it urged President Macron to address crucial issues during his visit.
A few days before India’s Republic Day on January 26, the pro-Sikh freedom organization Dal Khalsa has shared a poignant letter written to French President Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest at India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations. The missive expressed the Sikh community’s disappointment it urged President Macron to address crucial issues during his visit. The organization’s appeal is a critical plea for international intervention in the Sikh community’s ongoing struggle for justice and recognition. WSN reports.
The circumstances and developments in the last year have seen Sikh bodies going international in their approach to addressing burning issues concerning Sikh identity and Sikh rights in a concerted attempt to resolve the political conflict between Sikhs and India.
Dal Khalsa’s letter to President Macron, sent through the French Ambassador in India, penned by the party’s Secretary for Political Affairs, Kanwar Pal Singh, highlights the global scrutiny of the Indian government’s role in transnational repression.
The organization voices the Sikh community’s concerns, stating, “Your acceptance to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations has acutely disappointed the Sikhs worldwide.”
“Sikhs are facing a live threat to their existence and identity, not only in Punjab and India but also in other countries. Now that you have decided and as perhaps there is no looking back, we urge you to have a dialogue with your Indian counterpart Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during your visit to New Delhi on transnational targeted killings of Sikhs, implementing equal prisoner norms and laws in the country, restoring respect for human rights and especially emphasizing the Sikh demand for amending India’s constitution to give restless peoples of various nationalities the right to self-determination under UN covenants.”
Sikh Community concerned About French President Macron’s Attendance at India’s Republic Day Event 6
Dal Khalsa has emphasized the severe threat to Sikh existence and identity, not only in Punjab and India but globally, citing instances of extrajudicial killings by Indian secret service agents. The letter reiterates the Sikh community’s struggle in Punjab for Sikh sovereignty.
Sikhs are facing a live threat to their existence and identity, not only in Punjab and India but also in other countries.
KANWAR PAL SINGH, SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, DAL KHALSA
Furthermore, Kanwar Pal Singh has highlighted that while India marks 26 January with pomp and glory, India’s minorities and nationalities, including Sikhs, observe it as ‘Black Republic Day’ due to India’s discriminatory and fascist policies.
Reiterating its resolve to place things in proper perspective, Dal Khalsa has announced a peaceful protest march in Moga on January 26, to recall and reiterate the constitutional injustices and discrimination faced by minorities, including Sikhs.
Dal Khalsa’s correspondence with President Macron also touches upon recent international incidents, including the assassination of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the indictment of an Indian national in the US for plotting against US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. These events, according to Dal Khalsa, have placed India under suspicion, with the group expressing fears and apprehensions regarding India’s response to these incidents.
Not stopping at just the participation of the visiting dignitary at the 26 January events, Dal Khalsa has questioned the French government’s continuous support for India’s bid to join the UN Security Council.
Speaking to World Sikhs News, without mincing words, Kanwar Pal Singh said, “If without a seat at the highest level at the United Nations, India is untameable and unaccountable, should India gain a foothold at the Security Council, we shudder to think of the consequences that will befall minorities and nationalities, endangering peace in South Asia expressing concerns over potential threats to minority rights and peace in South Asia.”
“The carte blanche endorsement of India’s attempt to be a member of the UN Security Council by the government of France underscores the need for better comprehension of the possible destruction India can cause to peoples’ rights.”
As French Sikh residents, including citizens, face serious mishandling of their identity issues with various government departments in France, Kanwar Pal Singh also sought the visiting dignitary’s intervention to respect Sikh identity and make local muncipal and state regulations accordingly.
With this timely letter, Dal Khalsa has once again focused international attention on the plight of the Sikh community and it would be interesting to see if France upholds its commitment to equality, liberty, and fraternity in addressing the issues raised.
Hate is growing at an alarming speed, and the world must strongly denounce forces of division, especially in the wake of the abhorrent 7 October terror attacks in Israel, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday, opening a ceremony in the General Assembly Hall commemorating victims of the Holocaust.
“All of us – leaders and citizens – have a responsibility to listen and to learn from survivors and victims by condemning these terrible crimes against humanity, striving to eradicate antisemitism and all forms of bigotry, hatred and intolerance and by finding a way forward to a shared, safe and inclusive future for all,” UN chief António Guterres said.
“This is particularly important in today’s dangerous and divided world and a few short months after Hamas’ horrific terror attacks, in which so many innocent Israeli civilians and citizens of other countries were killed,” he said.
The world must resolve to “stand up against the forces of hate and division”, he continued.
The antisemitic hate that fuelled the Holocaust did not start with the Nazis nor did it end with their defeat, he said, but was preceded by thousands of years of discrimination, expulsion, exile and extermination.
“Today, we are witnessing hate spreading at alarming speed,” the UN chief said. “Online, it has moved from the margins to the mainstream.”
To combat hate, he urged all to speak out.
“Let us never be silent in the face of discrimination, and never tolerant of intolerance,” he said. “Let us speak out for human rights and the dignity of all. Let us never lose sight of each other’s humanity, and never let down our guard.”
“To all who confront prejudice and persecution, let us clearly say: you are not alone,” Mr. Guterres said. “The United Nations stands with you.”
“Today, of all days, we must remember that demonization of the other and disdain for diversity is a danger to everyone, that no society is immune to intolerance and worse and that bigotry against one group is bigotry against all.”
Unsplash/Jean Carlo Emer
The former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in southern Poland.
Survivors’ stories are powerful reminders for vigilance: PGA
Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly, said, in a pre-recorded video message, that promoting remembrance and education regarding the Holocaust is essential to ensuring that the crime of genocide is never seen as either normal or justifiable in any circumstance and to working towards ensuring it is never repeated.
“Today, those who tragically perished and the survivors are the powerful force behind all we do at the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to promote and defend human rights and to work relentlessly for a more just and peaceful world,” he said.
The stories of victims and survivors are the reminders of “our duty to counter hatred and intolerance” amid a surge in hate speech across the world alongside rising antisemitism and xenophobia.
“We cannot and must not be complacent,” he said. “Today and every day, we must recommit to say more than just ‘never again’. We must live our lives daily by this mantra. The Holocaust must forever be a warning to all of us to stay vigilant against widespread hatred, racism, prejudice and intolerance.”
UN Photo/Manuel Elías – Sisters Selma Tennenbaum Rossen and Edith Tennenbaum Shapiro, survivors from Poland, address the UN Holocaust Memorial Ceremony, held in observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims.
‘Never again is now’: Israel
Israel’s Ambassador Gilad Erdan said the attack on Israel on 7 October by Hamas was “an attempted genocide”.
“We, the Jewish people, understand the meaning of genocide more than any other people,” he said. “We have been persecuted for millennia. Hitler seared the meaning of genocide into our DNA.”
But, on 7 October, Hamas “tore open that wound”, he said, patting a yellow star, a badge the Nazi regime forced Jewish people to wear, affixed to his lapel.
“On International Holocaust Remembrance Day…I stand here, in the name of the State of Israel, in the name of all those murdered by the Nazis and Hamas, and I swear, we will not forget. Never again is now.”
In a statement commemorating the international day, Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said the world is duty-bound to examine why the Holocaust happened to ensure it is never repeated.
Indeed, the scale of the crimes committed engaged many perpetrators, he stressed.
The Nazi concentration camps and death trains were staffed, and the victims had often been identified to the police, by people they knew, he said.
“Countless bystanders looked away from – or were indifferent to – what they must have suspected was extraordinary, inhuman brutality,” he said. “The dehumanization that enabled the Holocaust – the depth and scale of this failure of empathy and fellow feeling for other human beings – is incomprehensible and terrifying.”
The world’s horror at the Holocaust led directly to the adoption of the Genocide Convention and to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 75 years ago and instrumental in the adoption of the European Convention on Human Rights and a host of international treaties that enshrine equality, dignity and rights in the face of tyranny and destitution, he said, adding that these conventions, principles and values must forever be upheld.
“It is our duty to seek answers to how these crimes could have been prevented,” he said. “If we do not, they could happen again.”
UN Holocaust Memorial Ceremony
This year’s ceremony was hosted by Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, and featured a range of speakers, testimonies from survivors and performances.
Speakers included the UN Secretary-General, President of the 78th session of the General Assembly, Permanent Representative of Israel and the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.
Holocaust survivor Christian Pfeil, who was born in the Lubin ghetto in occupied Poland, shared his testimony about the persecution of the Roma and Sinti peoples.
Sisters Edith Tennenbaum Shapiro and Selma Tennenbaum Rossen, Holocaust survivors from Poland, shared their stories alongside a performance by violinist Doori Na.
Others who contributed to the event included Petra and Patrik Gelbart, who sang a piece about the Roma people. Cantor Daniel Singer recited a memorial prayer.
As we commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th the world is reminded of the horrors of the past and the ongoing commitment, to ensuring that such atrocities never recur. This year marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Birkenau, a Nazi concentration camp that serves as a powerful symbol of the unspeakable acts committed during the Holocaust. This day not only honours and remembers the six million Jewish victims but also prompts us to reflect on the hundreds of thousands of Roma and other individuals who endured immense suffering under Nazi persecution.
Given the events particularly the abhorrent terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel on October 7 2023, the importance of this day has become even more profound. President von der Leyen’s statements in advance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day emphasize the growing presence of antisemitism, in Europe. Shed light on the renewed anxieties faced by European Jews.
“No parent should be afraid to send their children to school,” von der Leyen stated, condemning the bullying, harassment, and attacks on Jewish individuals, as well as the vandalism of synagogues and desecration of Jewish cemeteries.
The President emphasized the need for unity and support for Jewish communities, asserting, “There is no place for antisemitic hatred, especially here in Europe. And there is no justification for antisemitism.” This call to action is a reminder of the dark times in history and the importance of standing together against hatred.
The European Commission has taken measures to address antisemitism and promote Jewish life. On October 5 2021 they introduced their ever strategy to support EU countries and civil society in this regard. Additionally, on November 6 2023, the Commission released a communication titled “No place for hate; a Europe united against hatred ” which further showcases their dedication to protecting spaces and countering online hatred.
Preserving the memory of the Holocaust is of importance, especially as we are losing the last survivors. To achieve this the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism has implemented a flagship action called the ‘Network of Places Where the Holocaust Happened.’ This initiative aims to safeguard sites for educational and commemorative purposes.
The European Commission‘s efforts are not limited to Europe alone; they have also launched campaigns like #ProtectTheFacts and other initiatives that combat Holocaust distortion. These endeavours play a role in raising awareness and preventing future genocidal acts. The United Nations General Assembly Resolution on Holocaust Remembrance similarly underscores the significance of education and preserving Holocaust sites.
As part of their commitment to fighting racism and discrimination, the European Commission will allocate over €14 million, from EU funding in 2024 to support projects focused on European Remembrance. This financial support aims to strengthen remembrance efforts enhance education and research in this area as well as combat denial and distortion surrounding the Holocaust.
On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, let us heed President von der Leyen’s words: “If Europe fails the Jews, Europe will have failed us all. Never again is now!” It is our collective duty to remember the past and ensure a future where Jewish life can thrive without fear, and where antisemitism finds no shelter.
Amid new reports of intensified bombing and clashes across the Strip on Wednesday, OCHA said that requests had beendenied five times since 26 December to reach the Central Drug Store in Gaza city and Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya, further north.
“At the same time, the continued denial of fuel delivery to water and sanitation facilities is leaving tens of thousands of people without access to clean water and increasing the risk of sewage overflows, significantly heightening the risk of the spread of communicable diseases,” OCHA noted in its latest update on the impact of war in Gaza, issued late Tuesday.
According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), 15 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain “partially functional”: nine in the south and six in the north. Since the start of hostilities, the UN and health partners have provided healthcare and medical services to an estimated 500,000 people.
The development came as much of the Strip and especially central and southern areas in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis governorates, experienced further “intense” Israeli bombardment from the air, land and sea in the past 24 hours, OCHA said.
Rocket fire into Israel by Palestinian armed groups also continued, along with ongoing clashes between Israeli soldiers and militants, particularly in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis governorates.
Citing the Gazan health authorities, OCHA noted that 126 Palestinians had been killed between the afternoons of 8 and 9 January; another 241 were reportedly injured. The total estimated number of fatalities is at least 23,210 Palestinians killed and 59,167 injured from Israeli bombardment, that began in response to Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel on 7 October, leaving some 1,200 dead including 36 children and another 240 taken hostage.
“The Israeli authorities estimate that about 136 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza,” OCHA said.
NGOs not spared
The ongoing Israeli offensive has resulted in “many” deadly incidents with “devastating consequences for tens of thousands of civilians”, OCHA said, noting that many had already fled Gaza City and the north to central and southern areas of the Strip.
In one incident in Khan Younis, a five-year-old child of a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) worker died of her injuries after a MSF shelter was hit on Monday.
In Deir al Balah, four people were also reportedly killed and dozens injured when a house northwest of the city was targeted, OCHA said.
Citing the Israeli military, the UN office reported that between 8 and 9 January, nine Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza, with 183 killed since the start of the ground operation and 1,065 personnel injured.
Bombardments have caused widespread damage in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Overcrowding fuels disease threat
Meanwhile, UN humanitarians reiterated warnings about the growing risk of disease in the Strip, particularly in the southern city of Rafah, as yet more civilians flee hostilities following Israeli evacuation orders.
Pre-war, Rafah was home to around 280,000 people, but it now has a population of well over one million, the UN relief agency for Palestinians (UNWRA) said on Tuesday in an online post on X.
“Overcrowded streets witness alarming spread of disease”, but staff are “overwhelmed by the ever-increasing need”, the agency said.
1.9 million uprooted
After more than three months of violence, nearly 85 per cent of Gaza’s population is now believed to be displaced – some 1.9 million people – according to UNRWA.
The UN agency continues to shelter nearly 1.4 million people in 155 UNRWA facilities across all five governorates but facilities “are far exceeding their intended capacity”.
UNWRA installations have also received 63 direct hits, it said, with at least 319 displaced people killed in the agency’s shelters and more than 1,135 injured since 7 October.
On 9 January, 131 trucks with supplies entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, according to OCHA.
