“We remember the past to ensure it is not repeated in the future,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.  “Thinking about the horrible suffering of the victims of the Holocaust and their families reminds us that every day we must work to end intolerance and instead promote a culture of peace.”

More than six million Jewish people were killed in the atrocities of the Holocaust.  Others were also targeted, including Gypsies and homosexuals.  The day of international remembrance on January 27 marks the liberation of the largest Nazi death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, by Soviet troops in 1945.

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“I thank the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem for ensuring that we commemorate this day, remember the terrible atrocities of WWII and also honour the heroes of this incredibly horrific period in our history,” she said.

This year, Yom Hashoah fell on May 2nd, but the ceremony was postponed until this week due to the federal election.  The theme this year is “True Heroes – The Legacy of the Righteous.”

“Observing this day on a yearly basis is so important to ensure that we are vigilant in preventing genocide in any part of the world of any peoples,” said May.  The Greens are particularly concerned with the situation in Darfur.

“The world must continue to be watchful and remember ‘never again’ must apply to areas of horrifically violent conflict that have potential to become a genocidal slaughter.  The international community must stay involved to prevent human rights abuses,” said May.

Six million people died in the Holocaust, 63 percent of the Jewish population in Europe.

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