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Commemoration in 39 countries Demonstration Against Antisemitism In Amsterdam (NL) Education Against Fascism In Hungary Torchlight Procession All Over Sweden And Norway 65 years after the anti-Jewish pogrom known as 'Kristallnacht', the European anti-fascist and anti-racist movement showed its awareness of historical events as well as of current tendencies. In 39 countries activists organised a wide variety of events in commemoration of the 'Kristallnacht' pogrom. In the framework of the UNITED campaign "Who Shall We Blame Now?" tens of thousands of people took part this year's International day Against Fascism and Antisemitism on 9 November. They proved their commitment and their respect towards the victims of past violence as well as their sensitivity towards current tendencies to search for scapegoats again. This year, NGOs in many different countries such as Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Italy and the Netherlands joined the UNITED campaign by preparing anti-fascist school-classes and anti-racist youth work. "I Am Against Fascism!" was the title of a drawing competition among teenagers in Nizhni Novgorod (Russia). In Hungary, two NGOs went into primary and secondary schools to work towards a "School Without Racism". To explain about anti-fascism, UNITED campaign material was used and widely distributed. Traditional torchlight processions were organised in many cities all over Norway and Sweden and demonstrations and pickets in commemoration of the 'Kristallnacht' pogrom were organised all over Germany. Many European NGOs chose not only to pay their respects towards the victims of the 'Kristallnacht' pogrom, but also to join an international campaign against the wall being built between Israeli and Palestinian territories. Both campaigns reached their goal in making the public aware of the dangers and consequences of prejudice and intolerance, in the past as well as today.  Who Shall We Blame Now?Why commemorating a pogrom that took place 65 years ago? Why reminding that racism, antisemitism and fascism have a long history and caused millions of deaths? The 'Kristallnacht' pogrom, often seen as the symbolical beginning of the Holocaust, reminds millions of people of injustice, inhumanity, intolerance, fascism and antisemitism. Organisations all over Europe campaign on the anniversary of the 'Kristallnacht' pogrom to open people's eyes for intolerance and discrimination in our present society. It is a struggle for more justice and human rights. We campaign towards a future in which all inhabitants of Europe feel accepted and appreciated. The 'Kristallnacht' pogrom: a short history In Germany on November 9th 1938, the Nazis started a pogrom against the Jews. After the Nazis came to power in 1933, Jews were subjected to harsh laws against them - being forced to hand over their businesses to 'Aryans', only being allowed to shop in Jewish-owned shops, children only allowed to go to Jewish schools etc. This was accompanied by much organised violence against Jews in the streets and elsewhere. But, until November 9th 1938, these attacks had the appearance of being unplanned and not sanctioned by the leadership of the Nazi Party, the government of Germany. On November 6th, a young Jew living in Paris, Herschel Grynszpan, received a post-card from his father Zindel who had been deported, along with 18.000 other German Jews, on October 27th to the Polish frontier. The postcard described the terrible conditions that the deportees were living under. Herschel Grynszpan was so angered by what he read that he went to the German Embassy in Paris and shot the first German official that he saw, Ernst vom Rath, a diplomatic assistant. Vom Rath died of his injuries on November 8th and the news of his death reached Germany the next day. Hitler and Goebbels were at that moment on the NSDAP-celebration on occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Hitler-putsch on 9 November 1923. Goebbels directly took up the chance to hold a rabble-speech against Jews. The pogrom started in Berlin on November 9th 1938, organised unofficially by Hitler's SA storm troops. In a telegram-letter to all SA and SS-groups, Reinhard Heydrich, leader of the SS, clearly ordered the violence to begin. Synagogues were set on fire. Jewish shops had their windows smashed across the country, which gave rise to the name 'Kristallnacht', which freely translated means the Night of Broken Glass. Many Jews were physically attacked too. More than 7000 Jewish businesses across the country were attacked. Fires were lit in every Jewish area and the Nazis burned religious books. Around 200 synagogues were destroyed. The violence lasted 24 hours and 91 Jews were killed. More than 30.000 were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Many of them were killed in the following two months. The 'Kristallnacht' pogrom is usually seen as the symbolic beginning of the Holocaust. In addition to the approximately 6 million Jews who were the targets of a complete annihilation policy, were an estimated 5,5 million "enemies of the German state", criminals and "asocials", people with mental disabilities, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, political offenders such as communists and socialists, and Roma and Sinti. Estimates of the number of so-called "Gypsies" murdered are between 200.000 and 1.500.000. The estimated number of homosexuals killed in the camps varies from 10.000 to 15.000. Around 100.000 men and women were arrested of the German homosexual community of around 1.500.000 men and women. The word 'Kristallnacht' was given to the event by the Nazis themselves, because it mocked what had happened. German anti-fascists today prefer to describe the pogrom as "Reichs-pogromnacht", although in most other countries the term 'Kristallnacht' is used as it is better-known. Campaigning with UNITED In the UNITED secretariat in Amsterdam, we are often asked how such a huge European-wide campaign as the "International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism" can be coordinated by a small office with only a few workers. The answer is quite simple: UNITED is the pan-European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees. Also this year, hundreds of NGOs, from Sweden to Spain and from Ireland to Russia organised special activities in commemoration of the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms. The participating NGOs can make use of he strong structure of a network consisting of more than 560 organisations all over the continent. A European-wide campaign has to be prepared very carefully - and this takes time. The preparation of the campaign starts more than 6 month before 9 November. One of the main principles within the UNITED network is that everyone is an expert in his or her working field and can learn from eachother. Consequently at the UNITED-conferences all the different opinions and ideas are discussed openly in special Campaign Working Groups. The goal is to find a common slogan for the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism and to share and discuss ideas for common actions.Back in the secretariat, the UNITED-staff uses the ideas developed during the conference to prepare a campaign poster which includes background information. As soon as the campaign-posters are printed, communication is needed: e-mails and phone-calls to hundreds of NGOs to stimulate and to find out in which way they plan to join the campaign, NGOs ordering posters and presenting their plans for activities. To give an overview on what is planned all over Europe, UNITED publishes a List of Activities on its website. This way many NGOs get inspired and can find partners to co-operate on a higher level. More than 30.000 posters are distributed to hundreds of organisations all over the continent. Furthermore, UNITED produces a media release and sends it to all important European press agencies and media. By joining the campaign even the smallest NGO can profit from being part of a European-network since the media's reactions to the press release are directed to local organisations nearest to the journalist. On 9 November itself organisations all over Europe are active in very different events but take part in one common European campaign. After the crucial date of 9 November, the UNITED secretariat collects all the information on all the activities from all the NGOs from all the different countries. For that reason it is very important that organisations participating in the campaign provide UNITED with flyers, pictures and press clippings about their activities during the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. After all the information has finally found its way to Amsterdam, the European Report is produced and sent out to thousands of organisations throughout Europe. This Report is often used by NGOs to raise funds or to do media work with it. Also this year, organisations all over Europe joined the UNITED campaign. In the name of the network, we would like to thank all the participating organisations for making such a successful campaign possible. With so many engaged people and organisations, the name of the network truly stands for its principle: UNITED for Intercultural Action. COUNTRY REPORTS AUSTRIA "We're now learning that we may never cease to be vigilant." These words from Wien's chief Rabbi Paul Chaim Eisenberg are calling for continued vigilance to avoid repeating the atrocities committed by Nazis. In Austria, which in 1938 was part of Nazi-Germany, almost 8,000 Jews were arrested during the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms, 3,700 were sent of to concentration camps. In Wien alone, 42 synagogues were destroyed, 27 Jews killed and 88 injured seriously during the attacks. Thousands of businesses and homes belonging to Jews were destroyed, and more than 4,000 Jewish businesses were closed. Hundreds of Jews committed suicide. Though remembering such atrocities is important, it's not enough "only to look to the past," Paul Chaim Eisenberg told the Austria Press Agency, adding that it's important to foster youth in a democratic manner. To make the public aware of the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms then and the rising antisemitism now, demonstrations in different Austrian cities were organised around 9 November. In Wien, Linz and Salzburg, "Sozialistischer Widerstand International" organised manifestations under the slogan "Fight Racism, Fight Fascism" in commemoration of the victims of 'Kristallnacht' and (neo-) fascism. In Wien, "Revolutionsbräuhof" organised a picket and a rally at the former Aspangbahnhof in Wien, from where many Jews were deported to concentration camps after the 'Kristallnacht' pogrom. "Café Critique" organised a demonstration in the capital Wien. The slogan "Never Forget - Against Antisemitism and Fascism!" called for solidarity with the Jewish community. Another demonstration in Wien, organised by Initiative "Niemals vergessen!" wants to make the public aware of the fatal consequences of the 'Kristallnacht' pogrom during and after the NS-regime. "Surviving Auschwitz" was the title of a matinee with lectures and discussions with survivors of the Holocaust. It was organised by "Kulturverein B-project" in a theatre in Wien. To reach students and pupils, "Verein für Dienste im Ausland" organised a poster campaign and widely distributed UNITED-campaign posters in schools, universities and youth meeting points in the main Austrian cities. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 8 years after the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the first muslim mosque was reopened in the Republika Srpska, a part of the country mainly populated by Serbs. Prior to the 1992-95 war, there were more than 20 mosques in this area, all of them were destroyed in the conflict. Despite some positive tendencies, the situation for NGOs is still not easy in post-war-Bosnia-Herzegovina. Nevertheless, the local branches of Nansen Dialogue Centre in Banjaluka and Sarajevo joined the 'Kristallnacht'-commemoration by distributing anti-fascist material and UNITED-posters as well as by organising a theatre-show against racism in order to raise awareness on fascism and antisemitism. This network of local NGOs, committed to dialogue through non-violent conflict resolution, was the first in establishing the UNITED campaign in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This year's action was covered by local and nation-wide newspapers and carried out by enthusiastic volunteers. Furthermore, the Republican Party of Bosnia-Herzegovina organised a round-table in Sarajevo with members of the Jewish and the Roma community discussing about fascism and common strategies to fight it. CROATIA The UN estimates that some 280,000 ethnic Serbs fled Croatia during and after the conflict in the 1990's. So far more than 100,000 of them have returned. Despite international efforts encouraging refugees to resettle in their pre-war homes, many have failed to do so, reluctant to live in tiny enclaves among a hostile population. To make the population aware of the danger of fascism and nationalism, HOMO -Association for Protection of Human Rights and Citizen's Freedom produced a special radio broadcast on 9 November on Pula's Radio Maestral: "In live: How to Recognise Fascism in our Society and Fight Against it". Furthermore, an exhibition of posters and discussions about fascism and the fight against it was organised in Donji Lapac. In Zagreb, "Women in Black" organised a vigil and distributed UNITED-material in the streets of the Croatian capital. Also in Zagreb, the Human Rights Centre organised a workshop on "Discrimination and Intolerance Today. WhoShall We Blame Now?" on 7 November. 20 students from four Zagreb high-schools, participated in the workshop which started with an introduction on Human Rights and the importance of 'Kristallnacht'-commemoration. After that, the participants listened to a historical overview and a short reference to the current situation in Croatia. After documentaries about the immigrant facility "Jezevo" and "Zagreb Gay Pride 2002", a presentation of relevant (inter)national legal documents was held. Finally, case studies on the situation of HIV+ people in Croatia, the segregation of Roma pupils in schools, and on the attacks of skinheads on foreigners concluded the programme. CZECHIA As in many European countries, Roma are used as scapegoats and are therefore facing racist violence in Czechia. They are very often target of attacks carried out by skinheads and other fascist groups. Dealing with the problem of young people losing track of their future, DUHA - Rainbow Association organised a conference with the title "Young Drop-Outs: Who Will be the Next to be Excluded?" Picking up the slogan of the UNITED-campaign "Who Shall We Blame Now?", DUHA tried to find out the reasons why many young people, for example young delinquents, drug-abusers or disabled people, are excluded from society. Also the danger of right-wing extremist movements for young people was discussed during the meeting in the Czech capital Praha. To find common strategies to solve the problem of young drop-outs, different ways of good practice in fighting the process of scapegoating minority groups were presented. Furthermore, Praha based NGO Youth and Environment Europe organised a poster-campaign in the streets of the Czech capital, using UNITED-campaign-material. DENMARK Working in the only European country that hosts a legally broadcasting neo-nazi radio station (Radio Oasis) seems to provide Danish NGOs with extra motivation to join this year's International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. "Discrimination No - Integration Yes - Racism, Antisemitism and Nazism Out!" With this slogan, a big demonstration in København marked the 65th anniversary of the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms. Besides claiming a common struggle for equal rights and asking for a solution of the Danish housing problem, the participants stated clearly: "Never Again a 'Kristallnacht'!" The torch light procession was followed by speeches, delivered by politicians, activists and a survivor of the 1938 pogroms. The organising NGO, "Krystalnatinitiativet" has for the last 10 years commemorated the victims of the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms and all other victims of racist violence. Also this year, the demonstration was organised in order to remind the public that there is a need to work against racism, discrimination and to demand equal rights regardless of ethnic background. Under the title "Spot on Racism", "Enhedslisten Odense" and "Fynske AntiFascister" hosted a conference on campaigning against racism in Denmark. The topics discussed at this conference ranged from institutionalised racism to the politics of the far-right Danish Peoples' Party. After the conference, the activists went to Århus, where a demonstration was organised to commemorate the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms and to protest against "White Pride", a neo-nazi group associated with a popular local football-club. Furthermore, "Red Ungdom" organised a torchlight-procession in Aalborg to remember the victims of 'Kristallnacht', but also to make people aware of the consequences of Danish asylum policy. FINLAND In Vaasa, activists from "Antifa 65 - Pohjanmaa" joined the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. In the city-centre, they hung up two anti-fascist banners and lit candles in order to remind of the victims of the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms. Furthermore, "Antifa 65 - Pohjanmaa" widely distributed UNITED-posters all over the city-centre of Vaasa. In the Finnish capital Helsinki, Kampus Kieli - Ja Kulttuuripaja organised a conference on resistance against antisemitism, racism and fascism. Also there, UNITED-campaign material was distributed. GERMANY For Germany, 9 November is one of the most crucial dates in the country's history. Not only the Berlin Wall finally fell down on this date in 1989, also 51 years before, the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms had happened on this very date and marked the start of the genocide of European Jews. Traditionally, German state representatives as well as many NGO' s commemorate the pogroms in various ways. This year, the 'Kristallnacht'-commemoration would have almost turned into tragedy as German neo-nazis planned to blow a bomb during the ceremony of München's Jewish community centre on 9 November. The German newspaper "die tageszeitung" quotes Charlotte Knobloch, the president of München's Jewish community: "65 years after the destruction of our synagogue, again nazis planned to destroy the centre of München's Jewish life". Fortunately, German police arrested several neo-nazis who were allegedly responsible for the deadly plan. To show their will to resist intimidation and neo-nazism, many German organisations joined the UNITED-campaign on the occasion of the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism also this year. In Weimar, a series of events on historical and modern antisemitism was organised from 29 October until 19 November. Under the title "Antisemitism in Europe and the Dispute on Middle-East", "Netzwerkstelle gegen Rechtsextremismus bei Radio Lotte in Weimar" arranged lectures, discussions and movies on topics such as "65 years after 'Kristallnacht'", "Development of Antisemitism in Germany from the Last Century Until Today" and "The Middle-East-Conflict and its Reception in the Media". In Stuttgart, "AnStiftung - Projekte gegen das Vergessen" organised an event called "Against Forgetting" in which well-known artists read texts in schools to make the pupils aware of the danger and the consequences of fascism and antisemitism. Demonstrations and torchlight-processions to commemorate the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms were organised in cities all over Germany, among them Kassel, Erfurt and Aachen. In Trier, "Friedenszentrum AGF" organised a guided tour through the city showing places of the Nazi terror. In the eastern-German city of Meiningen, the "13th Thüringer Council Against Racism and Antisemitism" was organised by "LAG Antifaschismus/Antirassismus Thüringen". The participants, activists from anti-fascist organisations from all over Germany, discussed topics like antisemitism, racism and social exclusion, the programme was completed with workshops and demonstrations in commemoration of the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms. GREAT-BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND "No one should be shocked by the new statistics released last week showing a 75% increase in antisemitic incidents in Britain", said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in early 2003. To fight those harmful tendencies, Students Assembly Against Racism organised the national conference "Respect - Students United Against Racism" in London for students who want to get active in opposing racism. Lectures, workshops and information on anti-racist campaigning were provided and UNITED-campaign-material was distributed. Also on 8 November, Kent Refugee Action Network, Tunbridge Wells Action for Peace and others have organised a public meeting in Tunbridge Wells. "Uniting against prejudice" stated a clear message promoting respect and solidarity and also provided entertainment, music and jugglers. In the capital London, Jewish Socialists' Group traditionally commemorates the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms on 9 November. This year, the activists took the UNITED campaign-slogan "Who Shall We Blame Now?" to find links from similar events in the past to events nowadays. Four speakers delivered speeches on topics like the connection between the treatment of disabled people and racism, or the inclination to accuse Muslims to be terrorists. During the meeting, the lecturers also explained the fatal strategy of turning Jews into scapegoats before 'Kristallnacht' and today's tendency to use asylum seekers as scapegoats. On the same occasion, a coalition of many organisations chose 9 November to have a series of demonstrations in London against the wall that is being put up by Israel, cutting through Palestine. A deliberate connection was made between this ghettoization and the ghettos of the past, which was one reason why the anniversary of 'Kristallnacht' was chosen. Symbolic walls were built, representing the wall between Israeli and Palestinian territory and the walls of Jewish Ghettos during World War II. During the fourth national Anti-Racism Workplace Week from 3 until 9 November, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Equality Authority and their social partners were urging employers, North and South, to reinforce their commitment to developing anti-racist workplaces. Besides their own anti-racist material ("Work Against Racism"), also UNITED-campaign-material was distributed in various places in Belfast. GREECE "The Jewish community has been present in Greece since Biblical times. It reached almost 80.000 before the war, but most of them perished in Auschwitz. Today only 5.000 remain. Over the past 20 months we have monitored a pattern of attacks against this ancient community. One of the latest was the desecration last month of the Holocaust memorial in the Jewish cemetery of Ioannina. It was the sixth such incident against Jewish monuments in Ioannina, Salonika and Rhodes." On the occasion of 'Kristallnacht' commemoration, Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) distributed a press release on antisemitism and racism in Greece. The full text was also published in the 7 November edition of Wall Street Journal. According to GHM, the complete lack of anti-racist education and civic consciousness leads to widespread ignorance within the Greek population about antisemitism and its connection to the debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To make people aware of the dangers of ignorance and hatred, SOS Racism-Greece organised an Anti-Racist Demonstration in the streets of Athinai. HUNGARY The racist and xenophobic MIEP-party, which had hoped to become a decisive factor in the survival of the centre-right coalition government in the May 2002 general elections, did not pass the electoral threshold. It continued its antisemitic and anti-Israel attacks in its newspaper Magyar Forum. Antisemitic manifestations were reported at soccer matches and at far-right demonstrations. Much extremist effort was focused on the condemnation of any type of memorial activity related to the Holocaust in which Hungarian participation was mentioned. But also this year Hungarian NGOs joined the campaign on the occasion of the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism in order to make the public aware of those problematic phenomena today. To make awareness grow within the younger population, two NGOs concentrated this year on education against racism, fascism and prejudice. The Webportal Civic Education organised a school project in Budapest with the title "School Without Racism". The Mahatma Gandhi Human Rights Movement prepared anti-racist lessons in primary and secondary schools in Budapest and other cities. Both NGOs aim to encourage students to display tolerance towards cultural diversity. IRELAND In the beginning of 2003 the Irish government decided not to file the UN resolution on the condemnation of antisemitism. The resolution had garnered the support of European Union member states, but Ireland wanted to first ensure that the proposal would have all-out support, also from the Arab and Muslim nations. The Irish apparently withdrew the resolution after failing to convince the Arab countries to back the proposal. On 9 November, NEARfm, a community radio station in Dublin, has broadcasted a special programme dedicated to the "International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism". A spokesperson from the International Secretariat of UNITED was interviewed and he explained to the listeners the aim of the campaign and the special importance of the date of 9 November to anti-fascist, Jewish and Roma organisations all over Europe. In another programme, NEARfm highlighted events that aim to break the barriers between Muslims and Jews in Europe. In Waterford, the Social Inclusion Unit of the City Council organised the distribution and promotion of UNITED-campaign-posters in the streets of the city. Also in the capital Dublin, UNITED-material was distributed to raise awareness among the passers-by on the issues of fascism and antisemitism. This activity was organised by Electricity Supply Board Officer's Association. ITALY This autumn, Italy's prime-minister Silvio Berlusconi expressed his point of view towards fascism quite clearly by stating Italy's fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who sent thousands of Jews to their deaths in Nazi concentration camps "never killed anyone". To make the public aware of the true face of fascism and antisemitism, Italian NGOs joined the UNITED-campaign also this year. On the island of Sardinia, "TDM 2000" distributed and displayed UNITED-campaign-posters ("Who Shall We Blame Now?") in the university of Cagliari. Traditionally, "Associazione Rieti Immigrant" (ARI) joined the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism by organising a public meeting open to the people of Rieti and immigrants. They opened the evening with the movie "The Believer" by Henry Bean, which recounts the true story of a student who becomes the rising star of a neo-fascist political movement that subverts almost everything he was brought up to believe. After the film and a discussion on the topics of racism and fascism, an intercultural dinner was prepared with dishes typical of the regions the participants come from: Kosovarian cheesecake, Sudanese cookies, Italian cake, Spanish tortillas. Two days later, ARI invited school children to come in their Intercultural Centre. After presentations and discussions, three asylum seekers from Sudan and Togo spoke about their personal experiences being a refugee and their reasons to flee their country of origin. These stories had a deep impact on the pupils as well as on their teachers, all of them listened carefully to the asylum seekers' words. LITHUANIA Although manifestations of antisemitism are reported not to be prevalent within Lithuanian mainstream society, the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) notes that public incidents of antisemitism have taken place. Such incidents include public antisemitic statements made by politicians, antisemitic articles in newspapers, but also circulation of antisemitic leaflets, desecration of Jewish graves and manifestations of antisemitism at mass events. To fight those dangerous tendencies, Vilnius-based NGO "Revitra" organised an event to raise awareness of young people against intolerance, fascism and antisemitism. As a method to really reach teenagers, "Revitra" organised a seminar for 25 participants from the age of 14 to 17 in a boarding school in Vilnius. During this event, the students listened to presentations about topics like "Wars in the World", "Lithuanian army politics nowadays" or "Refugees in Lithuania". By organising school-seminars, "Revitra" also aims to fight ignorance towards historical conflicts. Furthermore, UNITED-campaign material was also widely distributed and posters, drawn by students, were shown in the school-building. MALTA Being the southernmost of the ten countries to join the European Union in 2004, Malta has a long history and tradition of intercultural exchange between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This diversity was also reflected in the activities prepared by Maltese NGOs for this year's "International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism". The students' organisation PULSE took the initiative and organised discussions, presentations and, to stress Malta's special geographical and cultural situation, an intercultural prayer with all the different religions represented by the students at the University of Malta in Msida. Euro-Med Movement also organised a 'Kristallnacht'-commemoration at the Campus of the University of Malta, UNITED-material was distributed and an info-table was prepared. Furthermore, Euro-Med Movement produced different television-programs to spread the message of the campaign, the Maltese station Super 1 TV broadcast them on the 8th and the 9th November. NETHERLANDS In the Dutch media and within big parts of society, a lively discussion on antisemitism and its connection to the conflict in the Middle East has developed before this year's 'Kristallnacht'-commemoration. The latest poll showed that 74% of the Dutch population think that Israel is the biggest threat to peace in the world. Taking the occasion of the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism, an "Appeal Against the Rising Antisemitism" was organised by "Centraal Joods Overleg" and other organisations such as "CIDI" and "Magenta" in the centre of Amsterdam. Followed by massive media coverage and a high number of participants, they gave a strong signal against any form of antisemitic behaviour. Among the participants and the speakers were politicians of almost all the political parties and representatives of different ethnic minorities living in Amsterdam. After all, the discussions the forefront lead to a big number of participants, more than 1000 people joined the commemoration, compared with about 50 last year. In Eindhoven, "Eindhoven Samen tegen Racisme" (EstR) arranged a series of events around 9 November: during "'Kristallnacht' - Now and Then", they organised lectures in secondary schools on fascism and antisemitism, later, EstR arranged lectures and discussions entitled "Reasons and Consequences of the 'Kristallnacht'". On 9 November, a "Commemoration Festival" rounded up the program with music, poems and information in the city-centre of Eindhoven. In the southern city of Breda, the organisations "Palet", "Nederlands Israëlitische Gemeenschap Breda", "Platform van Marokkaanse organisaties" and others arranged a very special 'Kristallnacht'-commemoration by letting refugees from now and then telling their stories to a wider public. In the former concentration camp Westerbork, former prisoners talked about their survival, also volunteers from the German Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ASF) participated the 'Kristallnacht'-commemoration. A series of binational events was organised in the Dutch city of Aalten and in Bocholt, Germany. The "Anne Frank Project", organised by Stichting 'Vrienden van de Aaltense Synagoge' and others, dealt with the story of the Jewish girl Anne Frank who was hiding in Amsterdam during the German occupation and was murdered in a German concentration camp. NORWAY In June 2003, the Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities in Norway published a paper on antisemitism in Norwegian history and today: "Although purely antisemitic ideals are seldom openly articulated, it has gradually become clear that antisemitic notions are on the increase within certain youth cultures. Also, antisemitic ideas that are not openly maintained, may be latent among broader sections of the Norwegian society." Traditionally, demonstrations to mark the anniversary of the 1938 'Kristallnacht' events are organised in various Norwegian cities. Also this year, thousands of people gathered in the streets of Oslo, Haugesund, Trondheim, Stavanger, Moss and many other cities to commemorate the pogroms together. The torchlight processions and demonstrations were organised by "SOS Rasisme Norway" and their local offices. In Bergen, Norwegian Peoples Aid organised a torchlight manifestation and a lecture on "The Brown Danger". POLAND "Poland remains a society in which the issues of racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance are still relatively unacknowledged (...) The general attitude of society seems rather closed towards difference, and feelings of antisemitism remain pervasive." ECRI Report June 2000 The 9 November commemoration in Poland this year took part in the context of the ongoing distribution of racist material by state-owned "Ruch" kiosk chain and the still unhindered activities of neo-fascist organizations such as the NOP. UNITED material was distributed nation-wide by the "NEVER AGAIN" Association. In Wroclaw the commemoration was organized by the Anti-Nazi Group (GAN), the "NEVER AGAIN" Association, Polish Humanitarian Organisation and Jewish Youth. The event took place in the courtyard of a synagogue and it included creative elements: a symbolic monument made of broken glass and specially prepared sound background reminding the events of 1938. In Leszno, the local Anti-Nazi Group (GAN) and the "NEVER AGAIN" Association organized a concert under the title "Music Against Racism" with the following bands: Tumbao, Zgroza, Fate, Koniec Swiata, Fari. The Federation of Young Social Democrats-Wroclaw together with Jusos-Berlin issued a special statement warning against the dangers of neo-fascism today. "Wirydarz" youth group organized a competition from 8-14 November encouraging the creation of anti-racist websites.Towarzystwo Interwencji Kryzysowej-Krakow organized a torch-lighting event and video-show in Krakow. ROMANIA "The Holocaust was not unique to the Jewish population in Europe" This quote, stated by Romania' president Ion Illiescu to the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz last July, caused diplomatic protests from Israel and a broad discussion about Romania's involvement in the Holocaust. The special meaning of the Holocaust and its symbolic beginning, the 'Kristallnacht", was, if not by President Illiescu, at least remembered by several Romanian NGOs. In Oradea, the history of Jewish culture and its end during the Holocaust is especially present: 35.000 of the then 60.000 inhabitants of the town were Jews, most of them died in concentration camps. Youth Action for Peace Oradea and Youth Forum for European Integration organised an evening of remembrance and commemoration in a school located in Oradea's former Jewish ghetto. A film was shown, UNITED-material distributed and speeches were delivered, especially interesting for many visitors was the presentation of a memorial for Oradea's murdered Jews. In Bucuresti, the National Council for Combating Discrimination organised a conference with the topic "Jewish Community in Romania in 2003". Not far from there, in an accommodation-centre for refugees and asylum-seekers in the Romanian capital, National Council for Refugees prepared a multicultural group meeting to develop new strategies to fight an old but actual problem: racism. In addition, the National Council for Refugees also organised information-activities in the capital's universities to make young people aware of the dangers of fascism and antisemitism. RUSSIA In 2003, antisemitic speeches by politicians, desecration of Jewish cemeteries and antisemitic violence occurred also in Russia. Also, continuing attacks by neo-nazi skinheads against students with African and Caucasian background caused world-wide attention towards fascism in Russia. It takes place in the context of the continuing racist war against the Chechen nation. On 9 November, Migrant Aid Centre organised a drawing competition among teenagers in Nizhni Novgorod. Under the title "I am against Fascism!" young people from Russia, Canada and the USA expressed their opinion about fascism and the way to fight it. The drawings were all very expressive and showed the teenagers' points of view. Also slogans were invented to reinforce the pictures: "Make the choice", "Fire of our hearts will burn fascism", "The perfect world includes happy faces of all people. This is a quite simple idea, but it must be our goal!" The drawings show quite serious scenarios such as burning swastikas or a world divided into dark and light, the dark part is polluted by fascism, the light half is full of peace and intercultural harmony. On another poster, symbols of fascism are placed on the screen of a monitor symbolising a computer virus with a person pressing the button "delete". SERBIA & MONTENEGRO More than three years after the fall of the Milosevic-regime, NGOs all over the country regularily join the UNITED-campaigns such as the International Day against Fascism and Antisemitism. This year, organisations from Kraljevo, Tivat and Podgorica expressed their commitment and took part in the European campaign "Who shall we blame now?". In Montenegro's capital Podgorica, Nansen Dialogue Centre Montenegro and PRONI Institute for Social Education organised a public dialogue evening with guests approaching the topic of fascism from the stand of their social and professional engagement. They provided the audience with an insight on the essence of fascism, its roots and genesis, and manifestations of that ideology. All that was presented with an emphasis on the problems in the context of the Montenegrin social-political practice. During the whole day, volunteers distributed UNITED material and the NGOs' own leaflets on which they explain their work and the role of UNITED to a wider public in various cities of Montenegro. Also on 9 November, Nansen Dialogue Centre initiated the "They have right, too"-campaign in Montenegrin elementary schools which aims to reward the works of students about peaceful coexistence of people of different backgrounds in the fields of literature and art. On the evening of 9 November, a party was organised for volunteers and interested youth in a Podgorica club. Furthermore, Nansen Dialogue Centre and PRONI Institute for Social Education launched a media campaign in local and regional newspapers such as DAN and PUBLIKA as well as in state television TVCG and in the radio-station Antena M. Representatives of both NGOs presented their activities, the work UNITED does and their motivation to engage in the 'Kristallnacht'-commemoration. Also in the cities of Kraljevo and Tivat, NGOs joined the "International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism" by organising various activities. Tivat-based Boka Centre for Tolerance presented a press release about the topic of 'Kristallnacht'-commemoration. Besides that, UNITED campaign-material was distributed in the streets of Tivat and Kraljevo, the latter was organised by Positive Youth. SLOVAKIA In July 2003, the European Roma Rights Centre stated in a comment on the situation of Roma minority in Slovakia: "(...) Authorities continue to fail to provide Roma with adequate protection against racially motivated violence perpetrated by members and sympathizers of nationalist-extremist movements and other vigilante groups." To improve the difficult situation of Roma and other minority groups in Slovakia, People Against Racism deals with the problems of racism, prejudice, discrimination, extremist movements such as neo-nazis as well as hate crimes and racially motivated violence. For this year's International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism, the Bratislava based NGO organised a quite extraordinary event in a dance club in the centre of the Slovak capital. They successfully tried to reach a younger public with an Anti-racist Party and by mixing the anti-racist message with modern drum'n'bass- and techno-sound. More than 500 people came to enjoy the evening, People Against Racism distributed UNITED-campaign material to spread the message of the campaign. SLOVENIA In May 2003, the Council of Europe warned Slovenia about its minority-policy. The country gives extensive rights to its small Italian and Hungarian minorities, which are legally classified as autochtonous, but not to the more numerous Kosovar Albanians, Bosnian Muslims, Serbs, Croats and Roma. To encounter the ignorance and to make the public aware of the danger of stigmatizing ethnic minorities, Zavod Voluntariat - SCI Slovenia presented and distributed the UNITED-material with the subject "Who Shall We Blame Now?" in the centre of Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. SPAIN A survey by the American Anti-Defamation-League in 2002 shows that 71% of Spaniards believe that Jews have too much power in financial circles, 57% think they overstress the Holocaust. To fight those antisemitic tendencies, "Movimiento contra la Intolerancia" has organised video-forums with media reports and films in schools in big Spanish cities such as Madrid, Sevilla, Malaga, Zaragoza, Valladolid and Valencia. Besides that, MCI presented a book about the consequences of intolerance and racially motivated violence: "Victims of Hate" was released at a press conference in Madrid. Movimiento contra la Intolerancia has also organised a demonstration in Sevilla's former Jewish district. "Lighting a candle for every victim" was the slogan of the evening, besides a silent commemoration, old Jewish pieces were read in Sephardic language. Already in September, CIEMEN - International Research Centre for Ethnic Minorities and Nations presented the UNITED-campaign "Who Shall We Blame Now?" at an NGO-festival in Barcelona. SWEDEN After homophobic attacks against gays in Göteborg and swastikas sprayed on the windows of a Stockholm pub, Swedish homosexuals are facing a more and more violent atmosphere towards them. Those latest incidents were the reason for "Tupilak", Nordic Homo Council, Rainbow Homo Humanists and "HAI" to join the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. The NGOs organised an evening of discussion, lectures and exhibitions in the Swedish capital Stockholm. The discussion emphasized the link between Nazi atrocities and neo-nazi and other homophobic attacks. The photo exhibition covered the first official homosexual delegation to the former concentration camp of Auschwitz and the pioneering construction of a homo monument in the former concentration camp of Mauthausen. The readings included passages on the life and death of individual lesbians and gays imprisoned in the Nazi camps, finally the participants listened to 'songs of resistance' from various concentration camps. "We are pleased that this event followed the torch-light 'Kristallnacht' demonstrations in Stockholm, and that some of the participants came straight to the discussions" says the spokesperson of "Tupilak". This torch-light-demonstration to commemorate the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms was organised by Network Against Racism. Also in numerous other Swedish cities, people went to street to join the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism, co-ordinated by Network Against Racism and local partners. UKRAINE After several antisemitic incidents all over Ukraine in the last months, including a physical attack on a Rabbi in Kyiv, NGOs all over the country took the opportunity of the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism to make the public aware of the dangers of discrimination and hatred. In the capital Kyiv, the Debate Club Pandora organised a training-course on tolerance for high school students. Under the title "Nonchalance Kills - The Problem of Choice", the activists and the pupils discussed about minority rights and racism. In the Crimean city of Bakhchisaray, the Association "Youth for Peace and Development" organised a workshop against discrimination, antisemitism and on intercultural learning. Also the Anti-Fascist Initiative of Ukraine joined the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism by spreading the message of the campaign and of anti-fascism in various Ukrainian cities. In the beginning of November, an intercultural art-festival called "Friendship" took place in the city of Mykolayiv, organised by Council of National Societies of Mykolayiv Region. During three days, 400 young people from different parts of Ukraine met to promote mutual understanding between people of different nationalities, cultures and religions. ACTIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES Two Eastern-European countries stood in the focus of media coverage in the beginning of November 2003 due to political crises: Azerbaijan and Georgia. Despite the unfortunate basic conditions for the work of NGO's under the circumstances of riots and violence, organisations in both countries took part in the 2003 International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. In Baku (AZ), a press conference, discussions and a drawing competition were organised, in Georgia, a discussion-seminar took place in the capital Tbilisi. In Bulgaria, movies and discussions were organised by the Sofia-based NGO Bosporus Society while a 'Kristallnacht' commemoration named "Europe Against Fascism" took place in Pavlikeni. In the Baltic states of Estonia and Latvia, NGOs were active on the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism by producing a special radio program and by distributing UNITED campaign-material. In the far-east of the continent, NGOs in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyztan joined the campaign by organising events like "Race Doesn't Matter", a demonstration in Bishkek (KY), and an exhibition of UNITED material in Samarkand (UZ). "Is Racism the End of the Road?" was the title of a conference and special radio programs in Silifke (TR). In the Macedonian capital Skopje, a demonstration of students was organised whereas a Moldovan NGO joined the European-wide campaign by spreading information on the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms in different cities all over the country. Also in Slovenia and Switzerland, UNITED campaign material was displayed and distributed by local NGOs. While French NGOs used the slogan "Fight Against Fascism Together" to show their opposition against a meeting of prominent fascist politicians in Paris, a memorial to commemorate the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms was organised in Gent (B). In Belarus, a film festival and an exhibition of anti-fascist press were organised by NGOs in the capital Minsk. UP Order the
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