totallyhussein-blog

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War, remembrance and the lasting power of words

On Sunday 11th May, it was wonderful to visit the Imperial War Museum North, where Tom Palmer was meeting fans - of all ages! It was also great to speak with Tom and museum staff about the subjects raised in his books.

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Bob Le Sueur: an ordinary man and extraordinary life in occupied Jersey

Bob Le Sueur lived in Jersey when it was occupied by German troops in World War Two and died aged 102, in 2022! After the war, Mr Le Sueur became an outspoken voice for peace and compassion.

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Vera Atkins, the woman who "set Europe ablaze"

Vera Atkins was a British intelligence officer and a key figure in the Special Operations Executive during World War 2. Upon the orders of Winston Churchill, the mission of SOE was to set NAZI occupied Europe 'ablaze'.

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How do we know, what we know? Meet Witold Pilecki!

Witold Pilecki is a celebrated hero in Poland. His story and sacrifice remained buried for over 40 years! Have you ever read 'The Volunteer' by Jack Fairweather or seen the film 'Pilecki's Report' over on Netflix?

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What does Never Again mean?

January the 27th is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This date marks the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on the 27th January 1945, where people honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and other victims of National Socialism.

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Have you heard the story of Noor Inayat Khan?

Noor Inayat Khan was a British secret agent of Indian descent, who was the first female radio operator sent into Nazi-occupied France by the Special Operations Executive.

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Emma Nicholson, the Baroness revolutionizing women’s rights

It’s amazing to think of the incredible impact Baroness Emma Nicholson has had on the lives of women worldwide. In 1991, Baroness Nicholson founded the AMAR International Charitable Foundation and she is also president of the Iraq Britain Business Council.

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Help Combat Stress this May!

This month marks 106 years since Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health was founded, back on the 12th May, 1919. Those who started Combat Stress laid solid foundations for the organization to provide treatment to veterans’ across the UK.

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The Survivor: A fascinating insight into a piece of boxing history

Have you ever seen The Survivor? Barry Levinson’s biographical drama stars Ben Foster as boxer Harry Haft, who looks to carry on after fighting to survive in WWII concentration camps. Haft is a man bent, bruised, but never broken by his experience of the Holocaust.

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Have you heard of Violette Szabo?

Violette Szabo has to be one of the bravest women in British history. Violette was recruited by the Special Operations Executive during World War II. Here we take a look at this amazing young woman.

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How will you mark Victory in Europe Day?

Victory in Europe Day (8th May 1945) was one that remained in the memory of all who witnessed it. It meant an end to nearly six years of a war which had destroyed homes, families, and cities; and had brought huge suffering and privations to the populations of entire countries.

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Confronting PTSD with Combat Stress

For over a century, Combat Stress have helped former servicemen and women overcome mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression.

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The Wolf of Baghdad: a journey into Iraqi-Jewish history

The Wolf of Baghdad is a unique audio-visual journey through a Jewish family’s memories of their lost Iraqi homeland and speaks to audiences about the little-known story of Iraqi Jews and the NAZI inspired pogrom known as The Farhud.

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Explore the life and politics of Angela Davis

Titled Seize the Time, the Oakland Museum of California’s exhibition was curated around the influence of activist and scholar Angela Davis; from print media to courtroom sketches, as well as contemporary artwork and historic photographs.

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What lessons can we learn from Pope Francis?

Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires in 1936, the son of Italian migrants, the first of five children born in the working-class barrio of Flores, Jorge Mario Bergoglio qualified as a chemical technician, graduated in philosophy in 1963, and became a priest in 1969.

The wish of Pope Francis was for HOPE, on which he had been working for six years, to be published posthumously. HOPE is both powerful and intimate, inspiring and full of stories never told before. It is the story of a life that will fascinate readers throughout the world.

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Pope Francis was a true leader

Pope Francis's visit to Iraq took place between 5 March and 8 March 2021. The visit was accorded on following an invitation of the Government of Iraq and the Chaldean Catholic Church.

The visit was remembered as an attempt to mend bridges between the different faiths in Iraq. During this first ever journey to Iraq by a Pontifex, Pope Francis visited the cities of Ur, Baghdad, Najaf, Qaraqosh, Erbil and Mosul.

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Pope Francis (1936-2025). Inspired by peace and love

Pope Francis told reporters, when flying back to Rome from Iraq on March 8, 2021, that one of the reasons he became convinced he had to visit the country was after reading Nadia Murad's memoir, "Last Girl: My Story of Captivity and My Fight Against the Islamic State." A reporter had given him a copy of the book, he said, and "that book affected me."