Launch of Irish PetItion

[Administrator]

Would the members of this forum please take a moment to sign this online petition on behalf of Peter Mulvany, Chairperson Irish Seamen's Relatives Association. The link to the petition is on the link at the end of this page.From: Peter Mulvany [e-mail], Irish Seamen's Relatives Association (1939-46)Subject: 26th November 2006: Launch of Irish Petition to Preserve U-Boat Bunker Valentin Building as Dedicated Memorial place for Peace and ReconciliationSend: Sun, 26 Nov 2006As today Sunday 26th November 2006 marks the annual Remembrance Day for seamen who lost their lives on Irish vessels during world war two, we have decided to launch this Irish petition world wide to support the efforts of our German friends:---------------------------------------------------------------Press Release:In April 2005, following our Heroes Return Irish Journey of Remembrance back to Bremen-Farge to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of world war two, the Irish Seamen's Relatives Association (1939-46) decided to support the Association Dokumentations-und Gedenkstätte Geschichtslehrpfad Lagerstraße/U-Boot-Bunker Valentin e.V.in their efforts to promote the preservation of the Bunker Valentin Building as a permanent memorial place dedicated to peace and reconciliation, in memory of all those slave labourers which includes our five Irish born merchant seamen who lost their lives in Bremen-Farge as a result of Nazi terror. We believe this is the most appropriate way of remembering all who died and more importantly provides a legacy for future generations to learn about man's inhumanity to man thereby promoting peace and reconcilation through remembrance and education.The Irish Seamen's Relatives Association (1939-46) have now launched an Irish petition to urge the German Government to provide the necessary funding and support the efforts of Doctor Katharina Hoffman and the Association Dokumentations-und Gedenkstätte Geschichtslehrpfad Lagerstraße/U-Boot-Bunker Valentin e.V.in Bremen to preserve the U-Boat Bunker Valentin Building as a memorial place dedicated to promoting peace and reconciliation in memory of all those slave labourers who lost their lives in Bremen-Farge during WW2.Peter MulvanyChairpersonIrish Seamen's Relatives Association (1939-46) www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.org/Petition can be accessed on line athttp://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SBV2010/--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----IRISH PETITION TO PRESERVE U-BOAT BUNKER VALENTIN AS A PERMANENT DEDICATED MEMORIAL PLACE FOR PEACE AND RECONCILATIONPETITION LAUNCHED SUNDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2006. During the second world about 35000 forced labourers, POWs and prisoners including 32 Irish born merchant seamen were forced to work by the Gestapo as slave labourers on the U-Boat Bunker Valentin building and fuel depot sites at Farge just outside Bremen. Amongst the thousands who lost their lives as a result of Nazi brutality were five Irish born merchant seamen. They are: ?. W.H. Knox, [AB, British Commander] Dun Laoghaire; ?. Owen Corr, [AB, Silverfir] of Rush, Co. Dublin; ?. Gerald O?Hara, [1st Radio Officer, Devon] Ballina, Co. Mayo; ?. Patrick Breen, [AB, Athelfoam] Blackwater, Co. Wexford, ?. Thomas Murphy, [AB, Earlston] of Dublin. In April 1945, as a result of representations by the Irish Legation in Berlin, 27 Irish born merchant seamen, the last Irish survivors from the Farge slave labour camp, were returned to the Merchant Navy internment camp at Milag Nord, Westertimke, from the Arbeitserziehungslager at Bremen-Farge. The conditions of the slave labour camp in Bremen-Farge were later the subject of an investigation by the British Ministry of Pensions and the War Crimes Unit. In 1947 twelve German guards and one Swiss guard were charged in Hamburg with offences against humanity and international law. In April 2005, following our Heroes Return Irish Journey of Remembrance back to Bremen-Farge to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of world war two, the Irish Seamen's Relatives Association (1939-46) decided to support the Association Dokumentations-und Gedenkstätte Geschichtslehrpfad Lagerstraße/U-Boot-Bunker Valentin e.V.in their efforts to promote the preservation of the Bunker Valentin Building as a permanent memorial place dedicated to peace and reconciliation, in memory of all those slave labourers who lost their lives in Bremen-Farge as a result of Nazi terror. We believe this is the most appropriate way of remembering all who died and more importantly provides a legacy for future generations to learn about man's inhumanity to man thereby promoting peace and reconcilation through remembrance and education. The German Governnment must be persuaded to support Doctor Katharina Hoffman and the Association Dokumentations-und Gedenkstätte Geschichtslehrpfad Lagerstraße/U-Boot-Bunker Valentin e.V. in their efforts to preserve the U-Boat Bunker Valentin Building as a permanent dedicated memorial place for peace and reconciliation. Consequently, we appeal for your support for our petition. It would be appreciated if you could either record your comments here for eventual forwarding on to the relevant German authorities and/or E-Mail the Federal German Government Press Office and make your views known. Thank you for your support: Press and Information Office of the Federal German Government: EMail: [e-mail] Address for visitors and deliveries: Dorotheenstraße 84 10117 Berlin Telefon: [phone] Fax: [phone] Mailing address: 11044 Berlin, Germany. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Peter Mulvany B.C.L.(Hons), H.Dip Arts Admin, 51 Conquer Hill Rd, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Ireland. Tel: [phone] - International: 00 353 1 8335119 Mobile: [phone] - International: 00 353 87 2769707 E-mail: [e-mail] Websites: www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.org www.shotatdawncampaignirl.org