It’s Friday, 8th May, VE Day. On the 8th of May 1945 Hitlers Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies. After six years of fighting between 1939 and 1945, Europe had peace at last. The Germans invaded most of Europe and wreaked havoc.

While Europe was occupied by the Nazis, they killed and executed millions of people for their beliefs, etc.

During the Second World War in Europe, it is recorded that between 21 million and 25 million Allied military deaths occurred. The UK lost 383,600 military deaths during the conflict, with Russia losing the most between 8,800,000 and 10,700,000 million military personnel.

On June 6^th, 1944, D-Day brought the invasion of Normandy. British and US forces attacked to liberate Europe. With the Russians attacking from the east and British and US forces also attacking from Italy, the date 8^th May will be remembered because it ended the war.

The Nazi leader Adolf Hitler committed suicide instead of standing to be counted for the war crimes the German army and the SS committed. Some of the war crimes were crimes against humanity and waging aggressive war. The Nuremberg trials, which put the Nazi high command left alive on trial, put all the charges against the Nazis.

These days, we have only a handful of soldiers still alive. They did their duty for Britain and freed us from an evil tyranny. Hitler was so close to invading England that we may have lost the war and been talking German.

The problem is that not many young people know enough about WW2. The older generation had stories from their parents and grandparents. It’s 81 years since the end of the war, we should not forget.

The Falklands War in 1982 was 44 years ago. If you ask youngsters if they remember this war its unlikely, they do.

Let’s not forget WW2 and its significance in the life we have today. All those lives lost to give us freedom.

Can the Jewish community feel safe in the UK now? With many attacks over the years and many currently, but is this race going to be left in peace?  

With an attack on 2 men in the Jewish community of Golders Green yesterday it’s left many shocked. A man with a knife attacked 2 men but was caught by the police. All Jewish communities throughout the UK feel unsafe now.

The PM has promised 25 million pounds extra funding for these communities to bring more security, but will it be enough?

Attacks have been on the increase but not just in the UK. Other Jewish communities around the world are also seeing a rise in antisemitism.

On March 23rd, 4 ambulances owned by a Jewish charity were set on fire. In April, a failed asylum seeker went to break into the Israeli embassy in London. The man was an illegal immigrant who entered the UK via a small boat.

The 14^th of December 2025 saw Suspects in Hanukkah celebration mass shooting in Australia saw 15 people were killed, as a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son were caught.

Is there a reason for more attacks these days? With the problems and human rights in Gaza and now the troubles in Lebanon, these cannot help any race, and people’s opinions matter. Whatever the judgments of the Israelis and the attacks on other nations, can the loss of innocent lives be justified?

Attacks on innocent civilians, though, cannot be justified no matter what. It will happen, though, anywhere in the world. The UK does have ways to protest about problems in the world, like silent gatherings and so on.

With Diesel reaching over £2 per litre, many believe the UK is in for protests. Petrol and diesel is being sold at extortionate prices, and the general public is getting sick of being ripped off. With the oil prices slightly dropping, in price, it fails to show at the pumps.

The people of Ireland have come together to protest fuel prices. They, too, are dismayed with the prices at the pump and have taken to the roads to show their dissatisfaction.

The roads in Dublin are blockaded; roads and major motorways have go slow protests. For 6 days, the protestors have been at it, and public order units have been deployed.

But do protests work, and are they worthwhile?

France is a country known for its protests and demonstrations, especially by farmers. When they turn out, Paris stops. Unity is the key to demonstrations, and the French have it.

Do protests work in the UK?

We can protest in the UK, but will it have an effect? In 2000, blockades were undertaken of refineries and fuel depots. This really had an impact, leaving the majority of petrol stations fueling police and NHS vehicles only.

What started in Essex spread all over the UK. So, did it do any good?  After the protest ended, the government announced a freeze on fuel duties. The power of the people won.

But the blockades of 2000 would never happen today, as we are short of fuel for one. Then the army would be called in if a demonstration of this size ever happened again.

Since 2000, though, protests have done nothing like the 2000 blockade. It seems the government only listen when the country is on its knees.