Sad news that Randal Brew has died. A former Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Randal also served many years as a councillor in Longbridge and Northfield. We were on different sides of the political fence but we were friends and I will always respect his lifetime of public service. RIP

As usual I was at Austin Branch Riyal British Legion #RemembranceDay in Northfield yesterday. The service powerfully emphasised peace, reconciliation and rejecting the perpetuation of hate. Not from the service itself but these two images still illustrate its message for me

Lest we forget… #RemembranceDay

The moment the Palestinian flag was raised over the newly recognised London Embassy of the State of Palestine. A moving moment. Recognition must be the beginning. Governments must now act to stop genocide, end occupation & build peace with justice for all Palestinians & Israelis

Srebrenica's message for our times: Act to stop genocide before it is too late." Call to governments from @srebrenicauk.bsky.social on the catastrophe unfolding in Palestine today.

The photo on the left is Hiroshima after the nuclear attack 80 yeas ago today. The photo on the right is Gaza City this week, taken by Heidi Levine from a Jordanian aircraft.

On 30th anniversary of the Bosnian genocide it was a real privilege to be invited to Thurrock to represent @srebrenicauk.bsky.social at the unveiling of the first Srebrenica Memorial stone in England. Remember Yesterday. Act Today. #srebrenica30

TODAY (TUESDAY) 12.30pm for 1.00pm start. Birmingham Council House, B1 1BB. West Midlands commemoration of 30 years since the Srebrenica genocide. Testimony from survivors, music, civic leaders’ speeches. Please join us #Srebrenica30

ONE WEEK TO GO:
Join us to mark 30 years since the Srebrenica genocide - including testimony from survivors of 1990s Bosnia
12.30pm Tuesday 1st July, Birmingham Council House B1 1BB
#Srebrenica30 Srebrenica.org.uk

Following the powerful UK-wide service in St Paul’s Cathedral earlier this week, West Midlands marks 30 years since the Srebrenica genocide at 1.00pm on Tue 1st July in Birmingham’s Council House, B1 1BB. Join us to Remember Yesterday and Act Today #srebrenica30. Photo
@stpaulscathedral.bsky.social

An honour to be part of the team organising the #srebrenica30 memorial service in St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday. Over 1,500 people joined Bosnian presidents and senior UK Govt ministers to hear testimony and music from genocide survivors. Truly humbling Srebrenica.org.uk

1st July in West Midlands: Save the date…

“When captivity is the price of courage”. Latest news about the abduction and ongoing detention of Husam Abu Safiya, the doctor who stood unarmed in front of Israeli tanks in Gaza richardburden.com/2025/02/when...

21 years: Remembering British photojournalist, Tom Hurndall, who died 13 Jan 2004 after having been in a 9 month coma after being shot in the head by a sniper as he tried to rescue children from the line of Israeli military gunfire in Gaza. Thoughts with his family and friends.

“He was one of the most important truth-tellers of our time. Carter was willing to see the brutality inflicted on the Palestinian people and refused to remain silent about it. That is a rare kind of courage…that should be recognised and remembered”
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...

Unarmed and facing Israeli tanks in the ruins of his hospital, one Palestinian doctor shows the world what courage looks like.
When will world leaders show even a fraction of his courage and take action to end the death and destruction that they are allowing to take place in Gaza?

Very sorry to hear of the death of my former fellow Birmingham
MP, Terry Davis. I worked with him for many years when he represented Birmingham Hodge Hill before going on to become Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Determined and fearless, he always stood up for what he believed in