Ukraine
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Nicholas I died on March 2nd
Stalin died on March 5th
Alexander II was murdered on March 13th by the “People’s Will” movement
Iván the Terrible died on March 28th
Paul I was killed on March 24th by his officers Generally speaking
March is a bad month for Russian leaders.
beware the Ides of March -
@solo said:
Nicholas I died on March 2nd
Stalin died on March 5th
Alexander II was murdered on March 13th by the “People’s Will” movement
Iván the Terrible died on March 28th
Paul I was killed on March 24th by his officers Generally speaking
March is a bad month for Russian leaders.
beware the Ides of MarchI hope that list of coincidences grows longer and even becomes even more amazing
March, do that thing you do so well
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I hope it ends up soon, every single life matters! In whatever possible solution, that may not be related to poo-tin death solely. I mean it may not depend on his death and is an aftermath of some other decisions made by politicians...
"Every soldier in his pocket, within his hair, amidst his uniform buttons,
takes a woman with him to the war scene!
War casualty estimates have always been wrong!
each bullet kills at least two!
The soldier and the girl in his ribcage!"[sup:3tuccb0x]I do not know the poet. roughly translated by me.[/sup:3tuccb0x]
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So sorrowful for Ukraine...
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My heart aches as I read and watch this all going on. If you feel as I do and would like to help. . .consider giving to https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services. There is a link for directly donating to Ukraine. All monies go directly to the displaced without regard to religious affiliation or nationality. The Church is covering all overhead costs
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Such a horrific situation, truly. There's an archviz studio ArchCGI (I think I'd bought assets from them before and am on their email list) have sent out a plea for donations. Some of their employees are in Ukraine. Here's the donation link https://savekyiv.org/
body of their email:
@unknownuser said:
Dear colleagues!
We are ArchiCGI 3D rendering studio. Today, we are writing to you not for professional reasons, but to ask for help. Our production offices are situated in Ukraine, and the country is now invaded by Russian troops. They destroy villages, lay siege to towns and cities, bomb and shell residential quarters. Tonight, they attacked our nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe. Last week, the troops occupied the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
Some of our 3D artists had to leave for safer parts of the country, and some joined the Defensive Army. We help them by volunteering. We raise money, buy necessities in Europe, take them to Poland, and then — to Ukraine.
We take care of the elderly and gravely ill who cannot find the medicines they need, and often don’t have the means to buy food. So we deliver necessities across Kyiv right into their homes.
So far, we have raised 174 910,14 USD. You can see what we bought and where we took the humanitarian aid in this presentation.
View the Presentation
Unfortunately, that’s not nearly enough to help everyone, and the situation in the country degrades.
Would you like to join forces with us and help those in need? You could do this by donating at https://savekyiv.org/
On this site, you will find how we organized the process, what we buy, and how we take it from Europe to homes in Kyiv.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to write to us.
Wishing you peaceful homes and thrilling projects,
Best Regards,
ArchiCGI Team -
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I had to post this, look at how isolated and destained he is
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From what I have read about the situation in Ukraine, both the build up from 1990 and what we now have, I feel no one should really be surprised about what is happening currently.
It seems that The West needs an enemy, if for no other reason than to justify the huge military budgets and the Military Industrial Complex. Now Germany has jointed this complex with 2% of their very considerable GNP. The figure will run to €100,000,000,000 plus!
As for the Russian Federation, they are stuck with a man that feels cornered. He is acting the way I expected considering his KGB training. Doesn't every person with basic common sense know that if you corner a dangerous animal, it will launch a vicious attack against the perceived threat.
It seems Russia asked to join both the EU and NATO at various times and each time they were laughed at. If Russia did join the EU and NATO it would beg the question, Why is NATO needed? Oh! I was forgetting about China! However the Chinese will continue playing the long game and from the looks of it they are making a good job of it.
The UN Security Council were not able to pass a resolution condemning the Ukraine invasion by the RF as the RF member vetoed the vote! What is the point of the UN these days? It seriously needs to be reconstructed and definitely relocated to a neutral country!
As regards neutral countries goes, it looks like they are going to be rarer than hen's teeth. There is talk about Sweden joining NATO and my little country, Ireland, now has its Minister for Foreign Affairs declaring that we are no longer a neutral country! I suppose Switzerland would be a save bet. A neutral country is the best place to host peace talks!
How this will end! While no one can be sure, it will probably go on for some time as its going to be a great money spinner for the Military Industrial Complex or the stranded / set up Ukrainian President will throw in the towel to save the country's children from further bloodshed. I hope it's the latter.
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I know this can be seen as a cheap shot but I voted leave in the brexit vote because I knew this would happen. I also pointed this out to the then eu president but was shot down.
The paranoia exhibited by Putin and the ruling clique has been the driver and the eu moving eastwards their cause celeb, they were always going to resist violently at some point and Ukraine was always going to bear the brunt. Their is too much in the way history for those who desire a return to the Soviet Union.
With the freedoms Ukrainians have had since the breakup of the USSR they have found their feet and grown stronger identity and nationality wise so they are not going to surrender while there is any chance of an enforced halt on the Russians.
Will Putin push the nuclear button? Possibly the tactical weapons, the more resistance the more tempting use of tactical weapons will become. Putin must prove himself a credible leader or go down the same route as Caesar did with a coup from within his own group of oligarchs/political affiliates who have much to lose personally. This could well be the end of Russia as any kind of influencer on the world stage and THEN the PRC will be in to Siberia like rats up a drain pipe, they will state their aims are humanitarian but we all know they are resources and space for their nationals and national growth.
Ukraine is only part of the mess, what with growing unrest among Russian citizens and protests on the streets Putins credibility in his own country is already waning fast.
The usual villains and the usual victims remain the same. The cost will be through the roof not just in the affected region but around the world. If it were not for the self agrandising and money grabbing individuals around the world we could have a more peaceful and harmonious world but that is as likely as. We COULD have a situation where the bigger nations collaborate to safeguard the smaller and more vulnerable states but it seems we are not ready for that yet. Ukraine are already doubting NATO membership which is turning towards Russian demands but not likely to disarm themselves.
What a bloody stupid and crass situation to be in.
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@mike lucey said:
From what I have read about the situation in Ukraine, both the build up from 1990 and what we now have, I feel no one should really be surprised about what is happening currently.
It seems that The West needs an enemy, if for no other reason than to justify the huge military budgets and the Military Industrial Complex. Now Germany has jointed this complex with 2% of their very considerable GNP. The figure will run to €100,000,000,000 plus!
As for the Russian Federation, they are stuck with a man that feels cornered. He is acting the way I expected considering his KGB training. Doesn't every person with basic common sense know that if you corner a dangerous animal, it will launch a vicious attack against the perceived threat.
It seems Russia asked to join both the EU and NATO at various times and each time they were laughed at....
russia has never sought NATO and the EU. A country that has not found its identity in any way. Whether to go to Asia or Europe.
You live very far from russian propaganda and you don’t know much.You did not live in the soviet union, and you do not know much. -
@alvis said:
@mike lucey said:
From what I have read about the situation in Ukraine, both the build up from 1990 and what we now have, I feel no one should really be surprised about what is happening currently.
It seems that The West needs an enemy, if for no other reason than to justify the huge military budgets and the Military Industrial Complex. Now Germany has jointed this complex with 2% of their very considerable GNP. The figure will run to €100,000,000,000 plus!
As for the Russian Federation, they are stuck with a man that feels cornered. He is acting the way I expected considering his KGB training. Doesn't every person with basic common sense know that if you corner a dangerous animal, it will launch a vicious attack against the perceived threat.
It seems Russia asked to join both the EU and NATO at various times and each time they were laughed at....
russia has never sought NATO and the EU. A country that has not found its identity in any way. Whether to go to Asia or Europe.
You live very far from russian propaganda and you don’t know much.You did not live in the soviet union, and you do not know much.Hi alvis,
I fully appreciate that you probably know a lot more about living under a communist regime than I, you being from Lithuania.
However, I have learned quite a bit about the current Ukrainian situation from research, mostly online but also from talking to friends now living here in Ireland that have come from countries that were under the USSR yoke.
I suggest you check out this article,
'Ex-Nato head says Putin wanted to join alliance early on in his rule'
The Guardian article is very credible with facts that appear to back it up. Also the mentioned David Frost interview with Putin carries a lot of weigh.
The interview in question,'BBC BREAKFAST WITH FROST INTERVIEW: VLADIMIR PUTIN MARCH 5TH, 2000' transcript may be found here, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/audio_video/programmes/breakfast_with_frost/transcripts/putin5.mar.txt
The relevant excerpt reads,
DAVID FROST:
Is it possible Russia could join NATO?PUTIN:
I don't see why not. I would not rule out such a possibility - but I repeat - if and
when Russia's views are taken into account as those of an equal partner. I
want to stress this again and again. The situation that was laid down in the
founding principles of the United Nations - that was the situation that obtained
in the world at the end of World War Two. All right, the situation may have
changed. Let's assume there is a desire on the part of those who perceive the
change to install new mechanisms of ensuring international security. But
pretending - or proceeding from the assumption - that Russia has nothing to
do with it and trying to exclude it from this process is hardly feasible. And
when we talk about our opposition to NATO's expansion - mind you, we have
never ever declared any region of the world a zone of our special interests, I
prefer to talk about strategic partnership. Its attempts to exclude us from the
process is what causes opposition and concern on our part. But that does not
mean we are going to shut ourselves off from the rest of the world.
Isolationism is not an option.As mentioned in my previous post, Ireland is a neutral country and I stand by this status as its neutrality is part of our constitution and cannot be changed without first a referendum allowing the change. There are always two sides to every conflict, maybe not equal in credibility but nevertheless each side should get an equal hearing. If this is not to be the case there will be little if no possibility of an equitable solution...... ever!
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I found a channel called "1420" which I am guessing actually is code for "2014" which was the year Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula
I found it very telling of what young Russian people think of the "special operations" in Ukraine. Please have a look these people are so sophisticated and bright. There is hope. Please watch and share -
Thanks for posting the 1420 link. It's rarely that we get to hear the opinions of what looks to be ordinary Russian people.
Although some of the people were very forthcoming in their responses to the questions a good few of them seemed to be very cautious. One guy must have insisted on having his image blanked out and possibly his voice altered.
It's sad that ordinary people may feel that they are not able to voice their real believes. And I'm not only talking about Russian people. The same thing is now happening in the West!
Over the past week I have read/watched/listened to how the present RF has evolved since the break up of the USSR. It looks to me that ordinary Russians may well be realising that they are living under an autocratic regime with just a very thin dressing of democracy. A number of the interviewees hinted at this and one even suggested that there could be calls for change shortly ..... to put it mildly. I hope this happens.
While democracy in the West leaves a lot to be desired, we can at least kick out governments every 4 years or so.
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@mike lucey said:
Thanks for posting the 1420 link. It's rarely that we get to hear the opinions of what looks to be ordinary Russian people.
Although some of the people were very forthcoming in their responses to the questions a good few of them seemed to be very cautious. One guy must have insisted on having his image blanked out and possibly his voice altered.
It's sad that ordinary people may feel that they are not able to voice their real believes. And I'm not only talking about Russian people. The same thing is now happening in the West!
Over the past week I have read/watched/listened to how the present RF has evolved since the break up of the USSR. It looks to me that ordinary Russians may well be realising that they are living under an autocratic regime with just a very thin dressing of democracy. A number of the interviewees hinted at this and one even suggested that there could be calls for change shortly ..... to put it mildly. I hope this happens.
While democracy in the West leaves a lot to be desired, we can at least kick out governments every 4 years or so.
I concur with all your points Mike. Did you watch all the 1420 videos or more than the one link I posted? Such impressive young people, they in the very vast majority are fully aware of the real situation.
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@l i am said:
I concur with all your points Mike. Did you watch all the 1420 videos or more than the one link I posted? Such impressive young people, they in the very vast majority are fully aware of the real situation.
Yes Liam, I did follow through and watch/listen to a number of other 1420 video interviews. One such asked the question, 'Should the RF bomb the USA?'or words to that effect. I was encouraged to to see that the vast majority thought is was a terrible idea also they staunchly disagreed with what is happening in Ukraine.
We have an economist over here called, David McWilliams, that writes a weekly blog. I am a fan of David's clear thinking! His latest piece is,
'To learn how Russia got to this point, follow the money'
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Liam, Here is a Chinese site similar to 1420. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2-_WWPT_124iN6jiym4fOw
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Hi guys, i posted about my Russian friend and his attitude to the "special military operations" and his sensitivity to the Ukraine war. He is a Muscovite and can see the Kremlin from his apartment. His mother had her nails done
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The latest news is that Zelensky is calling for direct talks with Putin. Hopefully this will take place soon and an agreement is trashed out.
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@alvis said:
@mike lucey said:
From what I have read about the situation in Ukraine, both the build up from 1990 and what we now have, I feel no one should really be surprised about what is happening currently.
It seems that The West needs an enemy, if for no other reason than to justify the huge military budgets and the Military Industrial Complex. Now Germany has jointed this complex with 2% of their very considerable GNP. The figure will run to €100,000,000,000 plus!
As for the Russian Federation, they are stuck with a man that feels cornered. He is acting the way I expected considering his KGB training. Doesn't every person with basic common sense know that if you corner a dangerous animal, it will launch a vicious attack against the perceived threat.
It seems Russia asked to join both the EU and NATO at various times and each time they were laughed at....
russia has never sought NATO and the EU. A country that has not found its identity in any way. Whether to go to Asia or Europe.
You live very far from russian propaganda and you don’t know much.You did not live in the soviet union, and you do not know much.In the early 1990's it was Russia's long term plan to join NATO
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