ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Hello again!

It’s March 2022 and despite the easing of just about all restrictions in Victoria, the world has gone from panic over the pandemic, to panic about a potential World War III.

What is happening in the Ukraine at the moment is horrific. Russia’s well-oiled misinformation machine has set the narrative for the invasion, utilising the Nazi Germany playbook and leading to the loss of many innocent lives on both sides of the border. Yet, I wonder what has made Putin decide to act now? Was he afraid that President Zelenskyy would sign Ukraine up with NATO and the EU? Is he suffering a terminal illness and has been given an end date hence the reckless behaviour? Has his paranoia and delusions overtaken him? Or, more likely, has his long term goal of destabilisation of the free world through the work of Donald Trump and the far-right movement reached it’s climax?

Before you jump to criticise me for ignoring other humanitarian crises in the likes of Yemen, Burma and Syria, I am not. However, the war in Ukraine has the unfortunate potential to escalate into a nuclear, global war. The possibilities that can extend from this war is nigh endless; Russia could retreat (unlikely), the United States of America could join the front line (unlikely, but mainly to prevent a major war); Ukraine could win the battle (this is undecided, especially if Belarus joins in); China could bring a halt to any nuclear efforts (possible); Putin could be assassinated and a more moderate successor brought in (unlikely); Ukraine could fall (I refuse to consider this); China could try to reunify Taiwan and split the West into a two-pronged defence effort (maybe, but probably unlikely seeing the global response to Putin) or a ceasefire is called and we all head to the negotiation table (unlikely given the current negotiations are falling through). I have not considered the worst of the worst outcomes because I believe that if we all think positively, then the war can be brought to a halt with the least possible lives lost. Even so, the mental, financial and emotional toll on both the Ukrainians and the Russians (particularly those who were duped into the war effort) will be enormous and may take generations to heal – look at where we are post World-War I and II – there’s still a Nazi issue in the world and the last survivors of the war, who cannot remind us enough how much of a waste of lives war is, are departing from this life.

I know I’ve been whining a lot about my pericarditis and other vaccine related issues, and it all seems so trivial given what is happening now in the world. I might be in pain every day, but at least I get to go home everyday and I’m not worried about being run over by a tank or needing to shelter in a bunker in case of an air strike or missile launch. We have had some minor supply chain disruptions here due to isolation protocols and now the floods up north (praying for our Northern neighbours) but our supermarket shelves are stocked and I’m not researching how to make Molotov cocktails. There is so much to be grateful for, that you do wonder how stupid do all the anti-vax protesters must feel now? Claiming that a life-saving vaccine (despite it’s shortcomings) is a means of government control and likening wearing a mask to Nazi Germany levels of oppression. Those crying know nothing about repression and government control. What is happening in Ukraine through, is. Russia, if victorious, will install a puppet government whose only policy will be to oppress Ukrainians, cut them off from the world and turn them back into an extension of the old USSR. This is nor dissimilar to the ‘re-unification’ program China is waving over Taiwan, although the movement from China is a lot more sophisticated then the Russian effort.

There is little we can do in the meantime (especially if you are in Australia – the government has advised citizens NOT to enlist to defend Ukraine), but if you want to help, here are a few places that will be helping out:
– The Red Cross
– UN Crisis Relief Fund
– GoFundMe
– Save the Children
– The International Rescue Committee
– Sunflower of Peace
– CARE

In the meantime, look after each other and yourselves; be grateful for what you have, and let us hope for a swift resolution to all this.

Bx