Invasion of Ukraine February 24, 2022 8:13 PM Subscribe
Do we have anyone personally affected by the invasion of Ukraine?
Does anyone have any resources to offer, donation sites, etc?
I am contacting my congresspeople to urge them to at least send arms to Ukraine.
I have many close friends there. This list is good generally, and https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi will let you donate directly to the Army proper, without middlemen.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 9:14 PM on February 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by StrikeTheViol at 9:14 PM on February 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
Here a list of options from Timothy Snyder's substack, scroll to the bottom of the article.
From what i know about him and how much he cares for the people there, and how often he has been there i am sure his recommendations are sound.
His substack is also a great source for analysis and history.
posted by 15L06 at 12:16 AM on February 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
From what i know about him and how much he cares for the people there, and how often he has been there i am sure his recommendations are sound.
His substack is also a great source for analysis and history.
posted by 15L06 at 12:16 AM on February 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
The Ukrainian community in NYC has put together a fundraising campaign to send medical supplies to Ukraine.
If you're American, you can call your representatives and ask them to support TPS for Ukrainians.
Canada is expediting immigration applications for people affected by the conflict.
posted by threementholsandafuneral at 6:02 AM on February 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
If you're American, you can call your representatives and ask them to support TPS for Ukrainians.
Canada is expediting immigration applications for people affected by the conflict.
posted by threementholsandafuneral at 6:02 AM on February 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Portugal is welcoming Ukranians fleeing the war and is identifying job opportunities
[not so good: three border guards were sentenced last year for killing a Ukranian at the Lisbon airport, though it has to be said the government responded by dismantling the immigration service and totally revamping it. CW: story has some gory details]
posted by chavenet at 10:11 AM on February 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
[not so good: three border guards were sentenced last year for killing a Ukranian at the Lisbon airport, though it has to be said the government responded by dismantling the immigration service and totally revamping it. CW: story has some gory details]
posted by chavenet at 10:11 AM on February 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
The Canada-Ukraine Foundation has a donation page via Canada Helps. A GoFundMe set up earlier in Canada has been "paused", seemingly by FluTruxKlan supporters who were mad that someone else was allowed to have a fundraiser and they weren't.
posted by scruss at 10:26 AM on February 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by scruss at 10:26 AM on February 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Today, Tim published more links to charities. I copied also his intro, because it touches me so. I met a few of his Ukrainian friends, it is horrible to know they are in mortal danger.
---------------
A few more ways to help Ukrainians
My friends are in basements, in flight, and under fire. Help.
Timothy Snyder
2 hr ago
Yesterday I sent out a list of charities and NGOs who are helping Ukrainians during Russia’s senseless and murderous invasion. Some of you asked for places where you could use your credit cards instead of bank transfers. The below list are international charities working in Ukraine who can take donations from credit cards:
Libereco Partnership for Human Rights, evacuation and medical assistance
https://www.lphr.org/en/humanitaere-soforthilfe-fuer-die-ukraine/
Caritas, humanitarian assistance
https://www.caritas.org/ukraine-appeal-22/
Malteser International, evacuation assistance. (Make sure you have selected "Ukraine")
https://www.malteser-international.org/en/donation.html?amount=100&interval=0&fb_item_id=24633
And then others of you were intrigued by the mention of the crowdsourcing of the Ukrainian army. If you want to do that, go to
Army SOS
https://armysos.com.ua/en/help-the-army
To fund protective and other defensive gear for the Ukrainian army, go to
Save Life
https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/
Source https://snyder.substack.com/p/a-few-more-ways-to-help-ukrainians
posted by 15L06 at 10:40 AM on February 25, 2022
---------------
A few more ways to help Ukrainians
My friends are in basements, in flight, and under fire. Help.
Timothy Snyder
2 hr ago
Yesterday I sent out a list of charities and NGOs who are helping Ukrainians during Russia’s senseless and murderous invasion. Some of you asked for places where you could use your credit cards instead of bank transfers. The below list are international charities working in Ukraine who can take donations from credit cards:
Libereco Partnership for Human Rights, evacuation and medical assistance
https://www.lphr.org/en/humanitaere-soforthilfe-fuer-die-ukraine/
Caritas, humanitarian assistance
https://www.caritas.org/ukraine-appeal-22/
Malteser International, evacuation assistance. (Make sure you have selected "Ukraine")
https://www.malteser-international.org/en/donation.html?amount=100&interval=0&fb_item_id=24633
And then others of you were intrigued by the mention of the crowdsourcing of the Ukrainian army. If you want to do that, go to
Army SOS
https://armysos.com.ua/en/help-the-army
To fund protective and other defensive gear for the Ukrainian army, go to
Save Life
https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/
Source https://snyder.substack.com/p/a-few-more-ways-to-help-ukrainians
posted by 15L06 at 10:40 AM on February 25, 2022
FWIW, José Andrés said yesterday that World Central Kitchen is headed to Poland to offer refugee food support.
posted by obloquy at 11:05 AM on February 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by obloquy at 11:05 AM on February 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
Has anyone had any luck getting through to legislators? I’ve been calling all day and get nothing but messages: I don’t know if it’s on purpose to avoid this push or what.
posted by corb at 12:29 PM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by corb at 12:29 PM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I used ResistBot (via FaceBook chat), because I figured their phones would be locked up -- and even ResistBot made me wait about five minutes!
posted by wenestvedt at 1:05 PM on February 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:05 PM on February 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
A small note, too, that if you know anyone from Russia who now lives outside that country they may be going through some shit right how themselves as well, and may appreciate a quiet note that you understand that "I know that it wasn't 'Russia' who did this, but rather it was 'that topless former KGB fucknugget with delusions of grandeur' who did this."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:19 PM on February 25, 2022 [13 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:19 PM on February 25, 2022 [13 favorites]
I don't want to be difficult, this is a bad situation with no good options and I understand why people are making the choices they are, but I see a lot of people donating to and encouraging others to donate to the Ukrainian military and this seems to me like something that we are going to look back on in some number of years with regret and people will say "how could we have known it was a bad idea?" and I just want to encourage people to be thoughtful about to whom they are giving their money and what they're supporting. I am hesitant to post this, because I know people are doing their best in an extremely bad situation and I know Putin is awful and what he's doing is terrible, and, again, there are no good answers, but I feel like it's important to say.
posted by an octopus IRL at 1:22 PM on February 25, 2022 [27 favorites]
posted by an octopus IRL at 1:22 PM on February 25, 2022 [27 favorites]
As someone who volunteers at a cat shelter in my town, I'm kinda obsessed with what may be happening to animals and pets. I've seen the broader Reddit list above, and the Facebook page for an organization called UAnimals has been sharing names of local organizations in need ... but of course those organizations aren't exactly concerned with updating their info right now, so I don't know who the best players in this field are. Grateful for any concrete leads.
posted by mykescipark at 3:18 PM on February 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by mykescipark at 3:18 PM on February 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
The International Red Cross is working in Ukraine and your own country's branch of the Red Cross or Red Crescent may have an appeal. This is the British Red Cross appeal.
If you are a citizen of a NATO or EU country then you could contact your elected representatives to make sure they understand your views on the support that should be given to Ukraine and also to the NATO and/or EU states bordering Russia.
If you are in Europe then supporting refugee organisations is also likely to result in practical help to people affected, whether directly or indirectly.
posted by plonkee at 3:30 PM on February 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
If you are a citizen of a NATO or EU country then you could contact your elected representatives to make sure they understand your views on the support that should be given to Ukraine and also to the NATO and/or EU states bordering Russia.
If you are in Europe then supporting refugee organisations is also likely to result in practical help to people affected, whether directly or indirectly.
posted by plonkee at 3:30 PM on February 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
A small note, too, that if you know anyone from Russia who now lives outside that country they may be going through some shit right how themselves as well, and may appreciate a quiet note that you understand that "I know that it wasn't 'Russia' who did this, but rather it was 'that topless former KGB fucknugget with delusions of grandeur' who did this."
YES. THANK YOU.
I work for a Ukrainian company, and the new CEO in our division is from Ukraine. I also have a lot of both Ukranian and Russian coworkers, both here in the USA and abroad.
Our Slack had a chat about the events going on, and the Russian coworkers weighed in heavily, on how they are also against this invasion and war, and against Putin.
posted by spinifex23 at 3:36 PM on February 25, 2022 [10 favorites]
YES. THANK YOU.
I work for a Ukrainian company, and the new CEO in our division is from Ukraine. I also have a lot of both Ukranian and Russian coworkers, both here in the USA and abroad.
Our Slack had a chat about the events going on, and the Russian coworkers weighed in heavily, on how they are also against this invasion and war, and against Putin.
posted by spinifex23 at 3:36 PM on February 25, 2022 [10 favorites]
If you are on Twitter, consider following Anton Shekovtsov, an Ukrainian friend of mine. He is a political scientist. Anton has several tweets right now on how Russians are forcefully conscripted and/or not told where they are being sent to.
posted by 15L06 at 4:53 PM on February 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by 15L06 at 4:53 PM on February 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
I see a lot of people donating to and encouraging others to donate to the Ukrainian military and this seems to me like something that we are going to look back on in some number of years with regret and people will say "how could we have known it was a bad idea?"
I think this is a very good point, and I'm struggling with it myself. I mean, if I could go back in time and arm people in the Warsaw Ghetto or the Dutch or French or German resistance, I like to think I would (though ethical decisions are so much clearer 70+ years later when we don't actually have to do anything). Andy Rooney, who sadly is known to most people now as a joke on 60 Minutes, wrote in his excellent memoir of WWII that being there for the liberation of a concentration camp made him realize he could not be a pacifist.
Does anyone know of possible legal ramifications for folks in the US paying for arms for a foreign country? That is something to think about too.
posted by FencingGal at 6:16 AM on February 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
I think this is a very good point, and I'm struggling with it myself. I mean, if I could go back in time and arm people in the Warsaw Ghetto or the Dutch or French or German resistance, I like to think I would (though ethical decisions are so much clearer 70+ years later when we don't actually have to do anything). Andy Rooney, who sadly is known to most people now as a joke on 60 Minutes, wrote in his excellent memoir of WWII that being there for the liberation of a concentration camp made him realize he could not be a pacifist.
Does anyone know of possible legal ramifications for folks in the US paying for arms for a foreign country? That is something to think about too.
posted by FencingGal at 6:16 AM on February 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
There is a GoFundMe for media in Ukraine to help outlets relocate, etc. It is being promoted by The Kyiv Independent. That is everything I know. Perhaps a good alternative for MeFites who want to support Ukraine but not help pay for weapons.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:41 AM on February 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 9:41 AM on February 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
Does anyone know of possible legal ramifications for folks in the US paying for arms for a foreign country?
Largely depends on what our country's relationship was with that country at the time they were sent. I know for example a lot of Americans who either went to fight ISIS or sent supplies or money to those who were, only the ones who went to fight had any issues.
I think legally you're in the clear to pay for weapons, but also, there may be less of a need for it now that military aid is coming from actual nations.
Also beginning to think that one major way to help is actually - and I never say this - through social media, especially if you know anyone who is actually present in Russia right now, given the information cutoffs.
posted by corb at 10:52 AM on February 26, 2022
Largely depends on what our country's relationship was with that country at the time they were sent. I know for example a lot of Americans who either went to fight ISIS or sent supplies or money to those who were, only the ones who went to fight had any issues.
I think legally you're in the clear to pay for weapons, but also, there may be less of a need for it now that military aid is coming from actual nations.
Also beginning to think that one major way to help is actually - and I never say this - through social media, especially if you know anyone who is actually present in Russia right now, given the information cutoffs.
posted by corb at 10:52 AM on February 26, 2022
Ontario and Alberta have donated to the The Canada-Ukraine Foundation linked above by scruss.
The federal government will match donations to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal run by the Canadian Red Cross
posted by yyz at 1:55 PM on February 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
The federal government will match donations to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal run by the Canadian Red Cross
posted by yyz at 1:55 PM on February 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
A GoFundMe set up earlier in Canada has been "paused", seemingly by FluTruxKlan supporters who were mad that someone else was allowed to have a fundraiser and they weren't.
That is outrageous. But thankfully, their bad behaviour didn't change things for long. The Canada-Ukraine Foundation GoFundMe is back up.
The Canadian Red Cross is accepting donations and the federal government will match them.
On pets, Poland has waived the usual entry requirements for Ukrainians fleeing the fighting. People can enter without the usual pet passport/vaccination records.
posted by rpfields at 3:16 PM on February 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
That is outrageous. But thankfully, their bad behaviour didn't change things for long. The Canada-Ukraine Foundation GoFundMe is back up.
The Canadian Red Cross is accepting donations and the federal government will match them.
On pets, Poland has waived the usual entry requirements for Ukrainians fleeing the fighting. People can enter without the usual pet passport/vaccination records.
posted by rpfields at 3:16 PM on February 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
The Polish record label Brutaż sent a note out to their bandcamp followers recommending the Ocalenie Foundation, which supports refugees fleeing to Poland.
posted by Going To Maine at 3:28 PM on February 26, 2022
posted by Going To Maine at 3:28 PM on February 26, 2022
Has anyone had any luck getting through to legislators? I
Corb, I called during non-business hours. There is also the contact forms.
posted by NotLost at 7:01 PM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Corb, I called during non-business hours. There is also the contact forms.
posted by NotLost at 7:01 PM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
I’ve donated to a Go Fund Me that helps Ukrainians with disabilities that was shared in disabled circles online.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:26 AM on February 27, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 1:26 AM on February 27, 2022 [5 favorites]
In Poland, our Gofundme equivalent has an official campaign working with grass roots organisations. And some organisations recommended by our cities, which are twinned with Ukrainian cities and have info straight from the people in need:
UNICEF Polska
Polish Humanitarian Action
Polish Center for International Aid
All three have been present in Ukraine since the 2014 invasion, helping throughout, and they have experience working in various war and disaster zones. Google Translate works with all sites, and they take international credit cards (some payment systems you may run into are PayU and Przelewy24, both reputable Polish payment processors).
I left an aid parcel in my district's city hall office this morning and the queue to leave parcels was enormous - just the pile of cases of bottled water (apparently urgently needed in Kyiv for people in bomb shelters) completely obscured the woman manning that particular collection station. And that was just one of 29 official city collection points in Warsaw today - yesterday there were at least three big private aid collections my district alone. It really feels like we could be next, and people are stepping up in a major way.
And for pets, Ekostraż is preparing a convoy tomorrow to go into Ukraine and evacuate pets and animals from rescues. They take Paypal.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:15 AM on February 27, 2022 [9 favorites]
UNICEF Polska
Polish Humanitarian Action
Polish Center for International Aid
All three have been present in Ukraine since the 2014 invasion, helping throughout, and they have experience working in various war and disaster zones. Google Translate works with all sites, and they take international credit cards (some payment systems you may run into are PayU and Przelewy24, both reputable Polish payment processors).
I left an aid parcel in my district's city hall office this morning and the queue to leave parcels was enormous - just the pile of cases of bottled water (apparently urgently needed in Kyiv for people in bomb shelters) completely obscured the woman manning that particular collection station. And that was just one of 29 official city collection points in Warsaw today - yesterday there were at least three big private aid collections my district alone. It really feels like we could be next, and people are stepping up in a major way.
And for pets, Ekostraż is preparing a convoy tomorrow to go into Ukraine and evacuate pets and animals from rescues. They take Paypal.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:15 AM on February 27, 2022 [9 favorites]
A friend of mine with family in Ukraine provided this list of verified charities to donate to. They recommend the military ones and have not included the Red Cross because they feel they aren't being effective at this time. Also, the link is a Google Doc.
posted by Anonymous at 7:35 AM on February 28, 2022
posted by Anonymous at 7:35 AM on February 28, 2022
Someone in my Brooklyn neighborhood started a grass-roots fundraiser - he put out the word on his facebook list to people who could make things or teach zoom classes and asked them to donate something, and he's now putting together a web site market with everything to raise funds for Ukraine. I have promised to spread the word when it goes live and can post the link in here if there's interest and if that's okay.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:10 AM on February 28, 2022
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:10 AM on February 28, 2022
The Kyiv Independent also has a monthly Patreon, of which I subscribed to.
I also ordered a couple of Ukranian cookbooks, so I can learn more about the country's delicious cuisine.
As a practicing Buddhist, I feel really uncomfortable donating directly to a military, no matter how much I believe in the cause. But these two options? I can do these. Cannot wait to read some independent Ukrainian press, and make some vegetables in aspic!
posted by spinifex23 at 11:07 AM on February 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
I also ordered a couple of Ukranian cookbooks, so I can learn more about the country's delicious cuisine.
As a practicing Buddhist, I feel really uncomfortable donating directly to a military, no matter how much I believe in the cause. But these two options? I can do these. Cannot wait to read some independent Ukrainian press, and make some vegetables in aspic!
posted by spinifex23 at 11:07 AM on February 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
Does anyone know of Romanian groups supporting Ukrainian refugees that need assistance? I'd like to donate to there as well if I can.
posted by Zalzidrax at 11:22 AM on February 28, 2022
posted by Zalzidrax at 11:22 AM on February 28, 2022
Please consider helping this young Ukrainian Paralympic Swim Team, stuck in Istanbul and not knowing if they will ever see their families again, here.
posted by rpfields at 2:38 PM on February 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by rpfields at 2:38 PM on February 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
The list I linked includes non-military options. Not sure what effect vegetables in aspic will have on the relief effort.
posted by Anonymous at 5:20 PM on February 28, 2022
posted by Anonymous at 5:20 PM on February 28, 2022
I would sincerely encourage the apparently sizable contingent of committed pacifists who have for whatever reason decided to weigh in here to politely refrain from the implication that supporting people defending their homes and those they care about are inherently making a rash, ill-considered decision bound to contribute to a cycle of violence.
Please therefore allow me, on behalf of the soldiers actively defending my wheelchair-using friend's apartment building at time of posting, to advocate for any one of the many equally valuable groups in need delivering urgent aid linked upthread, and also to act as a collection point for all those wishing to specifically deposit thoughts and prayers, healing vibrations, and/or universal lovingkindness, no matter how glib or sincere it might be. I'm certain they would return the gesture if they were not otherwise occupied. Thanks in advance.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 7:46 PM on February 28, 2022 [15 favorites]
Please therefore allow me, on behalf of the soldiers actively defending my wheelchair-using friend's apartment building at time of posting, to advocate for any one of the many equally valuable groups in need delivering urgent aid linked upthread, and also to act as a collection point for all those wishing to specifically deposit thoughts and prayers, healing vibrations, and/or universal lovingkindness, no matter how glib or sincere it might be. I'm certain they would return the gesture if they were not otherwise occupied. Thanks in advance.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 7:46 PM on February 28, 2022 [15 favorites]
(schroedinger, your link appears to be missing.)
posted by oneirodynia at 8:59 PM on February 28, 2022
posted by oneirodynia at 8:59 PM on February 28, 2022
I would sincerely encourage the apparently sizable contingent of committed pacifists who have for whatever reason decided to weigh in here to politely refrain from the implication that supporting people defending their homes and those they care about are inherently making a rash, ill-considered decision bound to contribute to a cycle of violence.
Oh, there's no judgement from me at all in terms of this. If this is what others feel called to support, more power to them. It's just not my thing.
Not sure what effect vegetables in aspic will have on the relief effort.
Learning more about Ukrainian cuisine, and then being able to share that with friends and family. Which actually runs in our family; my grandmother used to display Ukrainian painted eggs - Pysanka - every Easter. So, I've been exposed to parts of Ukrainian culture ever since I was a kid. Now, I found a way to continue that tradition.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:21 PM on February 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
Oh, there's no judgement from me at all in terms of this. If this is what others feel called to support, more power to them. It's just not my thing.
Not sure what effect vegetables in aspic will have on the relief effort.
Learning more about Ukrainian cuisine, and then being able to share that with friends and family. Which actually runs in our family; my grandmother used to display Ukrainian painted eggs - Pysanka - every Easter. So, I've been exposed to parts of Ukrainian culture ever since I was a kid. Now, I found a way to continue that tradition.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:21 PM on February 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
Polish link for evacuation of Zoo Animals from Ukraine.
posted by Dotty at 10:02 AM on March 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Dotty at 10:02 AM on March 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
Thanks for the heads up, oneirodynia!
List of charities here.
Learning more about Ukrainian cuisine, and then being able to share that with friends and family.
Can you explain how that is materially going to improve the lives of the Ukrainians whose homes are being bombed and whose lives are being destroyed? Do you think they're going to thank you because you made yourself borscht? How does that help them? I'm not saying you need to donate to military organizations if you don't want to, don't donate anywhere at all if you don't want to, but don't bullshit yourself into believing that you eating your homemade cabbage rolls makes anybody's life better except your own.
posted by Anonymous at 1:52 PM on March 1, 2022
List of charities here.
Learning more about Ukrainian cuisine, and then being able to share that with friends and family.
Can you explain how that is materially going to improve the lives of the Ukrainians whose homes are being bombed and whose lives are being destroyed? Do you think they're going to thank you because you made yourself borscht? How does that help them? I'm not saying you need to donate to military organizations if you don't want to, don't donate anywhere at all if you don't want to, but don't bullshit yourself into believing that you eating your homemade cabbage rolls makes anybody's life better except your own.
posted by Anonymous at 1:52 PM on March 1, 2022
I see you say you have Ukrainian coworkers. Have you asked them whether their loved ones in Ukraine are finding their lives improved by your plans to eat potato pancakes?
posted by Anonymous at 2:07 PM on March 1, 2022
posted by Anonymous at 2:07 PM on March 1, 2022
Everyone doesn’t need to be owned all the time.
posted by Going To Maine at 2:51 PM on March 1, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 2:51 PM on March 1, 2022 [7 favorites]
Is it possible that I could be honestly angry about someone's totally oblivious reaction to a war and not trying to score internet points?
posted by Anonymous at 2:57 PM on March 1, 2022
posted by Anonymous at 2:57 PM on March 1, 2022
It's really inappropriate. This isn't a thing that anyone here has a lot of control over -- but there almost certainly are people who have friends, co-workers, family members, or who are themselves in a war zone right now. It is not the time to talk about learning more about Ukrainian cuisine.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:48 PM on March 1, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:48 PM on March 1, 2022 [8 favorites]
Right now, a lot of people are feeling very viscerally connected to the war, for a variety of reasons - ties to Ukraine/Ukrainians, prior experience with a war/occupation zone, you name it.
Other people do not have those connections and are trying to do the right thing from within the context of their own experience.
This is going to, not with malicious intent, often seem anemic or insufficient to people in the first group, who want to know how any given action will contribute to less death of civilians or innocent people.
At the same time, I feel the need to stress that it's not malicious, this is too a thing people don't have control over, their own lack of context for brutal and horrific violence.
But you're starting to see this too from the Ukranians overall - support is all well and good, but how is that support made tangible? How is it helping now, on the ground, when they are being bombed?
posted by corb at 4:16 PM on March 1, 2022 [7 favorites]
Other people do not have those connections and are trying to do the right thing from within the context of their own experience.
This is going to, not with malicious intent, often seem anemic or insufficient to people in the first group, who want to know how any given action will contribute to less death of civilians or innocent people.
At the same time, I feel the need to stress that it's not malicious, this is too a thing people don't have control over, their own lack of context for brutal and horrific violence.
But you're starting to see this too from the Ukranians overall - support is all well and good, but how is that support made tangible? How is it helping now, on the ground, when they are being bombed?
posted by corb at 4:16 PM on March 1, 2022 [7 favorites]
For anyone who wants to donate to the Ukrainian military, you can now do that directly with a card; no wire transfer needed.
posted by NotLost at 7:13 PM on March 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by NotLost at 7:13 PM on March 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'm finding a lot of the blow-by-blow citizen "analysis" of this conflict (as on social media as well as the thread on the Blue) to be pretty voyeuristic, if I can be honest in this space. Feels like there's a lot of thrill to be following along with a large-scale war that has big strategic troop movements, dressed in the thinnest veneer of humanitarian interest.
posted by dusty potato at 7:28 PM on March 1, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by dusty potato at 7:28 PM on March 1, 2022 [8 favorites]
I'm doing other things - I'm going to protests, donating to Ukrainian free press, and yes - helping my Ukrainian coworkers.
And no. I don't think that learning about a country that is being affected is harmful. Everybody processes stuff in their own way, and I'm not going to apologize for the 'inappropriateness' of it. Would you rather I stay ignorant, wire $100 to the Ukraine govt once for some weaponry, and then wash my hands of the whole thing?
posted by spinifex23 at 10:20 PM on March 1, 2022 [3 favorites]
And no. I don't think that learning about a country that is being affected is harmful. Everybody processes stuff in their own way, and I'm not going to apologize for the 'inappropriateness' of it. Would you rather I stay ignorant, wire $100 to the Ukraine govt once for some weaponry, and then wash my hands of the whole thing?
posted by spinifex23 at 10:20 PM on March 1, 2022 [3 favorites]
And thank you for compiling that list, shrodinger. That is helpful.
posted by spinifex23 at 10:22 PM on March 1, 2022
posted by spinifex23 at 10:22 PM on March 1, 2022
And at the risk of posting too much here, I did just donate some money to United Help Ukraine. Without your list, I wouldn't have known about them. Thank you again.
posted by spinifex23 at 10:38 PM on March 1, 2022
posted by spinifex23 at 10:38 PM on March 1, 2022
OK, yeah. NOW I'm seeing the insensitivity of it all.
My apologies for that. I'm going to leave this thread now. Be well.
posted by spinifex23 at 11:35 PM on March 1, 2022
My apologies for that. I'm going to leave this thread now. Be well.
posted by spinifex23 at 11:35 PM on March 1, 2022
The apparent furor in here reminds me of that famous post-9/11 Onion bit about the woman who didn't know what else to do so she made a flag cake. A quote from within it:
But when the crisis is half a world a way, and you've already donated a whole bunch and called your congressmen and done all of those things and the crisis is still going on...you still want to do something but you can't go to Ukraine and ask "yo, what can I do to help?" So you sometimes end up channeling that impulse into these kinds of things that admittedly don't really help the people in Ukraine in any tangible way.
I don't think this is born of "slacktivism", but rather are born of frustrated empathy. We see people in Ukraine hurting, we want to help as much as we can, we've already done the practical things and want to do more but can't, so we turn to gestures like this.
I try to be compassionate and understanding of such gestures because of the motivation behind them. I mean, maybe the sudden interest in holubtsi will lead someone to find a small Ukranian restaurant in their neighborhood, and that could lead to them striking up a conversation with the owner, and the owner might mention that their grandma from Kyiv is in a shelter in Poland and could really use some new yarn because babusya has been trying to keep herself sane by knitting and "Hey, I have yarn I can give you for her!"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:21 AM on March 2, 2022 [13 favorites]
"I had to do something to force myself away from the TV," said Pearson, 33, carefully laying rows of strawberry slices on the white-fudge-frosting-covered cake. "All of those people. Those poor people. I don't know what else to do."We're living in an era when we are almost hyper-aware of the state of certain things throughout the world. We are all wired to want to do something about it, especially when the bad news just keeps coming, and that can lead to a lot of wheel-spinning and flailing and "what can I do". If something's happening within our own community, knowing what to do is easy - if you've already written a check to the fund, but you want to do more, you can go talk to someone directly involved in the crisis and see what they need. Do they need a new toaster? Well, by gum, you can get them a new toaster! Do they need child care? You and your teenage daughter can baby-sit! Whatever! You want to keep helping, and you have the means to go keep helping in a way that is concrete.
Pearson, who had never before expressed feelings of patriotism in cake form, attributed the baking project to a loss of direction. Having already donated blood, mailed a check to the Red Cross, and sent a letter of thanks to the New York Fire Department, Pearson was aimlessly wandering from room to room in her apartment when the idea of creating the confectionery stars and stripes came to her.
But when the crisis is half a world a way, and you've already donated a whole bunch and called your congressmen and done all of those things and the crisis is still going on...you still want to do something but you can't go to Ukraine and ask "yo, what can I do to help?" So you sometimes end up channeling that impulse into these kinds of things that admittedly don't really help the people in Ukraine in any tangible way.
I don't think this is born of "slacktivism", but rather are born of frustrated empathy. We see people in Ukraine hurting, we want to help as much as we can, we've already done the practical things and want to do more but can't, so we turn to gestures like this.
I try to be compassionate and understanding of such gestures because of the motivation behind them. I mean, maybe the sudden interest in holubtsi will lead someone to find a small Ukranian restaurant in their neighborhood, and that could lead to them striking up a conversation with the owner, and the owner might mention that their grandma from Kyiv is in a shelter in Poland and could really use some new yarn because babusya has been trying to keep herself sane by knitting and "Hey, I have yarn I can give you for her!"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:21 AM on March 2, 2022 [13 favorites]
The link I put up earlier to donate to the Ukrainian military is not actually letting me donate. Instead, I'll get some money wired today.
posted by NotLost at 5:54 AM on March 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by NotLost at 5:54 AM on March 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Does anyone know any charities supporting Ukrainians who have through serendipity out of Ukraine when the invasion started? I have a friend with three Ukrainian relatives who were visiting Hawaii for a funeral when the invasion started. They are now stuck in Hawaii with little support. (I realize that this is a much less needed ask than supporting Ukrainians currently in Ukraine so thank you for your help).
posted by bluesky43 at 3:14 PM on March 3, 2022
posted by bluesky43 at 3:14 PM on March 3, 2022
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United Ukrainian American Relief Committee
posted by NotLost at 8:19 PM on February 24, 2022 [2 favorites]