Ukraine, How to Help

I got this list from a newsletter I get from the folks at the never Trump website The Bulwark. It looks like a good list, and I trust those folks not to link to anything stupid. But as with anything, check and beware

Jack

How to Help

With luck, Ukrainians will eventually get all the help they need from various governmental organizations. So I don’t think there’s much need for normal folks to try to donate, say, weaponry. The way to leverage giving is to try to find the cracks where large-scale assistance takes longer to ramp up.

So here are some organizations that people have suggested to me that might be useful ways for you to help.

International Red Cross: Surging aid to refugees fleeing to Poland.

Ukrainian Red Cross: Direct aid to the in-country branch.

World Central Kitchen: Getting food to refugees and to those who remain in Ukraine.

MOAS: Helping to bring medical aid to Ukrainian civilians.

JDC: Getting aid to vulnerable Ukrainian Jews.

Ocalenie Foundation: A Polish group helping refugees as they arrive.

Caritas: Has two in-country organizations helping with personal kits, water, and information for displaced Ukrainians.

Razom: Medical supplies and democracy protection.

Kyiv Independent: A free-press operation reporting from Ukraine.

Timothy Snyder has some more direct places to give, because of his on-the-ground contacts in Ukraine. See here. And Professor Beth Gazley, who studies nonprofits, has a short, helpful guide on how to get the maximum leverage for your donations.

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Cracks In The Wall

Russian State TV pundit Karen Shakhnazarov: “The war in Ukraine paints a frightening picture, it has a very oppressive influence on our society. Ukraine, whichever way you see it, is something with which Russia has thousands of human links. The suffering of one group of innocents does not compensate for the suffering of other innocent people… I don’t see the probability of denazification of such an enormous country. We would need to bring in 1.5 million soldiers to control all of it. At the same time, I don’t see any political power that would consolidate the Ukrainian society in a pro-Russian direction… Those who talked of their mass attraction to Russia obviously didn’t see things the way they are. The most important thing in this scenario is to stop our military action. Others will say that sanctions will remain. Yes, they will remain, but in my opinion discontinuing the active phase of a military operation is very important.”

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On being a paranoid dictator.

Hey, folks, it is not easy. As a dictator you know they are out to get you, so it pays to be paranoid.

Up to a point.

Sure, they are out to get you, but just which they is it? Answering that question is Putin’s main problem both domestically and on his borders. He is surrounded by enemies and has demonstrated weakness.

So maybe it is time for us to stir the pot. After all he has been doing it, playing to our fears by rattling the nuclear saber. He has his fears too so maybe it is time to invite a few of his problems to talk with us, don’t make a public promise or anything, just meet, let the world know and let Putin worry. After all Ukraine has demonstrated that a small group can frustrate the great mighty Russian military machine.

Just some thoughts

Jack

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