Ukraine

The Canada Connection

Sat Mar 5th

Canada, according to local news reports, has the second largest Ukrainian population outside Ukraine.  It has therefore been mainstream news across all the networks and local news stations.  This blog was impossible to put together without thinking about what is going on in Europe.  

After 35 years working in a news environment,  I remain a bit of a news junkie.  The first hour of my day is scanning the UK, US, Canadian and international print and broadcast media.  I still have friends working in the industry, who daily are juggling the challenge of Ukraine and Russian deployments of journalist and news crews to cover the story.  Trying to balance the risk to them, against the need to get the story out to national and global audiences.  I miss the buzz of working in a news environment and being part of the decision making teams, but don't miss being part of the decision making. 

I am glad I am not a leader of a western nation having to make decisions about Nato and the West's level of intervention.  Where is the line between the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine and a larger global one by an intervention too far?  The human impact is dreadful either way.

All things are relative.  There have been times over our eleven months in Canada when we have both wondered about the wisdom of moving continents at the height of a pandemic, with no long term guarantee of tenure, sold our UK home, and now bought locally on the Coast.  We still are classed as 'visitors', even though we have the approval to stay for ten years, renewing our Super Visa every two years.  We still don't have the ability to acquire a local bank account or driving licence, but this may change. There is still not quite the full sense of 'belonging', but we would do it again.

Compare that with the displaced Ukrainians, our concerns are insignificant and immaterial. We are fortunate to be able to have this opportunity, it was not forced upon us, we made a choice.  We could plan and organize what we did with our house and possessions.  

The 1.3m Ukrainians (today's figures, but bound to grow) who have fled their country in the face of an indiscriminate onslaught,  have had no such luxury.  Many have left loved ones behind to an uncertain future defending Ukraine, and have lost their homes, possessions and the normal life we continue to enjoy.  Last week they had a normal life; shopping, education, work, a social life was the norm.  Today many are struggling to access food, water and safe shelter with homes wrecked.   Many of the scenes are heartbreaking, some of the news coverage inspirational.  Poles welcoming displaced Ukrainians, sharing homes and rising to the challenge. Volodynyr Zelensky leading from the front rather than the warmonger directing from the other end of a long table. 

So if any of our doubts arise we shall put them aside and share a thought for all Ukrainians affected by these terrible events, the people helping them and the news crews who are taking risks to keep us up to date.