So says Yuval Noah Harari writing for the Economist. In jeopardy is humanity’s greatest political achievement -- the decline of war. Does humanity repeat itself in perpetuity or can humans really change? I don't know what his bottom line is because I do not subscribe to the magazine, but my sense is that no, humanity cannot change. There will always be the autocrats and narcissists who believe they are better than everyone else and, therefore, they deserve to control it all.
People have been questioning the role of NATO as Ukraine is not in it, but has expressed a desire to be. Without NATO behind Ukraine, Russia could just waltz right in. But Ukraine doesn't have to be part of NATO for NATO to defend her. Ukraine touches on the borders of several NATO countries. In defending Ukraine's right to sovereignty, they would be defending their own members' borders. Who is to say Putin would stop with Ukraine?
Why Ukraine matters has been making its way around the internet. What follows is what I saw posted anonymously.
For those who ask: "Why does Ukraine matter?"
This is why Ukraine matters.
It is the second-largest country by area in Europe by area and has a population of over 40 million - more than Poland.
Minerals:
Ukraine ranks:
- 1st in Europe in proven recoverable reserves of uranium ores;
- 2nd place in Europe and 10th place in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves;
- 2nd place in the world in terms of explored reserves of manganese ores (2.3 billion tons, or 12% of the world's reserves);
- 2nd largest iron ore reserves in the world (30 billion tons);
- 2nd place in Europe in terms of mercury ore reserves;
- 3rd place in Europe (13th place in the world) in shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters)
- 4th in the world by the total value of natural resources;
- 7th place in the world in coal reserves (33.9 billion tons)
Ukraine is an important agricultural country:
- 1st in Europe in terms of arable land area;
- 3rd place in the world by the area of black soil (25% of world's volume);
- 1st place in the world in exports of sunflower and sunflower oil;
- 2nd place in the world in barley production and 4th place in barley exports;
- 3rd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of corn in the world;
- 4th largest producer of potatoes in the world;
- 5th largest rye producer in the world;
- 5th place in the world in bee production (75,000 tons);
- 8th place in the world in wheat exports;
- 9th place in the world in the production of chicken eggs;
- 16th place in the world in cheese exports.
Ukraine can meet the food needs of 600 million people.
Ukraine is an important industrialised country:
- 1st in Europe in ammonia production;
- Europe's 2nd and the world’s 4th largest natural gas pipeline system;
- 3rd largest in Europe and 8th largest in the world in terms of installed capacity of nuclear power plants;
- 3rd place in Europe and 11th in the world in terms of rail network length (21,700 km);
- 3rd place in the world (after the U.S. and France) in production of locators and locating equipment;
- 3rd largest iron exporter in the world
- 4th largest exporter of turbines for nuclear power plants in the world;
- 4th world's largest manufacturer of rocket launchers;
- 4th place in the world in clay exports
- 4th place in the world in titanium exports
- 8th place in the world in exports of ores and concentrates;
- 9th place in the world in exports of defence industry products;
- 10th largest steel producer in the world (32.4 million tons).
Ukraine matters! That is why its independence is important to the rest of the world!
Wikipedia appears to support these claims.
Here's the OEC profile of Ukraine's exports.
Here's the EU-Ukraine trade profile.
