At stake in Ukraine is humanity's history

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. 

Ukrainian Movies

It's strange that Ukraine is in the headlines daily. In my childhood, no one had ever heard of Ukraine and we'd never have seen anything on TV, or even had a glimpse of a Ukrainian flag in the media. Not until the wall fell and Oksana Baiul hit the Olympics with a bang, winning gold in the winter olympics in figure skating. To see the Ukrainian flag rise up the pole and hear Sche ne vmerla Ukraina was astounding. We all bawled our eyes out. 

And with that invisibility of Ukraine, I'd never heard anything about any Ukrainian movies so I was happy to come across an article about the five best Ukrainian movies. Here are the five I will attempt to watch, all available on YouTube:

• My Thoughts Are Silent / Мої думки тихі  (2019)
• The Guide  (2016 Capital Ukrainian Festival)
• Feathered Dreams / Легкая, как перышко (2012)
• Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965)
• Man With a Movie Camera / Человек с Аппаратом (1929)

Putin's Yacht Escapes EU

Putin's 82-metre €87m superyacht Graceful has made a rapid getaway from a yard doing refits in Germany and retreated to Russia without completing the work. Apparently, Putin was afraid of the yacht being impounded if harsh sanctions were to be imposed. Does that indicate he plans an imminent invasion of Ukraine? We shall soon know. 

Here's more on the story. 

A cold war

The US is sending troops to Europe and the EU starts defusing the disinformation campaign spawned by Russia. Meanwhile, the NY Times is keeping tabs on the deepening rift between the US and Russia while Putin sidles up to Xi in Beijing. 

Can't we just revel in the Olympics and start living with Covid instead of worrying about WWIII. Perhaps the chicken found infiltrating the Pentagon will be tried for spying. That will take our minds off things. 

Calling Putin's Bluff

The Russian fleet has backed down from live ammo exercises off the Irish Coast, Antony Blinken delivered the US diplomatic position on Russia's demands, and several countries have stepped up the supply of weapons and expertise to Ukraine. All this means that Putin's gamble has not paid off. But is he willing to retreat?  That we shall see. 

A NY Times editorial by Yulia Latynina seems to think he has lost his gamble. 

Extraordinary times

Don't panic. Organise. 

It's been interesting. Russia massing troops on Ukraine's borders. The US releasing intelligence information to foil Russia's disinformation campaigns and wag the dog tactics. The US calling their bluff and tactics to set up a puppet government. Read all about it. 

Then, the Russians announce taking their fleet on live ammo manoeuvres in Irish waters. They say they have every right to these exercises but the fishermen don't like it and won't take it sitting down. The government has issued a marine notice. 

What a wild time, all in a pandemic moment when the omicron variant is travelling like a tsunami around the world. 

Be afraid

A map shows the Russia build-up near the Ukraine border.

Today, what it means to be Ukrainian is to be afraid. It has been clear for some time that Putin is going to invade Ukraine. He took Crimea to have a Black Sea Port. He marched into Donbas to get a foothold and an excuse to rescue the Russain-speakers. He caused trouble in Byelorus to wag the dog. He sent troops to Kazakhstan on a peacekeeping mission. Except Russia is notorious for sending in troops under the guise of peacekeeping that continue on to establish a permanent presence in the host countries. He has warned that Ukraine may not join NATO and the US and EU should not interfere. 

Today, he mounted a cyberattack on Ukraine's government computer systems. More troops are massing on the northern and southern borders now. 

And the US has accused Russia of sending saboteurs into Ukraine to stage “a false-flag operation” that would create a pretext for Moscow to invade. That's his style. A Russian analyst says Ukraine is Putin's last stand in keeping NATO away from its borders.