Dave - We all notice some consequences of the war but, of course, we can't compare those to what the Ukranians have to face.
Chris - In Sweden and Finland even the 'no-to-refugees' people are welcoming Ukrainians. This war has brought out the best of people - well, at least of most people. - Thanks for the video!
Ludmila - I hope your relatives will have a good place to stay in Poland. - Yes, many Russians are coming to Helsinki by train because it's the only way to the west now. Some of them have been just visiting Russia and are flying further to other countries where they live. Many of them have come to Finland because they fear the borders will be closed soon. These people started realizing that the 'conflict' is actually a war.
DAVE - je länger der Krieg dauert, desto teurer wird alles werden.
Die Inflation war vorher schon hoch durch Corona und die teilweise
unterbrochenen Handelsketten. Dies wird sich jetzt weiter verschärfen.
Dem Teufel ist das alles egal, Hauptsache er bleibt an der Macht und
kann seine Spezies weiter mit Korruptions-Geld versorgen. Man kann
nur hoffen, dass es in der Generalität auch noch vernünftige Leute
gibt, die sehen, was der Krieg anrichtet und wie sehr er auch
Russland schaden wird. Es wäre nicht der erste Putsch in
Russland. Auch Jelzin ist letztendlich durch einen Putsch
an die Macht gekommen, um dann 1999 von dem Teufel
abgelöst zu werden. Seine Zeit ist vorbei, Russland ist
verarmt - deshalb führt er ja den Krieg. Der äußere
"Gegner" soll von den Schwächen im Inneren ab-
lenken, das haben schon andere Diktatoren so
gemacht - es ist immer das gleiche Schema.
Leider nützen diese Betrachtungen dem
ukrainischen Volk überhaupt nichts.
MERVI - ich freue mich, dass die Solidarität gross ist.
Ich hatte schon befürchtet, dass es Geschrei gibt
wegen der Flüchtlinge - aber dem ist nicht so.
Allerdings macht AfD schon wieder durch
sehr merkwürdige Äusserungen auf
sich aufmerksam - die lernen nichts.
Die AfD findet P.s Krieg super.
Da kann man nur mit dem
Kopf schütteln...
Belated birthday greetings to Leti. I hope that you had a nice time on your special day.
It is a grey day here, with -7C temperatures. I have been able to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and go skating on the various outdoor ice rinks around the city. It feels good to get out on the ice after so many years. It is supposed to get mild in the next few days and the "experts" are calling for rain. This will be the end to outdoor rinks for the season.
For many people, Russia's attack on Ukraine must bring back horrible memories of the past world war. We all share the feelings of helplessness. Ultimately it is the Russian people who must take care of Putin.
Ludmila - It is a relief to hear that your family is heading to Poland.
We don't get any petroleum products from Russia, but the price at the gas pump around here has risen to $1.65/l. At the start of the pandemic 2 years ago the price was 74 cents/l. Most gas stations have changed over to "prepay at the pump" due to an increase in "drive away" thefts. For some reason there seems to be a shortage of red, yellow and orange peppers as well as baby carrots.
Today it is chore day and then a walk. I'll head to the grocery store later to pickup a steak and other items for dinner tonight.
Vielen Dank fuer eure ausfuehrlichen Nachrichten, ich bin zur Zeit ein bisschen ausser Betrieb, weil mich meine Hueftgelenksschmerzen so quaelen und ich weder lange sitzen noch liegen kann und Tabletten nur noch wenig helfen.
Mervi, ich denke gerne an die unbeschwerten Zeiten mit Knut zurueck.
Jetzt brauchen wir alle Trost, Rat und Hilfe in dieser schrecklichen und angstvollen Zeit,
in der die Fotos von Knut leider zu gut zu dem Liedtext passen.
Chris - It's heart warming to see how people everywhere are helping the refugees. However, we wish all they can soon return to their home country - a free Ukraine!
Ralph, Dumba - I guess we have all been singing 'We shall overcome' in our youth and now it's time to sing it again.
.
We shall overcome one day.!
We are not afraid today . . . (really!??)
Thanks Ralph for the link.
Thanks Joan Baez for this song that is so familiar to us all.
but can we still believe? I ask myself and you alle . . . . . ..
I am sitting at the bar in the Knuipe drinking tea with Uncle Sergej and Raspi. "Madam Nini read the story in Knutis Weekly about Knut and the Flowers Song. She has her own message to you all"
At this point I noticed that all the cubs were sitting in a horsehoe round the bar. Madam Nini and the cubs began singing this song
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Shall_Overcome
MERVI - wir müssen irgendwo die Grenze ziehen.
Präsident Biden hat gesagt, dass er keinen Zenti-
meter von NATO-Gebiet hergibt. Ich hoffe, Teufel
hat es gehört, sollte er Gelüste auf das Baltikum
haben (wo viele Russen leben). Irgendwo ist das
Ende der Fahnenstange !
Natürlich dürfen wir Russen nicht mit dem Teufel
gleichsetzen - er unterdrückt ja sein eigenes Volk
genauso brutal, wie andere Völker...
Russen in Deutschland können nichts für den Krieg.
LUDMILA - viele Ukrainer kommen in Berlin an.
Auch hier in Frankfurt. Sie werden sehr gut aufge-
nommen. Es gibt viele Freiwillige die helfen und
viele Spenden. Die Solidarität ist gross !
Today we have some clouds between the blue sky.
I have decided to have a home-day after a very
busy week outside - its still chilly in the nights.
But the growing of the plants is improving
and the birds are singing the whole day.
Its a relief in these bad times.
Man sollte auch die vielen anderen Kriege in
der Welt nicht vergessen - viele Menschen
machen das durch, was den Ukrainern
jetzt widerfährt, aber es interessiert
uns sonst nicht, weil es weit weg
scheint. Nun ist der Krieg ganz
nah - eine neue Erfahrung für
unsere Generation, die
immer im Frieden
gelebt hat...
Good morning! Guten Morgen! Although we are experiencing sad days we must try to remember the happy days ... it's our Bear Angel's special day. Will we ever have happy days again .....
Dumba - Many Ukrainian artists and actors/actresses are supporting their home country. For instance Mila Kunis (born in Ukraine) and Ashton Kutscher have made a big donation and are raising more money. Even Queen Elizabeth have donated a 'generous sum of money' which is really extraordinary.
Ralph - We don't want a big war but I'm very much afraid it will come anyway. The Devil in Kremlin is already looking for the next target for his attacks. His plan is to establish an iron curtain again piece by piece. The history repeats itself. I sincerely hope I'm wrong!!
Ludmila - I'm angry and ashamed. Ukraine is left alone in order to prevent a world but we know what happened before the second world war began ....
It's impossible to be optimistic these days but we can at least try so I wish everybody a pleasant Saturday. Take care! - In KWM there's a different kind of tribute to our memories of Knut and the happy days we had with him.
I wake up this morning to hear the BBC Radio interviewing various people about the possibility of Sweden and Finland asking to join NATO.
So far noone has mentioned the main reason why both countries should stay neutral and not join NATO.
NATO can only defend its members by threatening to use nuclear weapons of various kinds which means that these weapons would be used in any war with Russia.
This is the same reason why Ukraine is better off fighting Russia without NATO.. As long as the battle in Ukraine is fought without nuclear weapons Ukraine is likely sooner or later to expel the Russians much as Afghanistan did.
Countries in Western Europe now see the alternative of a degence without nuclear weapons.Maybe a popular defence like that in Ukraine would be safer ultimately than relying on nuclear weapons. Germany, Poland and even France may now ask this question too.
Britain is in a curious position because it is an island. In England at least the threat to destroy Russia's major cities is seen as a necessary one to deter it from ever trying to attack us because we have only small armed forces.
It is ironic though that because our legal system defends the rights of foreigners to use the financial and property services available in London we have not been able to single out Russians for confiscation or freezing of their assets. Lawyers and Accountants have blocked this even when we were in the EU.
I wrote here some time ago now that Ukraine should consider the different fates of Prague and Warsaw in World War 2. Prague remained intact while Warsaw was destroyed. Its brave President now knows that just as Britain and France could not save Poland in that war NATO cannot save Ukraine now. To try would destroy Europe and possibly the world.
That is why I feel as sad and helpless as that tired old man who flew from London to Munich in 1938. My country feels the stain of appeasing Hitler and the inability to rescue Poland even today Ukraine adds a new reason to feel shame and anger at our helplessness.
Oops!
Oops, you forgot something.