Ruslana Wrzesnewskyj doesn’t care about warring statistics; she knows what she has seen. When she adopted her daughter from Ukraine in 1993, the orphanages were crowded with children who had been born with deformities or left by parents who had suddenly died young. The Toronto realtor was so shaken by what she saw that she founded Help us Help the Children, a project of the Children of Chornobyl Canadian Fund that has assisted thousands of orphan victims with summer camps, medicines and scholarships.
‘Called the silent killer’ “All you have to do is travel through Ukraine,” she says. “It’s called the silent killer. It’s a horrible thing to come into a town and see that half of the people in their 40s are dead.”
Anything related to Ukrainians living in Canada and Ukraine. Special dedication to 10 million innocent vicims of Ukrainian Holodomor 1932-33 "Ukraine Remembers, the World Recognizes."
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
The Cranes flying off to Chornobyl
April 26, 2006 we will be commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Chornobyl tragedy. Radio Canada International features a special program on this.
20 years after the world's worst nuclear accident, millions have sunk into an apathy that lets them eat yields of land they know is tainted.
20 years after the world's worst nuclear accident, millions have sunk into an apathy that lets them eat yields of land they know is tainted.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Akademia Uber Alles!
The Sich rejoices on this Day as Ukraine continues its rebirth from the purgatory suffered at the hands of the Marxist Relativist Left. First it suffered unequaled Genocide and then it suffered a vast cover up and hate campaign that continues today.
Ukraine's 'orange revolution' allies sign coalition pact
KIEV : Ukraine's estranged "orange revolution" allies Thursday signed an agreement in principle to reunite in a coalition following parliamentary elections, with the key question of who will become the next prime minister still undecided.
"We declare our intention to create a coalition of democratic forces," read the framework agreement penned by President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine, the bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko, and the Socialists.
The document lays out steps the trio will take on their way to formally creating a majority coalition in parliament after the newly-elected chamber convenes for its first session, according to a copy of the pact provided by Our Ukraine.
The three blocs together will control 243 seats in the 450-member Upper Rada legislature following a March 26 parliamentary ballot.
But it remained unclear whether Tymoshenko would return to head the government.
"Let's not name any names... everything in due course," Roman Bezsmertnyi, a top Our Ukraine official told reporters after the signing.
The fiery "orange revolution" heroine split with the Ukrainian president after he fired her as premier last September and has demanded a return to the premiership in any union after she drubbed Yushchenko's party in the March ballot.
Analysts in Kiev say Yushchenko opposes Tymoshenko's premiership because he doesn't trust the ambitious and charismatic politician.
The election was won by the pro-Russian opposition Regions Party, which will have 186 seats in the chamber. Tymoshenko's bloc will have 129, Our Ukraine 81, the Socialists 33, and the Communists, a likely Regions ally, will get 21 seats.
"We declare our intention to create a coalition of democratic forces," read the framework agreement penned by President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine, the bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko, and the Socialists.
The document lays out steps the trio will take on their way to formally creating a majority coalition in parliament after the newly-elected chamber convenes for its first session, according to a copy of the pact provided by Our Ukraine.
The three blocs together will control 243 seats in the 450-member Upper Rada legislature following a March 26 parliamentary ballot.
But it remained unclear whether Tymoshenko would return to head the government.
"Let's not name any names... everything in due course," Roman Bezsmertnyi, a top Our Ukraine official told reporters after the signing.
The fiery "orange revolution" heroine split with the Ukrainian president after he fired her as premier last September and has demanded a return to the premiership in any union after she drubbed Yushchenko's party in the March ballot.
Analysts in Kiev say Yushchenko opposes Tymoshenko's premiership because he doesn't trust the ambitious and charismatic politician.
The election was won by the pro-Russian opposition Regions Party, which will have 186 seats in the chamber. Tymoshenko's bloc will have 129, Our Ukraine 81, the Socialists 33, and the Communists, a likely Regions ally, will get 21 seats.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Ukraine's former Orange Revolution allies call for new round of coalition talks on Monday
(AP) Ukraine's estranged Orange Revolution allies called Friday for a new round of coalition talks to begin urgently next week, their parties said.
"The process should begin already from Monday," said President Viktor Yushchenko's party, Our Ukraine.
The call came a day after Our Ukraine said it supported forming a coalition with its estranged ally, Yulia Tymoshenko, and the Socialists, but refused to immediately cede to Tymoshenko's demand that the premiership be returned to her.
Ukraine's March 26 parliamentary election ended with no party winning a majority, forcing the parties into coalition talks.
"The process should begin already from Monday," said President Viktor Yushchenko's party, Our Ukraine.
The call came a day after Our Ukraine said it supported forming a coalition with its estranged ally, Yulia Tymoshenko, and the Socialists, but refused to immediately cede to Tymoshenko's demand that the premiership be returned to her.
Ukraine's March 26 parliamentary election ended with no party winning a majority, forcing the parties into coalition talks.
Ukraine’s Choice Is EU, Not Russia
KIEV, Ukraine -- As Ukraine has chosen “the road of democratic development”, attempts to force the country to make a choice between the EU and Russia are provocative, the Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk told UNIAN news agency. Hat tip to Nicholas - Kiev Ukraine News Blog
Ukrainian-Canadians are outraged
Ukrainian-Canadians are outraged over the defacement of a plaque commemorating the imprisonment of thousands of their ancestors in a First World War internment camp in Banff National Park.
The plaque, located about 12 kilometres east of Lake Louise on the Bow Valley Parkway, was recently found with scrapings on it reading "f--k you," while the accompanying descriptive plate had the letters "B.S." scratched into it.
Parks Canada was notified Wednesday by the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, a group working to represent the human rights of the country's Ukrainian community.
Parks Canada spokeswoman Marjorie Huculak said the government agency sent maintenance crews to the site to determine the extent of the damage and assess for repairs.
"I was quite surprised by the statements," said Huculak, "but what we need to do is evaluate the situation and the extent of damage and the steps we need to take."
Lubomyr Luciuk, the association's research director, said he was appalled by what he described as a cowardly act.
The plaque, located about 12 kilometres east of Lake Louise on the Bow Valley Parkway, was recently found with scrapings on it reading "f--k you," while the accompanying descriptive plate had the letters "B.S." scratched into it.
Parks Canada was notified Wednesday by the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, a group working to represent the human rights of the country's Ukrainian community.
Parks Canada spokeswoman Marjorie Huculak said the government agency sent maintenance crews to the site to determine the extent of the damage and assess for repairs.
"I was quite surprised by the statements," said Huculak, "but what we need to do is evaluate the situation and the extent of damage and the steps we need to take."
Lubomyr Luciuk, the association's research director, said he was appalled by what he described as a cowardly act.
What would the new Liberal machine look like under Mr. Ignatieff?
Mr. Ignatieff wants folk to get the message that he's a very "serious" dude with a "serious" message. Teaming up with Lalonde & Co. does promise to resurrect an aggressive national liberalism, with all its doctrinaire combativeness, but without any Trudeauesque charm or comic relief.
What would the new Liberal machine look like under Mr. Ignatieff?
Michael Ignatieff should have realized his riding is populated by the 'little' people he apparently disdains. A very interesting insight on this candidate can be found here, written by Lubomyr Luciuk, November 30, 2005.
What would the new Liberal machine look like under Mr. Ignatieff?
Michael Ignatieff should have realized his riding is populated by the 'little' people he apparently disdains. A very interesting insight on this candidate can be found here, written by Lubomyr Luciuk, November 30, 2005.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Three Ukraines
At these elections, people are choosing from three ideologically different past, present and future Ukraines. While being openly antagonistic amongst themselves, these Ukraines also sometimes flow into one another, and borrow from each other key themes, methods of doing battle, and sometimes build on each other’s contradictions.
In this article, only the main models – the “true forms” – are discussed as they are enunciated by their adherents. In reality, each political force and the people who support it express these forms through their own unique prisms. The specific political groupings that are behind each of these ideas are not mentioned in this article, as they are plainly visible to the naked eye.
In this article, only the main models – the “true forms” – are discussed as they are enunciated by their adherents. In reality, each political force and the people who support it express these forms through their own unique prisms. The specific political groupings that are behind each of these ideas are not mentioned in this article, as they are plainly visible to the naked eye.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
How well do we know the Ukrainian Diaspora?
The first international scholarly conference entitled “The Diaspora as a Factor of Ukraine’s Confirmation in the International Community” helped citizens of Ukraine discover the Ukrainian Diaspora, which is largely unknown to us. Over 250 members from 25 countries gathered at Lviv Polytechnic University in what was a meeting of minds.
“In essence, Ukraine does not know its own Diaspora, or it only knows one side of it — the Western Diaspora whose representatives bring things to us and distribute them. Meanwhile, we do not realize that today we ourselves must help our fellow Ukrainians living abroad. Granted, the Western Diaspora has done a lot to preserve spiritual values, the structure of political parties and civic organizations, and archival materials. All of this has returned to Ukraine, for which we are greatly indebted to them commented Iryna Kliuchkovska, director, and one one the main organisers of this event from International Institute of Education.
You can read more about this by clicking here.
“In essence, Ukraine does not know its own Diaspora, or it only knows one side of it — the Western Diaspora whose representatives bring things to us and distribute them. Meanwhile, we do not realize that today we ourselves must help our fellow Ukrainians living abroad. Granted, the Western Diaspora has done a lot to preserve spiritual values, the structure of political parties and civic organizations, and archival materials. All of this has returned to Ukraine, for which we are greatly indebted to them commented Iryna Kliuchkovska, director, and one one the main organisers of this event from International Institute of Education.
You can read more about this by clicking here.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Ukrainian presidential elections 2006
Based upon the effectiveness of UCC’s 500-strong election observation mission for the rerun of the second round of the Ukrainian presidential elections in December 2004, the UCC has called for 150 volunteer observers to monitor the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 26th 2006.
To hear more about this, Radio Canada International (Ukrainian section) prepared a special reportage which has interviews with the following persons:
Abina M. Dann - Ambassador, Canadian Embassy, Ukraine
Paul Grod - Head of Mission for the 150-person UCC lead election observation mission for the March 26, 2006 Ukrainian Parliamentary Elections.
Ruslana Wrzesnewskyj - Co-founder of Help Us Help the Children, a volunteer project of Children of Chornobyl Canadian Fund (CCCF), a Canada-USA-Ukraine not-for-profit charity who's aim is to improve the lives of thousands of orphans living in Ukraine. Recently, celebrated their 10-year anniversary.
Lubomyr Kwasnycia - President, Romyr Consultants Corporation. Since 1993, Lubomyr has provided public relations counsel for RCC clients in Ukraine. He has also lectured on public relations in universities throughout the country.
To hear more about this, Radio Canada International (Ukrainian section) prepared a special reportage which has interviews with the following persons:
Abina M. Dann - Ambassador, Canadian Embassy, Ukraine
Paul Grod - Head of Mission for the 150-person UCC lead election observation mission for the March 26, 2006 Ukrainian Parliamentary Elections.
Ruslana Wrzesnewskyj - Co-founder of Help Us Help the Children, a volunteer project of Children of Chornobyl Canadian Fund (CCCF), a Canada-USA-Ukraine not-for-profit charity who's aim is to improve the lives of thousands of orphans living in Ukraine. Recently, celebrated their 10-year anniversary.
Lubomyr Kwasnycia - President, Romyr Consultants Corporation. Since 1993, Lubomyr has provided public relations counsel for RCC clients in Ukraine. He has also lectured on public relations in universities throughout the country.
Ukrainian journalist arrested ... live on the air
Friday, March 31, 2006
Ukrainian journalist Hanna Horzhenko, in Minsk, Belarus to cover the lead-up to that country's presidential 'election,' was arrested, along with her camerman, by authorities -- while doing a live on-air report! Have a listen here. Unbelievable.It was posted at this blog for Canadian journalists on March 13. Not much disccussion on the site. There seems to be very little outrage in western journalist circles over this violation of freedom of the press in the last communist bastion in Europe. Hat-tip to 'Nash Holos.'
Ukrainian journalist Hanna Horzhenko, in Minsk, Belarus to cover the lead-up to that country's presidential 'election,' was arrested, along with her camerman, by authorities -- while doing a live on-air report! Have a listen here. Unbelievable.It was posted at this blog for Canadian journalists on March 13. Not much disccussion on the site. There seems to be very little outrage in western journalist circles over this violation of freedom of the press in the last communist bastion in Europe. Hat-tip to 'Nash Holos.'
Zbigniew Brzezinski: Ukraine’s election is the victory of democracy
March 31 , 2006 11:27
Zbigniew Brzezinski and other experts from the U.S, Russia, Ukraine, Poland and France have gathered in Warsaw to discuss global challenges facing the European Community and Poland.
Ukraine possesses all opportunities which are necessary for the EU accession, Mr. Brzezinski told in Warsawa. Prof. Brzezinski stressed the U.S. is delighted the recent election in Ukraine. The election proved the great democratic victory born in 2004. He denied rumors stating that the U.S. is afraid of Timoshenko’s premiership.
According to his words, the USA supports orange revolution, but, concerning the PM office, the United States stress it is downright Ukraine’s domestic affair. The Euro-oriented democratic basis behind the new Cabinet is the main point for the future government.
Touching upon the winner of the election (the Party of Regions – 32.12% - ed.), Mr. Brzezinski hopes Victor Yanukovich is about to change his points of view.
As for is culture, Ukraine is the authentic European country. Now, it needs institutional reforms which will push it to the European Union, Zbigniew Brzezinski concluded.
Zbigniew Brzezinski and other experts from the U.S, Russia, Ukraine, Poland and France have gathered in Warsaw to discuss global challenges facing the European Community and Poland.
Ukraine possesses all opportunities which are necessary for the EU accession, Mr. Brzezinski told in Warsawa. Prof. Brzezinski stressed the U.S. is delighted the recent election in Ukraine. The election proved the great democratic victory born in 2004. He denied rumors stating that the U.S. is afraid of Timoshenko’s premiership.
According to his words, the USA supports orange revolution, but, concerning the PM office, the United States stress it is downright Ukraine’s domestic affair. The Euro-oriented democratic basis behind the new Cabinet is the main point for the future government.
Touching upon the winner of the election (the Party of Regions – 32.12% - ed.), Mr. Brzezinski hopes Victor Yanukovich is about to change his points of view.
As for is culture, Ukraine is the authentic European country. Now, it needs institutional reforms which will push it to the European Union, Zbigniew Brzezinski concluded.
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