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and i thought that this was going to be a tech and life pursuits themed journal, blog, log, whatever: how wrong was i.
a war is underway on the continent of europe, now, as i write. the government of RU aided by the RU satellite state BY (vassal in older terminology) started this war.
government and citizens of the world discuss sanctions:
page quotes from economic sanctions wikipedia page link above:
> Offering an explanation as to why sanctions are still imposed even when they may be marginally effective, British diplomat Jeremy Greenstock suggests sanctions are popular not because they are known to be effective, but because "there is nothing else [to do] between words and military action if you want to bring pressure upon a government".
> Sanctions have been criticized on humanitarian grounds, as they negatively impact a nation's economy and can also cause collateral damage on ordinary citizens. Peksen implies that sanctions can degenerate human rights in the target country.Some policy analysts believe imposing trade restrictions only serves to hurt ordinary people as opposed to government elites, and others have likened the practice to siege warfare.
there is of course the obvious, glaringly obvious point: one really needs to totally break off all economic activity with an enemy we are at war with, or might very soon (anticipating) be at war with. otherwise we are helping our enemy to hurt us!
i think, believe, that european nations, nato members, concerned others must now impose total economic sanctions on RU and BY; total! including but not limited to:
trade of any sort
internet access to rest of the world
media communication
financial transactions
transport links (direct)
the world should sanction RU and BY as if it was already in a shooting war with them.
some communication channels must be kept open but only for government to government communications to de-escalate the situation.
if the world can expeditiously and unequivocally demonstrate that RU and BY actions are not acceptable then we may have a chance to avoid escalation to a more widespread european war. history has a habit of repeating itself usually by the less belligerent involved expecting that dictators, tyrants, totalitarian governments might see sense: how did work out for WW2? not well!
i would (given the power ((too scary a thought even for me, no, seriously, too scary))):
leave all the sanctions in place and strictly enforced until all the RU and BY government actors that conceived, planned, and executed the war have left (permanently) government, and are no longer able to influence government.
commence human rights violation legal proceedings, etc.
require RU and BY to make restitution to UA and others affected for lives lost, injuries, damage, financial losses.
i really have nothing personal against the RU and BY people; they have little opportunity to roll back their loss of political agency quickly at the moment. a wake up call for all of us in functioning democracies to ensure we don't make mistakes that 10 years later have us wondering how we lost our voices and agency.
i am fully aware that this will hurt me financially and opportunity wise for the rest of my life: i can accept that personal pain. my personal pain is nothing compared to the pain of those in UA now and for many years to come.
i really think that people must demand that those we elected get off their fences. one might hope that they realize that they have missed the opportunity to choose a side: RU and BY have already done that for them.
so that there is no confusion: i have great cynicism about the co-opting of democratic institutions by "strong" leaders in any democratic government (including mine). strong peacetime leaders seem to drag populations into wars and other situations for self interest. ironically it may be true that countries then at war need a strong leader; just not the one that started it! for a role model look no further than the UA president Volodymyr Zelenskyy! president Volodymyr Zelenskyy demonstrates real bravery and leadership.
i have the benefit of being out of range, and unlikely to be censured, or arrested for expressing my views. RU and BY would have to refuel a couple of times, and catch a ferry to get a tank to where i am: spec ops, airborne assaults, and the like excluded.
btw RU, good luck with the road signs here; these usually tell us where the next road is, not that there will be a turning soon. i really doubt if RU tanks will fit down some of the diversions in our narrow lanes: always diversions due roadworks here!
i am old enough to have been born while the world, still recovering from WW2, was engaged in the cold war.
yes, i remember where i was when President Kennedy was assassinated, too young to understand why my mother wept.
i was one uncle short growing up, Jack died on his first merchant ship atlantic run still too young to be there (he didn't give his real age).
i would not be here at all had my grandfather not survived the siege of kut-al-amara, being a pow of Turkish forces, and start a family.
i am not all unique regarding the effect of colonial enterprise, expedition, imperialism, empire building, and war, (and other, utterly wasteful, national pursuits) on a british (but fill in your country here) family.
> Ashes and diamonds, foe and friend, We were all equal in the end.
- -or are no longer able to influence
- +and are no longer able to influence
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neil.gemini@mingmengtou.org
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