Teach the Future strongly condemns the military invasion of Ukraine. We hope as many people as possible get to safety whether in or out of Ukraine. No one should have to flee their home and country just to be safe from other humans. We wish for this war and all wars to end soon and for power to be returned to the people.
Over the past few weeks, what’s been happening in Ukraine has been horrific. Ukrainian cities, offices and homes are being bombed and destroyed. Ukrainian civilians forced to abandon their homes are fleeing their country or bracing to fight for it. Ukrainian lives are being thrown into disarray, in some cases literally, overnight.
Russian forces created anxiety in the minds of not only Ukrainians but the world almost a year ago when they began amassing on the Russo-Ukrainian border under the guise of routine military exercises. However, only ten days after Valentine’s Day, peace dissolved, and anxiety turned to terror as Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian men as young as 18 and as old as 60 have no choice but to stay and fight a war they do not want. Meanwhile, women and children have the opportunity to flee, and many have, but very few wanted to. Over two million Ukrainians have become refugees in neighbouring countries, a further three hundred thousand in other European countries, and countless others are internally displaced.
Added to this, the over seventy-five thousand international students in Ukraine now find themselves stuck in limbo, desperately wanting to return home but waiting for directions from their embassy on how to evacuate. Reports of black and brown students being delayed at the borders by guards prioritising white citizens and students or even denied passage on some busses are appalling. Racism has no place in society, and seeing it in situations such as this is especially horrible. When people are fleeing danger, no one should be prioritised over others because of their skin colour or ethnicity. People of colour have endured violence at the hands of white people and been drafted to fight wars with little to no link to their home country for hundreds of years. We are well beyond a time where this should be a thing of the past, but clearly, we are not, and that’s not acceptable.
Another group stuck in limbo are trans-women with inaccurate identification papers. Many have been turned away due to the military conscript by transphobic border guards. Others stay trapped in their homes while the rest of their community flee, too afraid of the transphobia outside. With emotions running high and fear flowing quickly, people want someone to take out their anger, and some choose transwomen.
The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, as in many cases, is very socially nuanced. But thankfully, we are seeing the best of humanity in neighbouring countries. Polish schools enrol Ukrainian children within a matter of days of arriving in the community. Thousands of Eastern European families invite Ukrainian refugees to live in their homes indefinitely. All European countries have waived the visa requirement for Ukrainians to enter. All of Europe, except the UK, that is. This is a policy we can never settle for; the Home Office must remove the visa requirement for Ukrainian refugees and all refugees. People are fleeing their homes, running from bullets and bombs. They do not have time to pick up paperwork or fill in forms and send them off for processing. They barely have time to pick up essential and sentimental items.
Though the climate crisis did not spark the invasion of Ukraine, it has tainted the reactions of many western nations. Economic sanctions against Russia are the most popular response to avoid all-out war in Europe; however, they’ve been slow and somewhat reserved.
Russia is a massive exporter of oil and natural gas to Europe, the US and worldwide. Past decisions by energy companies and political leaders not to transition to renewable energy faster have left them dependent on Russia’s oil and gas to keep homes warm and energy prices low (well, to slow their rise). As a result, while strongly opposing the invasion of Ukraine, Europe and the US are partially funding the Russian forces’ assault. Had political leaders strengthened requirements for renewable energy usage, energy supplies would be much more diverse, and countries wouldn’t be so dependent on oil and gas from Russia. The Climate Crisis intersects directly with the conflict in Ukraine.
To be clear, I’m not claiming the Climate Crisis is worse than the crisis in Ukraine or any other crisis, just that it exists alongside them and that they often share the same roots: imperialism and capitalism.
This blog doesn’t talk about the crucial topic of current conflicts and refugees in other parts of the world, as I will follow up with another blog on this topic very soon.
Love and hope to Ukraine and refugees everywhere,
Любові та надії до України та біженців всюди
Teach the Future