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Post by Celestial on Mar 3, 2022 13:14:08 GMT -5
Hmm...
I appreciate the gesture. But what would really sell it to me is if they pull their product from Russian shelves. At this point, any and all companies should do it out of basic decency. Also it's no longer profitable, so there's that.
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Mar 6, 2022 8:49:18 GMT -5
I have relatives in China who… are taking the side of Russia on this.
The truth is they don’t know better. Posts that “glorify war” (which is arbitrary defined) or are “against Russia” are quietly censored and there’s not much mention in the media there about this war. Information is very tightly controlled.
If I were to post the truth on WeChat or other Chinese social media like Weibo, I risk immediately having the post hidden or deleted. I could also risk my visa to visit my relatives. And if my relatives ever see the posts, they could also be in trouble.
It’s a rough situation and this is what happens when a full censorship apparatus starts to operate efficiently due to technology.
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Mar 6, 2022 9:16:24 GMT -5
And slightly related. I really hope China doesn’t get ideas about Taiwan from this conflict.
It would honestly shred my heart to pieces.
I have friends from Taiwan. I have friends from China.
I have friends who are in Taiwan. I have family in China.
I was born in China. I’ve lived in the USA for most of my life.
So this would be a confrontation between my homeland and the place I currently call home. It would be a mess. And I can predict that I and others like me will be asked to “prove our loyalty and patriotism” in such a conflict.
Because somehow adopting the way of life here, going to school here, getting involved in American activities, voting in every single election that I’ve been eligible to vote in, getting a job here, etc, might not be enough.
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Post by Celestial on Mar 7, 2022 18:15:26 GMT -5
And slightly related. I really hope China doesn’t get ideas about Taiwan from this conflict. It would honestly shred my heart to pieces. I have friends from Taiwan. I have friends from China. I have friends who are in Taiwan. I have family in China. I was born in China. I’ve lived in the USA for most of my life. So this would be a confrontation between my homeland and the place I currently call home. It would be a mess. And I can predict that I and others like me will be asked to “prove our loyalty and patriotism” in such a conflict. Because somehow adopting the way of life here, going to school here, getting involved in American activities, voting in every single election that I’ve been eligible to vote in, getting a job here, etc, might not be enough. Based on this current conflict and how Russia has, in less than two weeks, been isolated and crippled economically while both uniting NATO and Europe, it is unlikely China will get any ideas except "let's not". Ukraine and Russia share a large border. Taiwan is an island. China would have to launch amphibious operations to even make it in. Plus I imagine China is now looking at the severely crippled Russia and wondering what it can do with those resources. Granted, the idea that Russia would invade Ukraine seemed absurd until two weeks ago. Now it's reality. So stranger things have happened. But I certainly hope China has been deterred from doing anything like this by the swift and brutal response of the world community towards Russia. **** In other, positive news, Ukraine has not only been kicking butts and taking names on the battlefield but in Paralympics. We have never been a powerhouse in sports, but we are second in the medal rankings behind China. Four gold medals, three silvers, one bronze. All while the country is in the middle of a horrific war. Furthermore, the scary convy heading to Kyiv has stalled. 30 Russian helicopters were destoyed in one attack near Mykoliev (I think it's there). A plane was shot down last night over my home city. The warship which attacked Snake Island has been destroyed. There is ten billion euro in the warchest for the Ukrainian army thanks to donations, and more donations keep coming every day, not only for the army but humanitarian causes too. 100,000 people have come to Ukraine to fight, 20,000 of them foreigners. The information war is won by us. The myth of the great Russian army lies scattered in the fields of my homeland, either as scrap metal or fertiliser. All the while, we continue to fight and hold. I have never been much of a patriot. But my god, I love my country right now. I am insanely proud of how they are doing. It is still a grim situation, but with every day, we grow stronger and they grow weaker. Ukrainians, as a rule, love to argue, but under threat, they become a formidable force. Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the heroes. Glory to the nation. Death to the enemies. |
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Mar 7, 2022 18:33:26 GMT -5
So far, it does seem China is putting Taiwan on the back burner. Mainly because of economic interests most likely.
Mainly the chip industry will be severely impacted due to most of chips now being manufactured by TSMC. Disrupting that will harm both the West and China severely given what we’ve seen now with the pandemic impacting it.
That said, a few things will be insulated since China has their own payment system, social media, banking verification system, own cloud, own operating systems, etc. it’s likely they will be able to insulate their own people more from what is going on outside. If Microsoft cuts off services to China, I think the reaction will be more of a “so what?”
And I still think sanctions would be difficult for the US to implement because we buy and sell so many things (especially electronics). Like I’m highly skeptical if companies like Apple who have stopped selling things in Russia would do the same to China so quickly. Or if someone advocate for a “ban on Chinese imports”… will countries be on board? Will companies like Apple, Nintendo, Microsoft, Dell, Nike etc be on board to stop manufacturing right away? But of course, any sanctions would also damage China more severely too so it will be a game of who blinks first.
I’m thinking though that China will ingrain itself more into the world with things like the Belt and Road Initiative as a way to buy influence so I still fear that it’s a matter of time and how long people will remember history before they invade. I think short term, the current situation will force them to lay low. But I’m not fully convinced that this is an apples to apples comparison and China will look at this situation as the exact same as what could happen to them.
I hope my fears don’t come true, but my Taiwanese friends are not breathing any sighs of relief. If anything, they are more fearful than ever.
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Post by Celestial on Mar 7, 2022 20:12:25 GMT -5
I do hope they will be alright. I cannot claim to be an expert on Taiwan or China or that part of the world. My experience lies with Ukraine and is based merely on what me and my family know. Speaking of my family, now we only have three people left on the ground in Kharkiv instead of four. Before you panic, my maternal grandmother decided to leave last week. She's in Poland. Now we're struggling with Britain's stupid visa system. Guardian article describing it. This is exactly what we have been dealing with. The visa centre in Ukraine closed, so the application was rendered void and we had to start again. Documents that they require and ask for are simply not available due to everything being bombed out. The nearest appointment for my gran is the 22nd March, though we'll try to get her a walk-in appointment sooner. They claim it is for "security". Well, here's the thing: my gran has had multiple UK visas, and there has never been problems. Why are they wasting our precious time now at the most vulnerable point in all our lives with petty red tape? I am furious. The UK is a disgrace in how we treat refugees in the best of times, but they say in one breath that they support Ukraine and then do...this. We do not need bureaucracy right now, we need humanitarian aid and to allow our families to come live with us! EU managed to waive all visas, what's wrong with the UK? |
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Mar 7, 2022 20:54:51 GMT -5
I do hope they will be alright. I cannot claim to be an expert on Taiwan or China or that part of the world. My experience lies with Ukraine and is based merely on what me and my family know. Speaking of my family, now we only have three people left on the ground in Kharkiv instead of four. Before you panic, my maternal grandmother decided to leave last week. She's in Poland. Now we're struggling with Britain's stupid visa system. Guardian article describing it. This is exactly what we have been dealing with. The visa centre in Ukraine closed, so the application was rendered void and we had to start again. Documents that they require and ask for are simply not available due to everything being bombed out. The nearest appointment for my gran is the 22nd March, though we'll try to get her a walk-in appointment sooner. They claim it is for "security". Well, here's the thing: my gran has had multiple UK visas, and there has never been problems. Why are they wasting our precious time now at the most vulnerable point in all our lives with petty red tape? I am furious. The UK is a disgrace in how we treat refugees in the best of times, but they say in one breath that they support Ukraine and then do...this. We do not need bureaucracy right now, we need humanitarian aid and to allow our families to come live with us! EU managed to waive all visas, what's wrong with the UK? Oof, I really hope your family stays safe and the bureaucracy gets taken care of soon. Is it possible to yell at them on social media and to avoid the firestorm, they change their policies? |
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Post by Geo 🇺🇦 🌻 on Mar 8, 2022 9:22:08 GMT -5
Looks like the US will ban Russian energy imports. www.axios.com/russian-oil-ban-coal-ban-embargo-biden-b403542e-531b-482c-9899-33692aeceb10.htmlMake no mistake, I am generally supportive of this. I hope we have a backup plan that will soften the higher fuel prices. it’s not a surprise that this will lead to higher energy prices when they are already pretty high in the US with gas prices soaring. Many Americans including me do know that this is a worthy cause and that higher prices pale in comparison to what people are experiencing in Ukraine right now. I just worry that some will really begin to feel it at the pump at some point and the support for Ukraine will began to erode as people become concerned about their own dire financial situation. The prices won’t hurt me too much since I am in stable financial situation, but I know many aren’t there. |
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Post by Huntress on Mar 8, 2022 17:42:54 GMT -5
Gas prices seem to be soaring everywhere. We just got a full tank yesterday and instead of the usual €50-something, it cost over 80 euros. Cost per liter is currently an absolutely unprecedented €1.9 (if my math holds up, that's €7.2 or $7.8 per gallon.)
Granted, since we live right next to la-la-land, the people here are probably more willing to put up with dire straits if it means disconnecting from depending on Russian energy sources like yesterday. We already went through this exact debate earlier this year when the stock price of electricity jumped hard and people's power bills for January were all over national news for a few weeks.
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Post by Carolyn on Mar 8, 2022 20:45:21 GMT -5
I'm fine with the Russian oil ban. I think it's needed. I also think it is going to skyrocket gas costs (and by extension, food) prices... which will disproportionately hurt people who live paycheck to paycheck (because 'Murica)... It cost $36 to fill up my little Elantra today (and it wasn't even empty, just 1/4 tank) and I'm hunkering down for travel for the most part because it'll just keep climbing. I am more than okay with moving away from Russian oil and issuing serious sanctions on their trade... their government has to face the consequences for the deplorable acts that they've done and continue to do... but I can see it really hurting people who are barely scraping by right now.  America has no shortage of income disparity and serious poverty (with few or ineffective safety nets). Hopefully, another supplier can take the pressure off sooner rather than later (or, you know, moving away from fossil fuels.) (Also, one can hope that food banks will make a rallying cry for support and that folks who need help can get it quickly). |
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Post by Celestial on Mar 9, 2022 2:53:38 GMT -5
Yes, the fact that this ban will hurt the less fortunate sucks. But it feels like any policy change, unless it is explicitly targeted at reducing that harm, will always hurt those at the bottom rung of the socioeconomic ladder. And I feel for those people, I really do.
But right now, Russian oil is warm, bright red, and smells strongly of metal.
If people want lower gas prices, then this war needs to be brought to a quick halt. Ukraine is not going to accepet anything but the restoration of its complete sovereignity. Russia is too determined to keep fighting, even if it cripples them. So the best solution is cripple Russia further. Only then, maybe, will your energy prices return to normal.
And if anybody suggests that Ukraine capitulate so that prices return to normal, I have to remind them: Russia will not stop here. Would you rather pay that much and live in a free world, or live under a fascist regime run by an insane old man where even saying the word "war" lands you 15 years in jail?
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Post by Carolyn on Mar 9, 2022 7:59:04 GMT -5
For sure, Russia will continue from here, which is why it must be stopped now. Putin is a dangerous, evil man who will stop at nothing to dominate and subjugate whoever he can get his hands on. The man has delusions of grandeur and thinks himself to be a deity... plus the terrifying fascist regime he would undoubtedly extend to any land he annexes. People like him never stop at one conquest. He'll want to have a stranglehold on the entire world, if he can help it.
The sanctions are definitely necessary, I'm on board with them.
I'm also hoping safety nets will open up domestically to help people who need food, heating and housing assistance... And that maybe, just maybe, the government can help subsidize the costs to keep it from hurting the vulnerable and impoverished.
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Post by Moni on Mar 9, 2022 10:52:00 GMT -5
like 80% of egypt's wheat comes from ukraine and russia, and also lots of our tourists come from those two countries. this is what tiktokers might say is a massive L.
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Post by Breakingchains on Mar 9, 2022 19:22:00 GMT -5
This is a small thing, but itch.io is doing a charity bundle for Ukraine. You got your usual smattering of big-name indies from the past few years, then lots and lots of cool-looking niche titles, TTRPGs, game assets and other odds and ends. There's even some ebooks in there ( this one about how to invent fantasy religions looks cool) and the minimum contribution to get the whole bundle is $10 USD. They've raised over 3m as of this writing, and I'm throwing in my ten bucks as well. Details on the specific charities being supported are on the left as you scroll down. |
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Post by The Wanderer on Mar 9, 2022 20:53:55 GMT -5
Hey, Celestial (and anyone else directly affected by all this). It's been a long time since I posted anything, but I never lost my bookmark here. I think I remember you, after I'd posted a video for Ukraine's Got Talent from another forum way back when, and you were kind enough to provide the translation for the last caption in the act of that young woman doing the live sand-art picture story.
Hope everything is okay for you and your family. Certainly praying for Ukraine's safety, and for its people to be safe as well.
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America has no shortage of income disparity and serious poverty (with few or ineffective safety nets). Hopefully, another supplier can take the pressure off sooner rather than later (or, you know, moving away from fossil fuels.)
