Stories about Ukraine from December, 2009
Ukraine: Election and Freedom of Speech
Foreign Notes writes about the upcoming presidential election in Ukraine and the impact that its outcome may have on the freedom of speech: “It must be dispiriting for journalists to know how little impact is made by their revelations of Ukraine's leaders’ systematic abuse of power, and a worry to...
Ukraine: The Pickle Project
The Uncataloged Museum introduces The Pickle Project, “an ongoing effort to document and share traditional foodways in rural communities in Ukraine as a way of understanding issues of sustainability, change and community.”
Belarus, Ukraine: British Literary Translator Vera Rich Dies at 73
Belarus Digest writes about Vera Rich, a British translator of Belarusian and Ukrainian literature, who died on Dec. 20 at the age of 73.
Denmark: Ukrainian Blogger's Photos of Mass Arrests
Sergey Kovalyov (LJ user skovalyov; #skovalyov on Twitter) posts seven photos of mass arrests of protesters on Amagerbrogade in Copenhagen and writes (RUS) about it on his blog.
Ukraine: Bureaucracy and Incompetence at Defense Ministry
Sergei Maximishin, an award-winning Russian photographer, has recently tried to get the Ukrainian defense ministry's assistance in doing a photo story on the Ukrainian navy and army for a German magazine. He ended up defeated by the Ukrainian bureaucratic monster, but posted a detailed account of the ordeal on his blog.
Ukraine: “Bumpy Road to Democracy”
At OpenDemocracy.net, Andreas Umland writes about two books that “cast light on what the Orange Revolution was really about, and review its significance against the background of developments in Russia.” At Jamestown Foundation Blog, Tammy Lynch covers the issues brought up during the recent EU-Ukraine summit – here and here.
Belarus, Russia, Ukraine: Borders and Identity
A poll on how Belarusians view themselves ethnically, and the problems of demarcating the Russian-Ukrainian border – at Window on Eurasia.
Ukraine: Emotions and Politics
Emotionally charged Ukrainian politics – at Ukrainiana: a “shocktivist” women's movement FEMEN on a popular TV talk show; and a televised quarrel between the Ukrainian president and the interior minister.
Ukraine: UK Ambassador's Blog
Leigh Turner, UK Ambassador to Ukraine, blogs about an annual charity bazaar in Kyiv and the need to establish the “world-wide recognition for Brand Ukraine.”
Ukraine, Afghanistan: Mayors and Corruption
Petro's Jotter praises Kabul residents for having their mayor sentenced for corruption and misappropriation of $16,000 – and offers a Ukrainian perspective: “Imagine how full the Kyiv jails would be if the corruption bar was dropped to a paltry USD 16,000 — wouldn't even cover ONE of the Oligarch's watches.”
Ukraine, Germany: Esquire Article on the Demjanjuk Trial
Foreign Notes links to an Esquire article “on the Demjanjuk ‘trial’ currently being staged in Germany.”
Ukraine: Morality Commission vs Writer Oles Ulyanenko
IZO highlights an “example of the new Ukrainian morality committee (NEK) at work” by translating LJ user dadakinder‘s post (RUS) on the “compromise” reached between NEK and the Ukrainian author Oles Ulyanenko, whose novel had been deemed “pornographic.”
Ukraine: Arts Updates
A few last month's updates at IZO: artist and writer Vagrich Bakhchanyan dies in NYC; Ukrainian artist Aleksandr Gnilitsky dies in Kyiv; a Ukrainian Euro-2012 icon.
CEE: “Social Media and Social Memory”
Evgeny Morozov writes about “social media and social memory” – and a Facebook project involving a 22-year-old Lublin resident posing as a 7-year-old Jewish boy who was killed by the Nazis during WWII. Vaviblog (ENG) is a similar project, which “gives voice” to Russian scientist Nikolai Vavilov: “…if Vavilov were...
Ukraine: Charity
Stories of some Ukrainian street children who have received assistance at ChildRescue's rehabilitation center – at Scenes from the Sidewalk. Stories of some adults who have received humanitarian aid from Hope Center – at Matty's Place.
Ukraine: Road Safety
Foreign Notes writes about Ukraine's “awful” road safety statistics.
Ukraine: “We Remember”
Ukrainiana, Kyiv Scoop, and LJ user igordaily (UKR) write and post photos and video from this year's commemoration of Holodomor, the famine of 1932-33; Nash Holos writes about the National Holodomor Awareness Week in Canada. Natalia Antonova reflects on a recent visit to Babi Yar.
