This week sort of flew by and is moving even faster now that the kids are on their fall break from school. This also means I will be taking a little break and will write again next weekend when I am back in Vienna. This Thursday was a national holiday in Austria, and I had the pleasure of being invited to speak live and answer questions with Christopher and Tracey of Mriya Report on their 24/7 Space. Jenia also joined me, and I hope it was helpful for an international audience to understand in a little more detail how exactly refugees are greeted in Europe, the reality vs. the newspaper headlines. As she texted me afterwards, “actually what I should have said is that people should look into the actual situation of Ukrainians around them, because the news reports one thing and then what actually happens is quite another. For example, I’ve heard that a lot of Ukrainians in the UK are in danger of becoming homeless as the program keeping them afloat is running out soon.” The whole conversation lasted nearly two hours, and I believe they will be then posting a version of it to Spotify. When I have a link, I will share here.
In my last two posts, I shared with you many of the hot button issues that are on the forefront of my concern. I was pleased to see the BBU actually added information in Ukrainian to its website about Austria’s arrival centres being full and provided phone numbers so potential new arrivals could call before coming and inquire as to the current number of available beds. This is huge progress and exactly the kind of transparency other volunteers and I have been asking for, for ages. The issue of space though needs to be solved and/or Austria needs to say it is closed for those who don’t have independent housing. The Graz center is still due to close on November 16, and that will leave, at least according to official info, only Vienna and Vorarlberg. Meaning, in practice, only Vienna. And Vienna is so full. So, problem not solved, yet, but a step in the right direction in terms of transparency.
Today I thought to take a little different twist and recommend some reading, watching, and more reading. I wish I myself knew better sources to read on the Israel/Gaza war. I find myself migrating to the large American newspaper podcasts but I understand that is not a full picture. I find it very hard at the moment on social media to differentiate real info from propaganda, and I am sure I am not alone in that. Therefore I am not ignoring the topic, but rather, admitting, I am not qualified to be pointing any readers in any direction. I did listen today to these two informative and heartbreaking podcast episodes:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/26/podcasts/headlines-israel-hamas-war-west-bank.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/post-reports/a-family-taken-by-hamas/
The events on the ground in Ukraine at the moment, with winter just around the corner, feel like they are being overshadowed by just about everything else, from Trump’s lawsuits to the circus of a search for a U.S. Speaker of the House to the war in the Middle East and mass protests throughout Europe and UN calls for peace (interestingly, Austria actually voted against the UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, thereby taking a very pro-Israeli position, and was only one of 4 EU nations to do so).
Reporting from Ukraine.
The Kyiv Independent continues to do incredible field work:
As Bakhmut counteroffensive lags, soldiers burnt out from horrors of war
Washington Post on the horrible fighting and near total destruction of Avdiivka in Donetsk region:
Russia and Ukraine intensify fight over Avdiivka, another ruined city
While the horrors of nearly two years war and death and injury are fading into the background of what media actually report on, some areas of Ukraine, like Kherson, continue to be pounded by Russian attacks. This CBC report also discusses public anger in Ukraine at the draft, demanding limits on time served to 18 months. This interesting report by open democracy highlights the challenges of paying for the war, and describes how Ukraine will now ask local municipal budgets to contribute to the war effort.
Yesterday I needed a mental break, and saw two films. One excellent, Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry, a film by a Swiss-Georgian director based on a novel by a Georgian author, after which the director herself answered questions. I looked up the book, and it appears the English rights have not yet been sold? A shame, I would really love to read it. Will have to try at the German when it is released. This film was shown as part of the Viennale, Vienna’s wonderful annual film festival. This year I didn’t get many tickets. I have some for The Holdovers tomorrow, which looks super, but as we will be heading out of town, I gave them to my son and his girlfriend. He is stressed out with college applications. I hope it will be a good distraction.
Killers of the Flower Moon. Well, that is another story. I think my brain didn’t properly process nearly four hours when I saw the runtime, and I think any other director other than Scorcese would have had at least one of those hours edited out. It is what it is. Perhaps his last epic film. It felt like that. The acting was incredible and I would be truly surprised if Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t get an Oscar for his role. But it could have been a miniseries, it could have had an intermission, I did find myself looking at my watch. The topic is interesting and I had no idea there were such arrangements under which native Americans actually profited from the oil on their lands. You sort of just assume they were always taken advantage of by white men throughout history. In sort, I would recommend the film, but maybe not all in one go.
As we head away tomorrow I will be taking the two books with my, both English translations of recent publications by Russian independent journalists, both members of the LGBTQ+ communities, both very smart, well connected. Honestly Elena’s book is so gripping because I am so drawn to her style of writing. So emotional. So honest. So fearless as she effortlessly puts words to the page the thoughts and fears of those members of society we rarely hear from, the people no one else thinks to interview. I know the title upset a lot of people, and I think that was her publisher giving her bad advice. The title in Russian is “My Beloved Country”. I think a more direct transition would have suited the material better. The cover photo anyway speaks for itself as to the location. I have yet to start the second book. I know it is tricky territory for a Russian to try to write about Ukrainian resistance, so I go in cautiously skeptical.
Other than that, I am thinking now about the Christmas holidays, about what if anything we might do for the Ukrainian kids here in Austria. If there are enough volunteers, if it makes sense to do a chocolate & gift delivery to dorms and hotels like we did last year, or if it makes more sense to do a single holiday party for the kids in Vienna. Today I asked the Ukrainians in my group to vote on what they think is best, and many have come forward to offer their help in planning and organising. Which is great, because this is something I cannot do alone. I am also thinking about perhaps approaching some of the Ukrainian-owned restaurants now in Vienna about doing a collaboration event/fundraiser for Cards for Ukraine. On my to-do list for when I get back!
One final thing, almost forgot. If you read German, read this interview with Pekka Kallioniemi on why Austria still remains a haven for Russian spies.
Simon Sebag Montefiore’s article in the Atlantic is a must read: https://x.com/simonmontefiore/status/1718204844425527401?s=46&t=EqzXHuww-GZ4MQ9feX8xKg