The horrific news from Ukraine leaves me sad, angry and pretty hopeless. As Russia pulverizes an independent country and its people there seems to be no easy solution.
I sit in my chair warmed by my wood stove, hot coffee and I’m safe. I read that Alaska has a windfall as the price of crude rises and the Legislature debates the potential $1,300 bonus all might receive.
I have to resist feeling that I’m being gifted. I didn’t earn it and it comes at an enormous cost of violence, human suffering, and destruction.
“Blood money” seems an apt call.
President Putin is guided by the belief that Russia may use “tactical” nukes — those of lower power. He calls that a “de-escalation” and believes that the U.S. won’t risk a full thermal-nuclear retaliation.
The war in Ukraine will have no winners. No one will win. This war has a risk of spinning out of control making this a very dangerous time for the world.
Veterans for Peace, Juneau Chapter, agreed that those of us able to will donate our Permanent Fund dividend and any “bonus” to any of several humanitarian groups heroically saving lives in Ukraine.
That’s, at best a tepid response, but doable.
Money at this point, seems vital. Please donate.
K.J. Metcalf,
Army veteran and member of Veterans for Peace
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