On Monday TVOntario’s current affairs programme ‘The Agenda’ had 30 year international affairs veteran Matthew Fisher on to see what 2014 had in store, and right away he commented on the latest happenings in Ukraine and its relationship with Russia, the West and Yulia Tymoshenko. Worth a watch, goes for about 6 minutes:
[YouTube]
Angry anti-government protesters in Ukraine toppled a statue of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in the centre of Kyiv on Sunday and blockaded key government buildings amid huge street protests, raising the stakes in an escalating standoff with President Viktor Yanukovych.
The biggest protest in the former Soviet republic since Ukraine’s pro-democracy Orange Revolution in 2004 led the government to fire back. It announced an investigation of opposition leaders for an alleged attempt to seize power and warned the demonstrators they could face criminal charges.
The West pressed for a peaceful settlement.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians flooded the centre of Kyiv, the capital, to demand Yanukovych’s ouster after he ditched ties with the European Union in favour of Russia and sent police to break up an earlier protest in the nearly three-week standoff.
Head of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress interviewed on CTV News Channel after just returning from Ukraine (click to play):
Today marks the 22nd year of Ukraine’s Independence from the Soviet Union. If you are in Ukraine, the celebrations have already started and many more are planned throughout the next few days. Stephen Harper issued a statement today, as well as the White House. Viktor Yanukovych called for Ukrainian unity.
For those celebrating in the next few days, here are some events happening:
Flavours of UkraineCelebrating Ukraine’s Independence Day with Kozak games, dance shows and live bands. Special performance with Marta Shpak from Ukraine, Zabava with "Hudi i Motsni" and "Zapovid" and Special guest performance "Nadia".
Ukrainian Independence DayThe parade starts at 11 a.m. at Grantwood Drive and will proceed up State Road to St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church Cathedral, located in the heart of the city’sUkrainian Village. The 55 organizations scheduled to march is the most in the parade’s three-year history, with Ukrainian-American military veterans leading the way as grand marshals.
http://www.cleveland.com/parma/index.ssf/2013/08/parmas_ukrainian_village_will.html
"This event is designed to not only reach out to our Ukrainian-American community, but also to those with an interest in the region," according to organizers.
The Ukraine Independence Day Celebration will be held next Saturday, August 24th at noon at Crestway Baptist Church, which is located at 6400 Crestway Boulevard in Birmingham.
The free event itself is set for Saturday, Aug. 24, at Dinsdale Park. The celebrations start at 4 p.m. with a concert of both traditional and contemporary music. The concert will be performed by UCA "Tryzub" members, who were able to practice for the event at the Ukrainian Reading Association Hall thanks to the Ukrainian Reading Association and the Catholic Ukranian-Canadian Men’s Club.
Following the concert, family and children activities will be offered from 5 to 7 p.m., including mini-soccer, a clown and face painting. There will also be food available for purchase, including smokies, muffins, cookies, cotton candy, ice cream and non-alcoholic beverages. Those who wish to can also donate to a children’s charity that will be chosen for the event by UCA "Tryzub."
Babas & Borshch Ukrainian FestivalThis FREE Festival will honour and celebrate the very best of the Ukrainian culture–food, history, religion, arts and culture—through a fun, hip approach. Not Ukrainian? No problem. We’ll make it happen when you show up at the Passport Office to "assume" your Ukrainian name and identity.
Celebrate the Ukraine’s independence with the Ukrainian Days Festival Aug. 24 and 25 at Smith Park. Enjoy dance performances, live music, food vendors and activities for the kids. (2526 W. Grand Ave.)
http://chicagoist.com/2013/08/23/this_week_in_street_fests_taste_of.php
Ukrainian Folk FestivalExciting, spectacular, dazzling, breathtaking, exhilarating, spirited, soulful, enchanting, captivating, and intriguing – modest words which describe but by no means capture the essence of Ukrainian folk art, music, and dance. From the rich color and deep symbolism of the delicate “pysanka†(Ukrainian Easter Egg) to the thunderous, climatic, power, rhythm and strength of “HOPAK†– the world’s most exciting ethnic dance, and every brilliant “Kolomiyka†(polka) and soulful folk song in between, we invite you to experience the TWENTIETH ANNUAL UKRAINIAN FOLK FESTIVAL, celebrating the anniversary of our ancestral homeland’s independence. Enjoy a festival stage show, a public dance, Ukrainian foods and baked goods, BBQ pit, kid’s fun area, and Ukrainian hospitality.
http://www.tryzub.org/ukrainian-festival-2013.php
http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2013/08/17/entertainment/doc520a69730ea81523902486.txt?viewmode=fullstory
Catch the musical magic at the Friends’ Ukrainian Music Festival featuring an array of the region’s finest Ukrainian folk musicians. This dynamic event encompasses an abundance of entertainment, exhibits, children’s activities, a village market, and delicious foods. Visit the Historic Village where you can enjoy wagon rides and chat with historic settlers as they go about their daily routines.
http://www.history.alberta.ca/ukrainianvillage/specialevents/docs/2013SpecialEventsbrochure.pdf
Ukrainian Cultural Program for Commemorating of 20th Anniversary of
Independence of Ukraine
Featuring delicious foods, music, basket raffle, dance performance, venders, cool beverages.
http://www.ukrainiansofbuffalo.com/
http://www.metrowny.com/features/703-Ukrainian-American_Festival_to_take_place_this_weekend.html
Independence Day CelebrationJoin us at the Club for a BBQ to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day.
The Google Art Project puts some of the world’s best art online. Users can visit the Met in NYC, the Tate in London, and even the AGO in Toronto. Earlier this week Worldwide News Ukraine pointed out that the project has now added two galleries from Kyiv: Saint Sophia of Kyiv and Ivan Honchar Museum of Folk Art.
Underneath the iconic golden domes of this Kyivan-Rus temple of Christianity lies over 260 square metres of rich frescoes and 3000 square metres of mosaics, many of which are still intact almost a millennium later from the 11th century.
Originally the private collection of Ivan Honchar who was charged with nationalism under the Soviets and monitored by the KGB, this collection boasts over 15,000 items from as early as the 16th century – including folklore hero Cossack Mamay.
The Government of Canada also has a virtual exhibit on early Ukrainian settlers to the prairies.
An old letter was recently posted online, asking to be translated from Ukrainian after it was discovered in the belongings of a great-grandmother who had passed away recently in upstate New York. On January 20th 1938, a man in Dehova, Ivano-Frankisk wrote to his son who is working in America (presumably) to send money back home – which was very common back then and still is now (but more so in Europe). In the letter, the father thanks his son for not forgetting about him from across the globe. Some family issues are discussed, and the father asks for some extra money to be sent over, so he can purchase a new outfit for Easter – a камізелька.
A very rough translation of the entire letter was provided:
Dehova day 20 of January 1938
Dear son!
First of all, Merry Christmas to you, and I’m asking you about your health and how are you doing.
Then I am very sorry that last year, at Velykden(Easter), received 2 dollars from you and didn’t respond to you and didn’t thank you, that just happened so, day after day and time has gone but you must pay attention that post office is not close but far from me – and time is going on.
This year on Christmas received 2 dollars again that you sent to Kaska (looks like female name) many thanks to you, let God bless you because, even though you’re on another side of the globe, don’t forget about your father.
Also many thanks to your wife Kasi (hard to identify, maybe he meant Casey) that she don’t forget as well and sent me via Kaska 1 dollar, let God bless her because of that, and wish health to finish working on (word hard to recognize). Now I venture to ask you about a favor and don’t know what to start with. so you held on Christmas and sent 6 dollars, for that money I got kamizelka(have no idea what it is) and underwear but I hid it and wear only on big holidays and tell everybody that when I die I want to be dressed in those clothes (be buried in those clothes).
Knowing about thanks to you must be all the time in church, coat, that I have, have to wear on top but in that wear is not very good to go on public so be so kind you, Gana (Anna) and Matviy (few words failed to recognize) not very able to come to repair the coat because, as some say “many a little make a mickle†I think that Matviy my brother shouldn’t refuse, he was at relative’s (few unrecognized words) and I had a lot of troubles with him, so he may (something) well or forgot, ha! As saying says, old good gets forgotten, so give this letter to Matviy, let him read, and ask him to help, but I have doubts if he will.
Then I appeal to you with the deal about the floor that I gave crossbar (<- this sounds weird for me as well) so I’m asking you once again, write to Kaska’s mother and let her (do something) and give to me, otherwise write to me and will use it in business and will have something and remember that mother promised Kaska (something) before marriage and then you went to America and she booked to son (something) that field so at least mother used it but after son married with Nikola Pritikov(male name) daughter and she use that field so it is ridiculous and people laugh at it.
Finally sending to you greetings, give this letter to Gana and ask her to send it and very! very! prithee for answer sending greetings and wish you happiness, health and all the best
Your sincerely loving father
Oleksa Kostish(not sure about surname)
Hereby let you know that when Andryh(Andrew) Malariy was going to America I told something him to say something to you, please write if he said it to you and that letter give to Gaidza and Matviy to read
Ostap healthy
(‘healthy’ doesn’t look as surname but rather as report that some Ostap is ok or, more likely, greeting to some Ostap)
Waiting for response
[Reddit]
