Think Again by Anastasiya Lyubas
March 4, 2022
Today is my 33rd birthday. The world is in a terrible state. It could have been worse. Yesterday the Russian troops shelled the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. There was fire. The most unimaginable catastrophe has been averted for a little bit. For now. I know Ukrainians stuck abroad desperately trying to get home to be with their loved ones. I also know some who made it to go there and fight. Some have made it out of Ukraine into safety. I have helped the effort in both directions.
I still have my plane tickets to Ukraine for Easter. In my head I have an image of my little ones meeting their grandparents and aunts and cousins for the first time…
If you think my world has been shattered, think again.
82% of Ukrainians believe they are going to be victorious in this war. Are they the only ones?
Some time ago I saw a meme about how we all had to earn our PhDs in Epidemiology and now have to earn our MAs in Russian Studies. This is a lack of sophistcation to the highest degree.
This war is only partially about what Putin wants. The war is only partially about history. But it is 100 percent about the FUTURE. The future of energy. Clean energy without dependence on gas and oil and fossil fuel that every day cost way too many lives. The future of Europe which includes a free and prosperous Ukraine. The future of security including physical security and cybersecurity. The future of the world with organizations that can actually affect change and new strategies that can help stop wars, fight poverty, and uphold human rights everywhere.
Today Ukrainian Studies is not only about reading Shevchenko’s Testament (don’t get me wrong—educate yourself about Ukrainian literature, history and culture—in the West it hasn’t been done enough!). Ukrainian Studies is about energy policy, military conflict resolution, anti-war movement, human rights, study of displacement, trauma, climate change and much more. Truly Global Studies that can help the world.
The war will end. Meanwhile, do what you can. Teach Ukrainian. Learn Ukrainian. Read Ukrainian. Create start-ups to move sustainable energy forward (and reduce Europe’s and the world’s dependency on criminal regimes like the Russian one). Donate to humanitarian aid. Help a Ukrainian student or a refugee. Secure a position for a Ukrainian scholar. Call your MP. Join public service yourself. Volunteer your expertise—medical, cybersecurity, linguistic. Hire Ukrainians. Pay them a fair wage. Give them a raise. Buy Ukrainian. Think strategically and creatively. Share your thoughts.
On my birthday I’m metaphorically wrapped up in a Ukrainian flag. Because if you think that my world has been shattered, think again.
We share the same world.
Anastasiya Lyubas is the author of Blooming Spaces: The Collected Poetry, Prose, Critical Writing, and Letters of Debora Vogel. She hails from Lviv, Ukraine and lives in Toronto with her husband and twin sons.