Every Monday morning since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Abingdon Peace Group has stood vigil at Abingdon War Memorial. They stand there between 8:15 am and 8:45am. They stood there this morning in the cold after a light snow.
Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014 and supported separatists in the East of Ukraine.
On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The invasion followed a build-up of the Russian army in 2021 and demands from Russia to stop Ukraine from joining NATO. The west’s dependence on Russian oil, gas, and Ukrainian products has led to inflation and shortages and affected people in the UK more directly than other wars in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen.
What a waste of time……
Or, what a reminder….
Nope, just a waste of time 😀
I’ve heard Putin happened to be driving down High Street today, saw this protest and has immediately pulled out of Ukraine.
Witness is never a waste of time, in my opinion. We might as well say that Remembrance Sunday is a waste of time.
You may be offended but remberance Sunday has zero impact on most people. If witness is what you want, there is plenty to be witnessed on the media and at the borders of the surrounding countries.
Standing around with little signs in a little village effects little to no change. It just gives people something to ignore while they are stuck in traffic
I am not offended. Why would I be?
Unfortunately a complete and utter waste of time. Will not change anything. I maybe wrong but, the people standing out there are mainly older folk. Retired. If you have a regular job, I’m not sure how you could be out there or why you would bother. The invasion is terrible but standing there in the cold with signs protesting to other people who have the exact same pov as you is kinda pointless.
We are lucky in this country. We can protest. In Russia protesters are arrested. There will always be war unfortunately.
The Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons as Russia signed a treaty never to invade Ukraine. So much for getting rid of nuclear weapons. Countries are not forces to join NATO. Russia has forced countries to want to join as they want protection from Russia.
ppjs – I agree – witness is never a waste of time and as Janet says – we are fortunate in this country to have the right to peacefully witness/demonstrate unlike many other countries. I don`t agree though, Janet that war is inevitable – there are always-and always have been -other options but these options are so rarely given space/ time and political will . As Winston Churchill said` Jaw jaw is better than war,war` There was a definite opportunity last April time when both Putin and Ukraine were at least open to a negotiated settlement – if only that opportunity had been supported by the British – and other – governments. Alas it wasn`t , the opportunity passed and the war looks set to continue indefinitely for now.
Better to protest outside the Blavatnik in Oxford where at least some Russians might here of it
I took part in a similar ongoing witness after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. In a small town. In America. Comments yelled from passing cars changed over the next few years from abusive to supportive. However had they never changed, it is nevertheless important to protest war, and its disruption, death and desperation. It is necessary to hold on to our humanity and conscience in whatever ways we can.