Oliver and I listen to BBC news in the kitchen as children watch “normal” telly. I have had tears in my eyes when seeing the horrow of ordinary people in Ukraine but also, when Johnson announced British economic sanctions on Russia on Thursday: they said it is biggest sanctions pact Russia has seen. At the same time, the European Union’s sanctions have been weak and slow, as Russia is the EU’s main supplier of oil and natural gas and there are fears of rising prices. This is our shame.
When Russia invades Ukraine, what can we do in Europe? We must give pressure to decision makers to do everything they can to stop the insanity. We need to support charities who help victims of war, and prepare to receive refugees. I also wonder, why Western countries do not try harder to influence China and other partners of Russia?
Should we ban Russian operators from all collaboration with West? Needless to say, it is right to ban participation to such events as Eurovision song contest and sport events. But in my view, we should continue talking with our friends who live in Russia: artists, authors, journalists and common people. We need to support everybody who have some potential strength and wisdom to oppose Putin´s absurdity.
I write this from Finland in where we are separated from Russia by a 1,340-kilometre-long border. In the history, this border has been pushed back and forth several times as a consequence of armed conflicts. Finland is not member in NATO, but now Finnish politicians have got alerted by Russia’s demand that NATO should guarantee not to enlarge further. Finnish people in general and many politicians have been stressing that each nation has the right to determine its own security policy. Anyhow, there is no fast track to join NATO. If Finland would apply, the hesitation of just one Ally is enough to delay or block our acceptance.
It is worrying if the tension between NATO and Russia around the Ukraine can affect the Arctic. Can the conflict spill over even more into the High North where region’s vast natural resources and the new transportation routes may motivate Russian desire to expand? Now it is assumed that current war and associated security political situation will change Arctic cooperation. For me, it is relevant to question, if and how we can continue dialogue and collaborations in research and arts, to foster conditions for peace in Circumpolar Arctic.
Yesterday, I was on research seminar with our doctoral candidates. Research on art education is derived by aims of equity, sustainability, learning and freedom of expression. My dear colleagues, students and professors came to the online seminar shocked by news from war. Some of us expressed how our efforts now feel pointless and insignificant. Anyhow, we agreed, that we cannot give up in doing our best to a better world. Now, we need to stand with Ukraine.