LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Support Ukraine, despite problems

Dear Editor:

In his letter to the editor published September 10, 1995, Dr. Bohdan Bodnaruk not only rightly criticized the deterioration in all areas of Ukraine, but also expressed the general opinion of the diaspora regarding assistance to the Ukrainian government. Although the diaspora is disheartened by the current economic, social, cultural and political climate in Ukraine, they still put firm every effort to rebuild Ukraine as an independent nation.

In fact, the diaspora's support was acknowledged by President Leonid Kuchma on August 24, 1995, during the celebration of the fourth anniversary of Ukrainian independence. He said: "...Those who left Ukraine, and their descendants, whom fate dispersed over the continents of the world, have made a significant contribution to the achievement of independence and consolidation of statehood."

However, instead of using this hard-earned money constructively, officials of the Ukrainian government use it for unnecessary trips abroad or, e.g., to pay to the Russian government 18 billion rubles (almost $4 million) for medals commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany for the Ukrainian veterans of the former Soviet armed forces, (Roman Serbyn, "Torzhestvo Rossiyskoho Imperialismu," Svoboda, April 29, 1995).

Even worse, some officials stash money in Switzerland or in other countries. This behavior is in keeping with the former apparatchiks' definition of the diaspora as three Ds: "diaspora, dollar and durak" (fool), as Dr. Bodnaruk correctly observed.

We, the diaspora, are certainly no fools! As the Romans used to say: "Est modus in rebus, sunt certi denique fines!" Certainly, Dr. Bodnaruk is right to warn the diaspora about the need to stop aid to the Ukrainian government.

Dr. Myron Kuropas also warns the diaspora in his column "Faces and Places" (September 17, 1995). He writes: "...Now that euphoria surrounding Ukraine's newfound independence has disappeared, our community is befuddled. After spending tens of decades, working and praying for Ukraine, we're not sure we're happy with the result...In our befuddlement, we're slowly turning away from Ukraine..."

Indeed, the situation in Ukraine is very sad. But what is the alternative? Isn't such Ukrainian statehood better than none? There are many Ukrainian patriots who renounce both left- and right-wing radicalism and endure this situation while hoping for improvement. I think that they personally deserve our support, because if we will not support them, who will?

Dr. T. Mackiw
Heidelberg, Germany

URDC continues activity in Canada

Dear Editor:

In The Weekly's lead article of September 24, 1995, Ostap Skrypnyk is quoted commenting negatively on how people with the "assistance to Ukraine" agenda have "hijacked" various organizations. Among examples that are given is the Ukrainian Resource and Development Center (URDC) at Grant MacEwan Community College (GMCC) in Edmonton. Although the analysis is interesting, Mr. Skrypnyk is wrong when he says that "now virtually all of its (URDC's) projects are based in Ukraine."

It is true that the URDC has been very active in Ukraine since 1990. With financing from the government of Canada we have helped six agricultural "tekhnikums" to develop new curricula under which several hundred students are now studying agri-business in various regions of Ukraine. We have translated over 600 pages of North American economic self-instructional educational material into Ukrainian, which is now used by tekhnikums and farmers and cooperatives in Ukraine.

Our college has a permanent office in Kyiv with three local staff located at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Three GMCC divisions in the college - Arts and Science, Business, and Health and Community Studies - have all had project staff visit Ukraine, and the college has provided faculty and training in Edmonton to staff and students from various Ukrainian institutions, particularly the Ministry of Health.

We are very active in Ukraine, but this does not mean that the URDC has stopped programming to the Ukrainian Canadian community. Some of our recent activities include the following:

• The URDC promotes the development of the Ukrainian Canadian community. The URDC was instrumental in launching the Ukrainian centennial celebrations, and the center's director was secretary of the Alberta Ukrainian Canadian Centennial monument in front of the Alberta Legislature. The URDC continues to promote the sale of monument miniatures to help fund-raise for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Alberta.
  
  
• The URDC houses resources to meet community needs. For example, the center houses a music library of over 100 volumes of Ukrainian choral and instrumental music that is consulted by musicians from across Canada.
  
  
• The URDC provides consultation resources for major Canadian projects initiated by community organizations. Thus the URDC is providing support to the research and development work necessary to launch and develop the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.
  
  
• The URDC administers five annual awards for the Ukrainian performing arts, educational exchanges, new writers, film and video arts, and visual and folk arts in Canada.
  
  
• The URDC's three staffers in Edmonton contribute a significant amount of volunteer time in leadership roles in the community. The URDC's director is currently president of the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, and also a member of the executive of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Canada. These roles lead to another set of projects being done with the community (e.g. fund raising, grant distribution, management etc.).

All of the above activities are conducted in Canada, not Ukraine. They provide a balance to the URDC's overseas work and continue to serve our local community's needs. If readers wish to receive further information please write to URDC/GMCC, Box 1796, Edmonton, AB TSP 2P2, or fax (403) 497-4377. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

W. Roman Petryshyn
Edmonton

The writer is director of the Ukrainian Resource and Development Center at Grant MacEwan Community College.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 14, 1996, No. 2, Vol. LXIV

| Home Page |