News and Views

UUARC’s latest humanitarian cargo

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Worthy endeavor advances our joint victory

For the last 70 years, the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (UUARC) has responded to the most urgent needs of Ukraine. Even during the most difficult times of Ukraine’s struggles, UUARC has been in the forefront in sending aid to those in need. Today, relying on numerous benefactors and volunteers, UUARC continues to carry on its very necessary and beneficial work. This effort helps achieve a step-by-step progress for our countrymen who are in need of support the most, such as: orphans, the needy, the elderly and those who are handicapped. UUARC also supports various educational and patriotic programs for impoverished children and those from needy large families.

Issue 9 (2015)

UCC statement remembering heroes of the Heavenly Hundred

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The Ukrainian Canadian Congress on February 19 issued the following statement on the occasion of the day of commemoration of the heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, which was marked in Ukraine on February 20. Today, the Ukrainian Canadian community joins our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and around the world in honoring the memory of all those who laid down their lives in the battle for a free and democratic Ukraine. In February 2014, the oppressive, authoritarian regime of former President Viktor Yanukovych opened fire on its own people. The Heavenly Hundred (Небесна Сотня) gave their lives to ensure that the people of Ukraine may live in freedom and dignity. Their sacrifice will be remembered always.

Ukraine

FOR THE RECORD: Letter of concern to Fairfield U. about keynote speaker

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The letter below was sent on February 11 to Father Jeffre von Arx, S.J., president of Fairfield University, which hosted Stephen Cohen as its keynote speaker on February 5 as the university celebrated the anniversary of the Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies Program. The author of the letter, Alexander B. Kuzma, chief development officer of the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation, has yet to receive a response to his concerns. (The letter was sent c/o Father Charles Allen, S.J., special assistant to the president and university chaplain.)

I find it deeply disturbing that Fairfield University would invite Stephen Cohen as its keynote speaker to mark the anniversary of your Russian and East European Studies program. Cohen has been a shameless apologist for the brutal regime of Vladimir Putin as Putin has systematically crushed dissent and academic freedom in his own country. He has been even more outspoken in support of Putin as Russia invaded and re-annexed Crimea and waged a war of aggression against Ukraine that as of last week had already claimed over 5,300 lives.

Community Chronicle

Current events in Ukraine featured during International Week at U. of Alberta

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EDMONTON, Alberta – As part of International Week on campus at the University of Alberta, the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) on January 27 participated in two sessions devoted to the current war in Ukraine and the Euro-maidan revolution preceding it. The first session, on “War and Revolution in Ukraine,” opened with a sketch of the background by Dr. Bohdan Harasymiw, acting coordinator of the Center for Political and Regional Studies at CIUS. Recounting the course of events from the beginning of the Euro-Maidan demonstrations in November 2013 to the present day, he emphasized the unconventional nature of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. He reported that, according to the United Nations, from mid-May 2014 to January 6 of this year, at least 4,808 people had been killed, 10,468 wounded, and 634,000 internally displaced, with a further 594,000 fleeing to neighboring countries, mainly Russia. Of the 5.2 million inhabitants remaining, 1.4 million were desperately in need of humanitarian aid.

Community

New archival fellowship announced at CIUS

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EDMONTON, Alberta – The Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) at the University of Alberta announced the establishment of a new archival fellowship in Ukrainian (including Ukrainian Canadian) studies. CIUS invites applications for one or more archival fellowships in this field. The value of one fellowship cannot exceed $24,000. The fellowship is open to applications from students, graduate students or scholars wishing to collect archives or assist existing archival institutions to catalogue and microfilm (make digital copies of) their Ukrainian archival collections. Archives may include primary source materials in art, folklore, ethnography or primary source samples of language development obtained through linguistic fieldwork.

Community

Washington in February: concerts, exhibits, remembrances of the Maidan

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WASHINGTON – February was a cold and weary month in this capital city, especially for Ukrainian American, their minds immersed in the horrific events in eastern Ukraine. And while official and other visits, presentations, meetings and discussions continued to dominate local activists’ calendars here, several Ukrainian cultural events – concerts, art and photo exhibits – managed to find a way into their schedules as well, which helped ease their distress. On the first day of the month, Ukrainian violinist Marc Bouchkov gave his second performance here in two years at the Lyceum in Old Town Alexandria. Under the sponsorship of The Washington Group (TWG) Cultural Fund, as in 2014, and accompanied by pianist Anna Balakerskaia, Mr. Bouchkov’s program included works by Brahms, Ysaye, Chausson and Ravel. But what brought the packed recital hall audience to its feet was his own solo violin arrangement “Fantasy on a Ukrainian Theme,” based on two popular Ukrainian folk songs, “Vziav by ya Banduru” and “Plyve Kacha po Tysyni.”

The following weekend, it was pianist Mykola Suk.

Community Chronicle

Students hold warm clothing drive for soldiers in Ukraine

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PASSAIC, N.J. – As part of Catholic Schools Week and in keeping with the theme “Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service,” the students of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School here held a “Socks for Ukrainian Soldiers” drive. They collected 419 pairs of socks, 50 hats and 19 pairs of gloves, which will be sent to Ukraine by the Organization for the Defense of Lemkivshchyna (OOL) as part of their “Zihriy Heroya” (Keep a Hero Warm) clothing drive. Along with the warm items, the students sent their prayers for the soldiers and their families.

Community Chronicle

Parish in Tucson marks beginning of Great Fast, hears UCU presentation

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TUCSON, Ariz. – The small but vibrant St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Parish celebrated the first Sunday of the Great Fast with an icon procession around the outside of the church in honor of the victory of icon veneration over the heresy of iconoclasm. Celebrated annually since the year 843 AD, this Sunday is also called the Sunday of Orthodoxy. Taking advantage of Tucson’s balmy climate, the parish holds an outdoor procession every year, with stational prayers at the four sides of the church/hall complex.

Community Chronicle

Sen. Richard Blumenthal visits St. Michael’s Church in New Haven

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. – On Sunday, January 25, the Rev. Iura Godenciuc held a “panakhyda” for the heroes of the Maidan after the 10:30 am divine liturgy. Everyone held candles to remember Ukraine’s heroes. Before the traditional “Prosphora” meal at the church hall, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) came to speak to the parishioners. The senator stated that “The heroes of Maidan were heroes that stood up for the future of Ukraine; they demonstrated dignity and a desire for freedom.” Sen. Blumenthal said he is joining with many of his colleagues to call for the release of imprisoned Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko.

Sports

Sportsline

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Soccer

• Ukraine’s junior team for the UEFA U-19 European Championship (Euro 2015) was seeded in the second pot after a drawing on February 5 in Nyon, Switzerland. Ukraine will compete against Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, France, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland. Greece is the host of the tournament final and has a bye to the final that will be held on July 6-19. Due to a decision by the UEFA Emergency Committee, Russia cannot be placed in the same group as Ukraine. The tournament has 52 participating nations, divided into nine groups, with seven having six teams and two with five teams.

• The UEFA U-17 European Championships group stage was drawn on December 3, 2014, in Nyon, Switzerland.