by Emanuele De Biasi
The conflict is complicated.
And what is in Putin’s head, only Putin knows.
The interview with Andrea Ruggeri it is very beautiful and explains some interesting facets: the mad man’s strategy; rather than fear NATO, it is afraid of democracies that could destabilize it internally; ask the impossible to get as much as possible, take the conflict to extremes for maximum profit. Other things seem obvious now: a pro-Russian like Yanukovych in Zelensky’s place, not fighting back to avoid nuclear conflict, sanctions targeting the Russian oligarchs… it’s all very interesting. But what will the turning point really be?
Some ask me what to do to help in this conflict. As if I were an oracle, a military strategist of the highest rank capable of changing fortunes.
I don’t know what we have to do. Part of me praises the hashtag #FCKPTN, sometimes I want to go help, sometimes I want to put the family in the car and run away. Some of my alternative plans involve escaping to Portugal or Tenerife, who knows.
But I think there are some things we can do.
This conflict could end with Russia on the verge of a financial collapsesuch that Putin is put out of the way by his own guard, his military and his citizens.
I could summarize these three actions:
1) Putin is not the President of Russia, just call him that, words have power.
He should be called a dictator, because that is how he is behaving, Russia is a dictatorship, civilians are not informed, the media are in the hands of the government and dissidents are “dissuaded”. From now on Putin is the dictator, this is a war, the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And we correct anyone who says otherwise.
This small move over time it can be very effective.
2) We need to inform the Russians and Belarusians, convince them.
If we know them personally, let’s contact them and explain to them what is happening.
Let’s call them, let’s write them.
Wherever there are Russians and Belarusians we explain and ask that they spread the word with their compatriots.
With government control of the media it is a long and difficult operation, but it’s the best weapon we have. Dictatorships fall at the hands of the people.
Anonymous is doing a wonderful job, working day and night in the shadows, suggesting actions to the community, providing tools and bots, with messages in reviews and security systems. While I don’t see concrete results from governments, they should explore new ways to influence public opinion in these two countries.
3) We depend very, too energetically on Russian resources.
This will really hurt us. All of Europe is reacting, but these transitions are slow and in the short term we will suffer a very heavy blow.
Your bills will triple, quadruple, maybe more!
We cannot avoid it, these increases will take place starting from natural gas, electricity and fuels.
We “little ones” can do nothing to make it cost less, but we can find a way to consume less. We eliminate all waste. We install photovoltaic panels, solar thermal, heat pump, coat or insulated fixtures. We only fit low consumption or LED bulbs and always turn off the lights when they are not needed. In the car we run less. Or we go on foot, by bicycle or by public transport. We turn down or turn off the thermostats. Let’s turn them off in little used rooms and turn them down in the rooms where you live. Let’s put on an extra shirt and, if we can, use wood and pellet stoves.
If we are many, these little things can make a difference.
Not just for our pockets, it would help this transition and take away Putin’s resources.
Every euro that comes in Russia and Belarus are funding this bloodshed and buy a bullet that could kill the next child.
I don’t want this.
Never again.
And you?