It seems like supporting EAs to escape violence could be a good use of EAIF funds, especially since I think EAs can be trusted to use the funds appropriately.
Under the circumstances, I think we should send the message that reasonable expenses, incurred by EAs directly, or people donating to those EAs, should be reimbursed by EAIF or other large donors.
For context, I recently got personal travel expenses for EAG approved.
[Update 27.02.22, 01:12 am CET] For now things are on standby. Everyone is relatively safe. I’m dealing with incoming request from community members and others as they come. Feel free to keep them coming.
[Update 26.02.22, 3:40 pm CET] Things are moving. For now, everyone seems to be relatively safe and in contact. If you know anyone else (EA or non-EA) who need any sort of support, please connect me directly with those people. ___ I’m Polish and I’m in Poland right now and helping a couple of people to get out from Ukraine. I’m also in contact with EAs if they decide to leave.
For those that have EA or non-EA friends there, you can let them know that: I’m able to help directly and/or help find a) transport from UA-PL border (can help in 99% of cases) b) a car and driver to Lviv and other cities in Ukraine that are very close to the border to pick people up if needed (80%) c) a place to stay temporary in all major cities in Poland (97%) and long-term (30%) d) coordinate information sharing (99%) e) some other ways as well (e.g. once in Poland help with prescription medication etc. ), so just fire away if there is anything not on this list.
On an individual level so far, I found that the biggest bottleneck is accurate information (to make an informed decision whether to leave or not; and how to do it) and safe transport within Ukraine. Once people get to UA-PL, we can find help easily.
I don’t want to give my phone/Signal/Whatsapp/Telegram number here, nor my Facebook because there were already some attempts to hack my accounts (the day before invasion and every day since then), but PM me, and I’ll give you my details that you could pass to your friend (or other close ones) in Ukraine.
I don’t know whether it is cost-effective to help people in Ukraine compared to typical EA interventions, but I believe that it is important to build a truly supportive EA community.
I don’t find the words to describe how disturbing your writing is. “It seems” “supporting EAs” “good use” “can be trusted”. I hope there are no Ukrainian people here to read this. Only EAs can be trusted? How about animal activists, how about normal people who need help? They can’t be trusted? Based on what you are making these assumptions Charles? What data about Ukrainians do you have? I am suggesting being a bit more mindful with your language.
No, of course not, that’s a terrible misreading. But when someone is trying to hack your account, or if there is a war, you cannot trust automatically!
It’s great to help but there are ways to do it that don’t put several people at risk.
My birth country was invaded twice by Russia, once in my lifetime so honestly I know what I’m talking about here, high confidence and things are even more difficult now than in the past because of facial recognition and internet’s memory.
Please be cautious about naming people who are leaving or still in-country in public as this can have long term consequences for them and their families.
Visible online fundraising support could put EAs, their families and EA organisations in Ukraine and maybe neighbours in danger for decades—if you must do a fundraiser in public it’s much safer to do this as “personal fundraisers between friends”, make it clear it’s not official help from NGOs in NATO countries to Ukraine or Russian.
Russia has a deep and powerful history and brilliant people.
But Russia today is a regional power, whose economy is about the same as Canada or Italy. It struggles to conduct elementary combined arms operations against a novice, fragile, military like Ukraine. The regime has a brazen willingness to harm people and subvert institutions, in a deeply malicious way, but even this is well monitored by western intelligence services.
Separately and additionally, Western countries are providing sophisticated anti tank and anti-air missiles and unit level intelligence to the Ukraine forces. This for example, let the Ukrainians shoot down the Russian VDV like rabbits. There’s protests at the tens of thousands in cities across the world, and also in Russian cities.
I don’t see how supporting aid for Ukrainians would be inflammatory in this context.
Based on the above, it’s pretty hard for me to get into the mindset that produced your comment to me, and your rather ominous comment to Karolina.
I think your heart is in the right place, but I think it is good to say so in solidarity that while Russians are my friends in general, Putin is my enemy, and Ukraine’s enemy.
Some people here don’t think Putin is their enemy, though. They just want to help Ukraine. Going to Ukraine to help Ukrainians may be dangerous, but that’s true no matter what’s written on this forum. Still, if I were going to Ukraine or Russia, then yes, I would be careful what I say.
It seems like supporting EAs to escape violence could be a good use of EAIF funds, especially since I think EAs can be trusted to use the funds appropriately.
Under the circumstances, I think we should send the message that reasonable expenses, incurred by EAs directly, or people donating to those EAs, should be reimbursed by EAIF or other large donors.
For context, I recently got personal travel expenses for EAG approved.
[Update 27.02.22, 01:12 am CET] For now things are on standby. Everyone is relatively safe. I’m dealing with incoming request from community members and others as they come. Feel free to keep them coming.
[Update 26.02.22, 3:40 pm CET] Things are moving. For now, everyone seems to be relatively safe and in contact. If you know anyone else (EA or non-EA) who need any sort of support, please connect me directly with those people.
___
I’m Polish and I’m in Poland right now and helping a couple of people to get out from Ukraine. I’m also in contact with EAs if they decide to leave.
For those that have EA or non-EA friends there, you can let them know that:
I’m able to help directly and/or help find a) transport from UA-PL border (can help in 99% of cases) b) a car and driver to Lviv and other cities in Ukraine that are very close to the border to pick people up if needed (80%) c) a place to stay temporary in all major cities in Poland (97%) and long-term (30%) d) coordinate information sharing (99%) e) some other ways as well (e.g. once in Poland help with prescription medication etc. ), so just fire away if there is anything not on this list.
On an individual level so far, I found that the biggest bottleneck is accurate information (to make an informed decision whether to leave or not; and how to do it) and safe transport within Ukraine. Once people get to UA-PL, we can find help easily.
I don’t want to give my phone/Signal/Whatsapp/Telegram number here, nor my Facebook because there were already some attempts to hack my accounts (the day before invasion and every day since then), but PM me, and I’ll give you my details that you could pass to your friend (or other close ones) in Ukraine.
I don’t know whether it is cost-effective to help people in Ukraine compared to typical EA interventions, but I believe that it is important to build a truly supportive EA community.
Karolina has updated this comment and I thought I would comment to “bump it”.
This activity seems important, maybe this should be a sticky post or something?
Moderators?
I don’t find the words to describe how disturbing your writing is. “It seems” “supporting EAs” “good use” “can be trusted”. I hope there are no Ukrainian people here to read this. Only EAs can be trusted? How about animal activists, how about normal people who need help? They can’t be trusted? Based on what you are making these assumptions Charles? What data about Ukrainians do you have? I am suggesting being a bit more mindful with your language.
No, of course not, that’s a terrible misreading. But when someone is trying to hack your account, or if there is a war, you cannot trust automatically!
A implies B does not mean only A implies B.
It’s great to help but there are ways to do it that don’t put several people at risk.
My birth country was invaded twice by Russia, once in my lifetime so honestly I know what I’m talking about here, high confidence and things are even more difficult now than in the past because of facial recognition and internet’s memory.
Please be cautious about naming people who are leaving or still in-country in public as this can have long term consequences for them and their families.
Visible online fundraising support could put EAs, their families and EA organisations in Ukraine and maybe neighbours in danger for decades—if you must do a fundraiser in public it’s much safer to do this as “personal fundraisers between friends”, make it clear it’s not official help from NGOs in NATO countries to Ukraine or Russian.
Yeah, no?
Russia has a deep and powerful history and brilliant people.
But Russia today is a regional power, whose economy is about the same as Canada or Italy. It struggles to conduct elementary combined arms operations against a novice, fragile, military like Ukraine. The regime has a brazen willingness to harm people and subvert institutions, in a deeply malicious way, but even this is well monitored by western intelligence services.
Separately and additionally, Western countries are providing sophisticated anti tank and anti-air missiles and unit level intelligence to the Ukraine forces. This for example, let the Ukrainians shoot down the Russian VDV like rabbits. There’s protests at the tens of thousands in cities across the world, and also in Russian cities.
I don’t see how supporting aid for Ukrainians would be inflammatory in this context.
Based on the above, it’s pretty hard for me to get into the mindset that produced your comment to me, and your rather ominous comment to Karolina.
I think your heart is in the right place, but I think it is good to say so in solidarity that while Russians are my friends in general, Putin is my enemy, and Ukraine’s enemy.
Some people here don’t think Putin is their enemy, though. They just want to help Ukraine. Going to Ukraine to help Ukrainians may be dangerous, but that’s true no matter what’s written on this forum. Still, if I were going to Ukraine or Russia, then yes, I would be careful what I say.