MARCH 8 – INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
 
A national holiday in the former Soviet Union, it is still an important day in the calendar of former Soviet states. Women receive official messages of congratulations and a bouquet of flowers. They are thanked for their tireless efforts the remaining 364 days of the year.
 
SO WHAT IS PUTIN’S MESSAGE TO RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN WOMEN GOING TO BE THIS YEAR?
 
‘Russian women: do not cry your lost sons, husbands, brothers and fathers: they have fallen as heroes liberating Ukraine from its fascist rulers!’
 
‘Ukrainian women, do not cry your fallen sons, husbands, brothers and fathers: they died an ignoble and deserved death as fascists perpetrating genocide against the innocent Russian population of the Donbas!’
 
OR SHOULD THE MESSAGE BE:
 
‘Russian women, your sons, husbands, brothers and fathers are dying senseless deaths, sent blind to fight people who up until yesterday were brothers, kin, fellow Slavs.  You have been deceived and lied to, you will not be told the truth about the fate of your loved ones, you will deliberately be kept in the dark. All that you will have left is the shame of these unredeemable acts, forever.’   
 
‘Ukrainian women, your sons, husbands, brothers and fathers are dying senseless deaths, forced to fight men who were, up until yesterday, brothers, kin, fellow Slavs.  You are no longer human to me, only an end to satisfy my bottomless thirst for power and recognition that will never be quenched.’
 
 
WOMEN OF THE WORLD
 
On March 8 we stand up in solidarity with the women of Ukraine to tell them that we believe in the sanctity of life and are united with them.
 
Jailed opposition leader Alexander Navalny has called on the Russian people and people across the world to protest against the war every day at 2 PM in the main square of their town or village.
 
In the same spirit we take the time on March 8th to show that that we support the women of Ukraine in any way that we can.
 
By signing this petition:
 
-       We stand by and support the women of Ukraine on International Women’s Day                      
 
-       We are saying to our leaders: go all the way with measures being taken against Russia since it is the only weapon we are ready to use
 
-       Sanctions:
-       Oil & gas: more can be done; no backing out (Olaf)
-       Oligarchs: hit all the power elite of the Russian government, not just ‘some’ of the oligarchs once their lawyers are done: (Boris)
-       Weapons: If our governments are going to let the Ukrainians fight for themselves by themselves, then give them the best systems to defend themselves against air attacks, as many as are needed, and now (Emmanuel, Jo, and the rest of you, arms manufacturers and exporters)
 
-       We ask our leaders:
 
What would you demand of your own government and of world leaders if your sons or brothers were forced to fight the way that Ukrainians are fighting for their survival?