Russia

VICII: Vladimir Putin - President of Russia 03/16/2022

From VICII:

"Calling Putin names or speculating on the mental state of the President of the Russian Federation sheds little light on the devastating war in Ukraine. Labelling Putin a "thug" or "lunatic" or "a dictator interested in rebuilding the Soviet Empire" can only obfuscate what is actually happening as the world finds itself on the brink of WWIII. After all the din of name calling, this war in Europe's largest country is more than the designs of an evil leader of Russia.

As citizens of the world watch the split up of their planet into two competing and dangerous alliances, NATO v. the emerging agreements between Russia and China, join the Vermont Institute of Community and International Involvement for a community discussion on the shape of a new world order which is appearing amidst all the misguided personal attacks on Vladimir Putin, President of Russia."

For more information: vicii.org

What's Going On?: Africa and Ukraine - A View from the Non NATO World 03/08/2022

Sandy Baird speaks with Eric Agnero about how the war the Ukraine is viewed in Africa.

Vermonters for Ukraine Freedom Rally 03/05/2022

Ukrainians and supporters of Ukraine gather on the steps of Burlington City Hall to protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Crisis in Ukraine: Pro-Peace, Anti-War Perspectives from Vermont 03/04/2022

From the participants:

Ashley Smith of the Tempest Collective will talk about why the US and the Western left must oppose and condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and why we must stand in solidarity with the resistance to Putin’s occupation, while at the same time opposing the militarism of the U.S. and NATO.

Charlotte Dennett, representing the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom and the author of the newly released book "Follow the Pipelines: Uncovering the Mystery of a Lost Spy and the Deadly Politics of the Great Game for Oil," will talk about how the Ukraine crisis is an example of the battle between petropowers that benefits the fossil fuel companies but has deadly consequences for average citizens.

Trey Cook, a freshman at the University of Vermont, and organizer for the Young Democratic Socialists of America, will talk about opposing all war but "class war."

John Reuwer, of World BEYOND War and Physicians for Social Responsibility, will share why any solutions to the crisis based on more war would only cause more misery. He will outline a number of nonviolent strategies that have a better chance of mitigating the trauma and delivering a more secure future.

Governor Phil Scott: Press Conference - Solidarity with the Ukrainian People 03/03/2022

Provided by ORCA Media:

Governor Scott and Administration Officials Weekly Update 3/1/2022. Recorded on March 3, 2022.

Congressman Peter Welch: Statements on the War in Ukraine 02/28/2022

From the Office of Peter Welch:

"Rep. Welch holds a press conference at Burlington International Airport to provide an update on the unfolding war in Ukraine and potential Congressional action before returning to Washington."

What's Going On?: Ukraine and Russia 01/27/2022

Sandy Baird and Kurt Mehta discuss the gathering of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border, the potential for conflict, and the geopolitical implications.

VICII: Sister Cities - Citizen Diplomacy and the Creation of a Foreign Policy of Neighborly Cities 12/11/2019

Part of VICII's Burlington, VT Contemporary Issues Forum, 2019.

Leaders of the Discussion:

Sandy Baird

Mousa Ishaq, Chair Burlington/Bethlehem/Arad Sister City Program

Dan Higgins, Chair Puerta Cabezas/Bilwi, Nicaragua/Yaroslaval, Russia/Honfleur, France Sister City Program

VICII continues their fall series of talks and discussions on Burlington, VT. All events are from 6:00 - 8:00 pm, are free and open to the public and will be held at the Old North End Community Center at 20 Allen Street, Burlington, Vermont, 05401 on the third floor.

Winooski Peace Initiative - The Man Who Saved The World 09/26/2019

Think Nuclear War Can’t Happen? Think Again.

This event is an introduction and wrap up to the screening of the movie "The Man Who Saved the World" in honor of the UN's International Day to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

About the movie:

On the night of September 26, 1983, Russian missile officer Stanislav Petrov disobeyed military protocol and probably prevented a nuclear holocaust. He says that he is not a hero. "I was just in the right place at the right time." You decide!

For a few crucial minutes on September 26, 1983, Stanislav Petrov held the fate of the world in his hands. It was the height of the Cold War. The Soviets had recently shot down a Korean airliner. The United States was preparing to deploy Pershing II missiles in Europe. The Soviets suspected that the United States was planning a nuclear first strike.

When an alarm suddenly went off at the Soviet nuclear early-warning center Serpukhov-15, Stanislav was responsible for reacting to information from Soviet satellites that five American nuclear missiles were heading toward the Soviet Union. Rather than initiate a nuclear retaliation, Stanislav went against protocol and assured his colleagues that it was a false alarm.

"The Man Who Saved the World" recreates those tense moments in 1983 when Stanislav was faced with the decision of his life. And it chronicles his spectacular journey to the United States three decades later, where he was finally acknowledged for his historic deed and found the strength to reconcile with his past. He is honored at the United Nations. And he is thanked for his actions by celebrities including Walter Cronkite, Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Matt Damon, and Ashton Kutcher.

Shot on location in the former Soviet Union and the United States, "The Man Who Saved the World" shines a light on the continued risks of nuclear weapons today, and the challenge to reject nuclear weapons in order to prevent an unimaginable disaster.

A discussion was lead by John Reuwer, MD, of Physicians for Social Responsibility.

For more information contact Sr. Pat: pat.mckittrick@uvmhealth.org

Operation City on a Hill: The Trump-Russia Investigation and the Mafia State 05/14/2019

One of the reasons Mueller had difficulty determining how direct the contacts were between members of the Trump campaign and the Russia state apparatus, was that they were looking at that state apparatus as if it was part a traditional nation-state. That was a major mistake, as Russia has morphed into a "Mafia State" since the collapse of the old Soviet Union. The relationship between major figures in Russian organized crime and the Putin regime is complicated and Trump has had decades to build these relationships. The whole thing was beyond the limited scope of the Mueller investigation.

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