Different Russia
Feb. 27th, 2022 01:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thisnewdayFor some time now, I have subscribed to a YouTube channel created by a lovely person by the name of Valeria Kovtunova. She and her husband Alex live in a suburb of Moscow and her channel is called Different Russia.
Her channel attempts to show the everyday life of everyday people as she, her husband, and their pet labrador Sheffield live it. Her technical resources and her style of presentation are very basic and she comes across as a very humble and honest human being.
After watching her latest video today, I am very much afraid of what lies ahead, for her and for the many people like her who work hard just to live and whose only desire is to give voice to and embrace our common humanity.
Today's video consisted of a walk down the strangely deserted streets of her town and a somber conversation as she traveled to pick up a prescribed medication for herself and Alex, both of whom had been sick with a Covid-like illness.
It was similar in format to her previous videos but between every line could be detected veiled references to the situation in Ukraine and expressions of fear and regret and so much else that she could not say on-camera.
And at the end, she expressed the simple hope that she would be able to talk to all of us again. Because, among the ordinary Russian citizens, there is the expectation that social media platforms, such as YouTube and Instagram, will be shut down completely within the next couple of days.
I feel for her and I fear for her. I feel for her goodness and humanity and I fear for the impending loss of her ability to express and share that in the wider world that these and other social media represent.
And, while I understand the sentiment of those who would stand in solidarity with embattled Ukrainians and Russian dissidents, I would also suggest that any of my Dreamwidth friends, whose journals are still primarily on LJ--which is owned by a Russian state media company, learn how to import the whole of their journals to this or another platform.
I did so years ago, in anticipation of these or similar circumstances, and if I could do it, you can too. If not, enlist the help of a tech-savvy niece, nephew, or grandchild. Just like I would, if I had to do it now, lol.
My best to all of you. And to Valeria, Alex, and Sheffie...
LPK
Dreamwidth
2.27.2022
Her channel attempts to show the everyday life of everyday people as she, her husband, and their pet labrador Sheffield live it. Her technical resources and her style of presentation are very basic and she comes across as a very humble and honest human being.
After watching her latest video today, I am very much afraid of what lies ahead, for her and for the many people like her who work hard just to live and whose only desire is to give voice to and embrace our common humanity.
Today's video consisted of a walk down the strangely deserted streets of her town and a somber conversation as she traveled to pick up a prescribed medication for herself and Alex, both of whom had been sick with a Covid-like illness.
It was similar in format to her previous videos but between every line could be detected veiled references to the situation in Ukraine and expressions of fear and regret and so much else that she could not say on-camera.
And at the end, she expressed the simple hope that she would be able to talk to all of us again. Because, among the ordinary Russian citizens, there is the expectation that social media platforms, such as YouTube and Instagram, will be shut down completely within the next couple of days.
I feel for her and I fear for her. I feel for her goodness and humanity and I fear for the impending loss of her ability to express and share that in the wider world that these and other social media represent.
And, while I understand the sentiment of those who would stand in solidarity with embattled Ukrainians and Russian dissidents, I would also suggest that any of my Dreamwidth friends, whose journals are still primarily on LJ--which is owned by a Russian state media company, learn how to import the whole of their journals to this or another platform.
I did so years ago, in anticipation of these or similar circumstances, and if I could do it, you can too. If not, enlist the help of a tech-savvy niece, nephew, or grandchild. Just like I would, if I had to do it now, lol.
My best to all of you. And to Valeria, Alex, and Sheffie...
LPK
Dreamwidth
2.27.2022
no subject
Date: 2022-02-28 05:05 am (UTC)Protests - or attempts to protest - appear to be springing up in Russian cities. The information coming out may not be reliable but it looks as though people are trying. Being brave, being kind, trying just to live and let live.
While that's out there, I'm a believer in better times for us all x
no subject
Date: 2022-02-28 06:46 am (UTC)