Winter at the barricades [Primer on what is happening in Ukraine]

World Magazine ^ | 2/7/14 | Jill Nelson

[SoFloFreeper]

When Ukraine’s largely peaceful anti-government protests turned violent last November, President Viktor Yanukovych attempted to explain away the extreme response of riot police: He could not have protestors in the city center delaying setup for the Christmas tree and ice skating rink. Those comments became the focal point of jokes, but a new joke is going around: How long does it take a Ukrainian to change a light bulb? Two weeks. How long does it take him to build a barricade? Fifteen minutes.

Kiev’s protests have escalated into a movement with military-style camps, barricades massive enough to keep out tanks, and a full-scale takeover of the capital’s main square and government buildings throughout the country.

After months of demonstrations that have at times attracted hundreds of thousands of people, Ukraine’s protests are no laughing matter: At least six people were killed during violent clashes between police and protesters in January. And the government has confiscated cell phone numbers of tens of thousands of protesters in the square, sending them this message: “Dear subscriber: You are registered as a participant in a mass disturbance.”

[Biggirl]

I am pretty sure they do.

[Biggirl]

Here is the website:

http://patriotsforamerica.ning.com/

[ZX12R]

Got a link to a good live feed?

[jjsheridan5]

Here is a live feed: #EuroMajdan on USTREAM. Nothing really dramatic happening right now, unless people milling around can be considered dramatic.

[boxlunch]

http://espreso.tv/stream

[Starstruck]

http://espreso.tv/stream

[GeronL]

Is there really only 2 sides?

[GeronL]

The NSA can even listen to what is going on with the cell phone turned off!

[grania]

The protestors are either naive or tools. If they were in the EU, Germaany would end up controlling their banks and resources. As with Greece, Portugal and the other poor countries, those debts will never be paid off and the wealth of their resources would end up elsewhere.

I don't know that they'd be better off with Russia. Except that the history of Russia and its allies involved immense suffering at the hands of Germany in WW2.

[McGruff]

It's the work of

[Biggirl]

Oh good grief, are we now getting into the Alex Jones area?

[Biggirl]

Until proven otherwise, I am considering this conspiracy theory stuff right now.

[GeronL]

Fox News report:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr5r9UnIiT4

ABC News: (note: 2006)

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2006/12/can_you_hear_me/

techdirt:

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130723/12395923907/even-powering-down-cell-phone-cant-keep-nsa-tracking-its-location.shtml

[redgolum]

Easy.

Burner phone paid with cash. Old fashioned two way radio’s. Or just show up with Spock ears, clown nose, and a few other things to through off facial recognition software.

[cherry]

bttt

[Revolting cat!]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MI0r777GRRA#t=3

[JerseyHighlander]

This url has the most active live video feeds, all on one page,
http://news.liga.net/video/politics/981947-shturm_maydana_onlayn_videotranslyatsiya.htm

This website has a lsit of all trusted media (trusted from the protestors point of view),
http://www.maidanhotspot.com/trusted-media

The Splino feed has been the most useful to get a grasp of the situation, the Splino guys have been live streaming with cell phones directly while walking through the camp and at the barricades standing next to the molotov and riot shield carrying protestors.

What is amazing is that the Square has dozen plus entrances, the police have no presence at 80%+ of the entrances, and just outside this revolution, Kievans are going about their daily routines as best as possible, and the buses still run, the Square still has electricity, the McDonald’s on the edge of the Square has reopened, food cart vendors roll up every morning and feed the protestors, local car traffic can drive within 2 blocks of the Square, ... etc.

Also, every morning, men carry in construction material and stolen metal work, and women bring in huge amounts of food and blankets, and they reinforce the protest site, over and over.

Saw a video this morning of a woman handing out sandwiches on a platter, at the barricades, while the guys and teenagers taking the sandwiches in one hand, were holding shields or throwing rocks in the other.

[nitzy]

In reading the article and reflecting on the President's recent announcement that there will be consequences for the violence, I started to wonder what side he will take.

Like the President, Russia is a long time enemy of the United States so he could pick the Russian backed government side.

He may try to curry favor with his socialist buddies in the EU so he may side with the protesters.

But then it hit me...Which side is more Christian? He will certainly go against whatever side is most Christian.

Does anyone know the religious inclinations of the Russian backed government groups or the protester groups?

[Mike Darancette]

What is the over/under for Viktor Yanukovych inviting the Russians in to save his a$$.

[RKBA Democrat]

Good article. Thanks for posting.