Month: May 27, 2021 11:46 pm

Forty-five years ago on June 3, 1976, over the strong, and thankfully unsuccessful, objection of Henry Kissinger’s State Department, a bill creating the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, was signed into law. For more than 35 of those 45 years, I had the privilege to work for this small U.S. government agency located on Capitol Hill, which promotes peace, security, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The work was meaningful and fulfilling, and reflected many of the values I was raised with, including in my grade-school through grad-school Catholic education.

Forty-five years ago on June 3, 1976, over the strong, and thankfully unsuccessful, objection of Henry Kissinger’s State Department, a bill creating the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, was signed into law. For more than 35 of those 45 years, I had the privilege to work for this small U.S. government agency located on Capitol Hill, which promotes peace, security, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The work was meaningful and fulfilling, and reflected many of the values I was raised with, including in my grade-school through grad-school Catholic education.

President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken invoked U.S. “national interest” in allowing Russia and Germany to proceed with completing the Nord Stream 2 (NS2) pipeline, without explaining exactly what that interest was. How is it in the U.S. national interest to place the security of Europe’s sovereign nations at risk by supporting the NS2 pipeline, in partnership with a notoriously untrustworthy Russia, in exchange for short-term energy security for Germany?

Last summer, the pandemic resulted in the first missed in-person summer camps for Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization in the U.S.A. For many young scouts it meant a quick pivot to virtual camps, thanks to extraordinary efforts by Regional Camping Committees (OTK), creative counselors and parents, and enthusiastic plastuny (scouts). Since then, scouts have been attending virtual weekly meetings, socially distanced meetups with friends, and Zooming with friends and family – anything to connect with those they have dearly missed.

EMLENTON, Pa. – The Executive Committee, staff and volunteers of All Saints Camp (ASC) are pleased to announce the return of summer programming at its summer home in Emlenton, Pa.

PHILADELPHIA – The 74th annual Convention of the Ukrainian Orthodox League (UOL) will be held online in a virtual format this year on July 24. Scheduled to be hosted in Philadelphia by the St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral UOL chapter (originally planned for July 22-25), the UOL National Executive Board – after consultations with the Philadelphia Convention Committee and the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. (UOC-U.S.A.) – announced in May that the 2021 convention will be held online.

DETROIT – The past year and a half has brought great challenges to all of humanity in practically all aspects of life, and the North American bandura scene was no exception. Sadly, last summer all four bandura camps had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. While the virtual Bandura Hangouts course offered some summer bandura activity, it was no replacement for a live, in-person bandura camp. This summer will still include some restrictions and challenges due to the pandemic – but thankfully Kobzarska Sich will take place! And, despite still many uncertainties, there is much that can be accomplished.

NEW YORK – Yara Arts Group celebrated the reopening of the galleries of The Ukrainian Museum in New York with a special virtual event “Yara’s Traditional Arts: Hutsul Cheese Horses” about a unique Easter tradition.

CHICAGO – Initiated by the Ukrainian organization “Pomarancheva Khvylia,” in collaboration with the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America-Illinois Division, the Ukrainian community of Chicago gathered on May 22 to celebrate Heroes’ Day of Ukraine.

Personal philosophies, words of wisdom, deep reflections and opinions matter, especially when they emanate from an established competitive spirit who has repeatedly proven herself on the international stage. Young and old can always benefit from an injection of a winning formula when espoused by someone with character, passion and a superior work ethic, in many ways a role model.

Ukraine disappointed over NATO progress
Ukraine has decried the lack of progress in NATO’s “open-door” policy to Ukrainian membership and said it could not comprehend why it wasn’t invited to the bloc’s summit next month. NATO meets on June 14 in Brussels in a push to improve transatlantic ties under U.S. President Joe Biden amid growing tensions with Russia. “We understand the desire of the allies to hold a closed summit ...

WASHINGTON – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the state’s case against Viktor Medvedchuk is “just the beginning” of a process of curtailing the power of a handful of tycoons who have dominated the country’s economic and political landscape for decades.