Ukraine and the Danube Delta

How did globalism metastasize all over the world so quickly, like a virulent cancer? How was this evil exported around the world with such speed?

How did the ideology of self-loathing become so pathological, the ideology of putting citizens of another nation ahead of a country’s own interests?

Why are so many governments destroying their own countries on purpose, almost in unison, to satisfy the directives of the United Nations, a corrupt organization run by representatives of small countries that could not survive without financial help from the west? Their wealth-redistributive climate change industry and the “world without borders” concept have been exported around the world like a blitzkrieg.

Who is responsible for breeding this evil idea of self-loathing and destruction of nations into every corner of the globe? Nobody seems able to resist, they are mesmerized into submission.

How did the virus of woke-ism, spread around the globe so fast as well, except perhaps in China?

Why would a Yale University Economics professor suggest that elderly Japanese should commit “mass suicide by disembowelment to help the country deal with its rapidly aging population?” Where did this insanity originate? https://nypost.com/2023/02/13/yale-professor-suggests-elderly-japanese-residents-should-die-in-mass-suicide/

The leftist religion of climate change and planetary apocalypse has also taken over the globe, playing in the hands of elitist billionaires who want nothing but total control of our lives and all businesses, under the guise of protecting the globe from our alleged irreversible damage to the environment.

How did the disgusting critical race theory, in your face anti-white racism, spread so quickly around the United States, the most tolerant nation on the planet?

How did the anti-American and irrational mainstream media spread its poisonous lies around the globe in unison, with identically scripted misinformation and lies to every country?

When did it become normal to start proxy wars with countries that have done nothing to us, giving rise to the possibility of WWIII and nuclear holocaust?

When did it become the American taxpayers’ responsibility to pay for the Ukrainians’ pensions while our poor Americans are marginalized?

Why is President Biden visiting Kiev and a war zone while his own citizens in East Palestine, Ohio, are ignored in their hours of need when their lives have been turned upside down?

President Zelensky, the destroyer, is warning us not to dare oppose him in his war with Putin; that we must protect his democracy in Ukraine. But is Ukraine a democracy? By all evidence, it is a tyranny when one considers the lack of freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and freedom to speak one’s own language.  Do we really want to send our sons and daughters to fight a war for Zelensky and the military industrial complex?

The people of Ukraine are suffering unimaginable losses and the European Union and NATO countries are helping them in many ways but not helping them make peace. Millions of Ukrainians have escaped to other countries, including Romania which borders Ukraine.

Romanian citizens are wondering how Ukrainians have time now to dredge up an old issue between the two countries – the Bystroye Canal. Romanians, who felt sorry for the Ukrainians' plight as war refugees, are wondering why their government is supporting refugees from Ukraine, while the Romanian citizens walk around sad and grey, unable to pay their bills, buy food, have heat and electricity in their homes, desperate because there is not enough money to cover the inflationary economy, while the Ukrainian refugees laugh, have parties, ski on the Carpathian slopes as if they are on vacation. Their brethren in Ukraine, instead of trying to bring them back, are busy closing down Romanian churches, and forbidding the use of the Romanian language.

In such serious war times, Ukraine has time to dredge in an environmentally protected wetland in the northernmost branch of the Danube River Delta (the Kiliysky Estuary) which follows Ukraine’s southern border.

Since Russia now restricts Ukraine’s Black Sea commerce, these underused river terminals are now quite important. “The area can be reached by two waterways: the narrow Sulina Canal through Romanian territory, and the Bystroye Canal which passes through Ukrainian territory.” Romanian Gov't Irked by Ukrainian Dredging on Danube Delta Canal (maritime-executive.com)

 

The dredging of Bystroye Canal, 15 feet during construction and 13 feet during use, has now increased to 21 feet, which the Ukrainians argue that it is comparable to Romania’s Sulina Canal. The problem with that is, as the Romanians see it, the water in the Danube Delta would disappear, endangering protected fauna and flora, countless species of birds, fish, and most vegetation which live in the delta, thus destroying a sensitive ecological area.

 

“Romania opposes the inclusion of Ukraine's Bystroye Canal and the adjacent Chilia estuary in the EU's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), a set of designated routes eligible for EU infrastructure funding. Ukraine has requested that the waterway be listed as a TEN-T route, parallel to Romania's Sulina Canal.” Romanian Gov't Irked by Ukrainian Dredging on Danube Delta Canal (maritime-executive.com)

 

Ukraine responded that the dredging was not meant to enlarge anything, it was only meant to maintain the canal navigable. Ucraina răspunde acuzațiilor despre Bîstroe: Nu extindem canalul. Am anunțat România din timp - PRESShub

 

Minister Sorin Grindeanu said that Romania will continue to help Ukraine but “we also need to observe international treaties… There are signals that at this moment there are dredging works on Bystroye…”https://www.romania-insider.com/romania-ukraine-bystroye-canal-works?amp

Ukraine, in full war with Russia, has time to dredge the Bystroye Canal in the Danube Delta, a natural preserve, a UNESCO patrimony? Does that mean that in time of war, nothing is sacred or protected?

“Let’s make friends because they may become owners of Eastern Europe. We are so glad that we are getting rid of Putin’s Russians just in time for the OTHER Russians to occupy us,” Romanians say.

The entire planet is screaming that Putin has occupied Ukraine, but few care that their own borders are flown wide open, and the flotsam and jetsam of the world are flooding in.

Armstrong Economics wrote, “U.S. government funded the Ukrainian Revolution in 2014 to the tune of $5 billion. The U.S.-installed interim government launched the civil war against the Donbas on U.S. instruction. Then in 2014, Obama signed a bill authorizing lethal aid to be provided to Kiev. Then in 2015, NATO Commander General Philip Breedlove favors military aid to Ukraine… The West has been planning war against Russia using Ukraine as cannon fodder from the very start.” The Ukraine War has been in the Planning Stage since 2013 | Armstrong Economics

And all humans are suffering the financial, economic, and social consequences of the greedy decisions of the few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beach Politics and Siesta Key

Siesta Key
Photo: Ileana Johnson 2016

The ocean surf, the blue waves crashing onto the sugary white quartz sand, and the lush vegetation and marine life make this beach the most beautiful in the world. Silver streaks sparkle in the crystal clear water carrying crushed sea shells to the shore. A pod of dolphins are playing close to shore at sun rise, to the delight of walkers.

The water is teeming with life, from algae, to sand sharks, to jelly fish, stingrays, sharks, star fish, sea gulls, pelicans, and amazing sea urchins we call sand dollars.

A sudden wind gust picks up a few kites and speeds sail boats gliding on the surface. Fine white sand, skimming like a shimmering shallow river over the ground, covers everything. A brave girl is paddling a board past the sand bars.  The sea gulls are diving for fish in the surf, resurfacing with a squiggly silver morsel.

Photo: Ileana Johnson 2016

 

The wind just picked up my umbrella, resting momentarily at the edge of the ocean. I’ve never seen my hubby get up so fast to stop its rolling into the water.

An elderly man is pushing his wife through the shallow water in a wheelchair with large tires. The occasional wave crashes and splashes salty water onto her face; she giggles like a little girl. That sound is the sigh of sheer joy and devoted love.

An Indian family has already brought their mom to the edge of the beach. Her slow gait with the help of a cane is steadied by her daughter who settles her into a folding chair and rolls up her pant legs so she can feel the water lapping at her feet. The daughter brings out a large hat to shield her eyes from the sun.

Siesta Key beach

Photo: Ileana Johnson

 

I seldom see American families bringing their elderly and handicapped parents to the beach; they must be at home or in a nursing home. I feel ashamed and sad.

Clear water and white sand

Photo: Ileana Johnson 2016

 

The beach seems more culturally alive this year. I hear many languages around me, Russian, Italian, Polish, German, Dutch, and French. For the first time in 37 years I see a woman clad in a full beige burka, accompanied by a man in cool and comfortable swim trunks.

Jose Jimenez

Photo: Ileana Johnson 2016

 

I pass every morning by a homeless man, nicely tanned, reading his paper on a picnic table, surrounded by gallons of water, his worldly possessions in a backpack and a couple of garbage bags; his blue beach bike is leaning nearby. He is always smiling from above his readers, makes eye contact, and says good morning to me.

People pass him by as if he is invisible and part of the landscape. A squirrel jumps on the table. There is a short wooden fence behind him, with heavy vegetation and shady trees between the walkway and the beach, and the squirrel runs along the top tier, within inches of his head, as if he is a familiar fixture of the environment, totally unafraid of him.

I make a point to talk to this man and to find out more about him. He is tanned and looks healthy. His name is Jose Jimenez and has been a resident of Florida for 36 years, 20 years in Siesta Key. His English is very good and speaks with a lovely Colombian accent. He greets me every morning with, “every day is a holiday.” This middle-aged man has touched my heart in so many ways; it is hard to put into words. I did not dare ask him if he was homeless by choice or by the vicissitudes of life. He posed for a picture and smiled with his eyes and happy heart.

Live urchins (sand dollars)

Photo: Ileana Johnson 2016

 

A few pelicans have flown further down the beach, closer to the rocky pier.  The large boulders flanking the pier have disappeared one day, moved by a construction company, eager to start building more private condos despite the local voters’ vociferous pleas to keep the road and the beach public. The issue will be voted on this November 8.

Siesta Key beach sunset

Photo: Ileana Johnson 2016

 

Sarasota across the bay from Siesta Key

Photo: Ileana Johnson 2016

 

Paradise on Siesta Key beach

Photo: Ileana Johnson 2016

 

The beach is relaxing and soothing, problems and politics seem to fall by the wayside, but do they? There is always an emergency that needs saving humanity from its own demise, or saving nature from the destruction of all powerful humans. Thank God for the anointed few who know what is best for the rest of us and keep the crony government machine well-oiled and running.

Polar bear sculpture that took a man 3 1/2 hours to complete (Siesta Key beach)

Photo: Ileana Johnson

 

This sign appeared all over Siesta Key

Photo: Ileana Johnson 2016

 

I bumped into the “Save the Siesta Sand” project by chance and curiosity led me further.

A barrier island located on the west coast of Florida in Sarasota, Siesta Key was named the number one beach in 2011 and number one in the U.S. in 2016. “With 99 percent quartz as its sand, it truly is the finest, whitest sand in the world. It does not heat in the summer and it feels like talcum powder on your feet.”

The Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Sarasota have produced a dredge plan which “proposes to remove initially almost 1 million cubic yards of sands from the protective ebb shoal of Siesta Key located in Big Sarasota Pass.” The entire plan calls for “the removal of almost 5 million cubic yards of sand. It is so much sand that it could completely bury about four Empire State buildings laid on their sides. Alternatively, imagine 27 large dump trucks removing sand, running every day for 50 years.”

The sand will be used to re-nourish Lido Key beaches and to build a 5’ berm of sand along its shores, which are private beaches. According to Save our Siesta Sand, “A berm made of sand on a coastal beach and only one side of an island will be useless and will not protect St. Armand’s from flooding. In a little more than a year after the dredge, the North Lido beach has almost been lost and no mitigation is planned.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdwmVatfkYc

“Consider the planned dredge of the protective ebb shoal off Siesta Key. No one can predict whether this same amount of erosion will occur on Siesta beach but it certainly seems likely. Observable facts speak louder than models.”

Following their modeling, the Army Corps is moving on with their plan, ignoring the “repeated requests by environmental organizations and the County Commission to generate an Environment Impact Statement before proceeding any further with their proposal to dredge Big Pass, New Pass, and Longboat Pass. Instead, they are issuing a FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact) by this massive project of navigation, the environment, and Siesta Key.” http://www.soss2.com/

To protect the Siesta Key beaches after this massive dredging of sand, the government is proposing the construction of “beach erosion groins,” but don’t worry, they will be tastefully decorated to disguise their ugliness.

In the meantime, as I enjoy the lovely Siesta Beach, I worry that in the future, our children and grandchildren will no longer be able to see the beauty of this island, a paradise on earth threatened by a 50-year government project of “unprecedented scale that has had no public hearings and where the proposer cannot show any similar projects that have met their goals. One independent review that was held stated that they were unable to verify the claims of the proposer.”

Politics at the beach are complicated in the best of times. For now the ordinary beach goer and modest business and home owner on Siesta Key are afraid that they may lose their white sand, spectacular beaches, perhaps the beach flora, and their paradise to the Army Corps of Engineers and City of Sarasota dredge plan.