It’s Time to Flex Your Superpowers: Each of us can help stop the war in Ukraine
It’s a small efficiency located just a few blocks from Kiev’s historic center, featuring “a comfy queen bed” and from the pictures, smartly decorated with modern art. This week, my husband Mel and I are booked to stay there and our host, Olya, couldn’t be more grateful.
You may think that there’s nothing you can do to help the Ukrainian people or help stop the war, but you can help. Read on, and I’ll prove it to you.
While it’s human to feel sad, discouraged, angry and outraged at the brutal invasion of Ukraine that we’ve all witnessed in real time, what would be even sadder is if our feelings stopped there. With a little effort that starts with letting go of what went wrong and accepting exactly where we are now, each of us can channel our feelings into a force for good. Mahatma Gandhi called this energy from righteous indignation “love force,” and in time, he used it to free the Indian people from the tyranny of external rule.
But this force is not something esoteric that happens when we’re “thinking good thoughts” for people or chanting. It’s the opposite, and requires roll-your-sleeves up, positive action.
Why not you, why not now? — You may believe that “superpowers” are a sham, and that you as an individual can’t have an impact that will change anything. While this could be true of any of our actions alone, we are NOT alone. The passionate, strategic actions of one can have a ripple effect that inspires countless others to get involved and could spark change. Together, we are a mighty force for good to be reckoned with.
You may be thinking that you don’t have lots of extra time. That’s O.K. I know firsthand that with just a few minutes a day, you can make a significant impact.
So, what are these superpowers, you wonder? Here I’ll share just a few examples of how I’ve used mine for positive change, how others are doing it, and how you can, too.
Superpower #1 — BOYCOTT (and encourage friends and family to do the same) to add punch to the sanctions.
If you have 10 minutes
Call on Corporate America — A week prior to MacDonald’s and Coca-Cola’s decisions to close operations in Russia, I posted on key fan sights as apparently, millions of other people were doing also. To Micky D’s I wrote, “Sorry, you’re my fave but no more McAnythings until you help stop the war by closing in Russia. You are McDonald’s! #BOYCOTTMCDONALDS”
At this writing, McDonald’s boycott posts like this one, as well as those calling out Coca-Cola and others late to cease operations in Russia, had collectively racked up millions of likes, shares and other reactions. This reinforces that none of us are alone in this cause, and no-one has to be Kim Kardashian to have a powerful voice across social media platforms.
This last week both mega-companies closed Russian operations, if temporarily, citing humanitarian concerns. I’m sure that’s true, but a nudge from millions of customers certainly was not ignored.
And the field is rife with others who need a nudge:
• Mars Wrigley (which makes M&Ms, Snickers, Orbit, Skittles, other sweets and owns Pedigree Pet foods) is still going gangbusters in Russia. Not so sweet, or pet friendly. Share your displeasure across social media, including #BOYCOTTMARS, #BOYCOTTWRIGLEY, #BOYCOTTPEDIGREE and maybe throw in some specific candy bars for good measure.
• Hyatt and Marriott are continuing to operate in Russia: #BOYCOTTHYATT, #BOYCOTTMARRIOTT
• The United Arab Emirates has not yet signed on to sanctions and is allowing oligarchs supporting aggression against Ukraine a place to park their yachts and money. Politely share your displeasure and plans to cancel your visit or any future visit you might imagine by contacting the following offices:
- Office of Tourism, Dubai — info@dubaitourism.ae
- Office of Culture and Tourism for Abu Dhabi: info@dctabudhabi.ae
- On social media go to town with #BOYCOTTUAE, #BOYCOTTEMIRATES, #BOYCOTTABUDHABI
If you are uncomfortable dealing directly with a government, share with Trip Advisor your concerns about the Emirate’s complicity. Ask that they temporarily block UAE destinations (this is next on my list).
Since things are moving quickly, make sure the company, country, other entity you boycott is still not supporting sanctions.
Also, positive feedback is important. I since circled back and thanked both McDonald’s and Coca-Cola. My note to Coke: “Thank you for having done the right thing and stopped operations in Russia for the time being! Sincerely yours, Leslie, and at least 109 million additional customers.”
Love Letters to the Policy Makers — We all receive political emails, phone calls and texts from politicians who want our vote and donations. I circled back to every one of those I had received in the past year, and sent a clear, polite but firm message. My example: “I’ve supported you in the past, and I will do so again once you team with your colleagues in congress to stop the war and end the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Thank you for all your efforts.” While I haven’t heard back from a politician yet, I know from my previous career that replies like this are categorized, counted, analyzed, and acted upon when sentiment on a particular issue becomes overwhelming. Let’s overwhelm them!
Superpower #2 — DONATE
You can share a bit of the abundance you enjoy now, if you have the resources, or later, by doing something you love and donating the proceeds.
In 30 minutes — If you can afford to donate, do your research, and find an organization you trust to get the funds to the people who need them the most while minimizing overhead (the percentage that the organization takes to collect and disperse the money). Here is a partial list of trusted organizations that are directly working with Ukrainian refugees, and there are many others:
• Directrelief.org — Airlifts of medicine and medical supplies
• UNICEFUSA.org — Safe drinking water, food support
• CRS.ORG — Shelter, food, clean water, essentials at refugee camps and safe relocation
Since there are always bad actors trying to take advantage of the goodness of others, before you donate, do your research. First make sure the charity states that they are working directly to support Ukrainians, then vet them on charitynavigator.org or guidestar.org just to make sure. If the charity doesn’t appear, they still might be doing good work but haven’t met all requirements to be listed. You may need to contact them directly and ask for references to vet them.
In 1 Hour — I told you that officially, we are vacationing this week in Kiev. In fact, we are booked there, and in Cherkasy and Odessa in various rentals throughout the months of March and April.
My husband and I are fortunate to have some extra cash and we wanted to get funds directly into the hands of Ukrainians in war zones, and quickly. So, I did some research about areas soon to be invaded, and through Airbnb (which is waving its fees, #AIRBNBLOVINGKINDNESS) and booked places in those locations. The relatively low per-night rates (starting at $35) allowed us to spread the help around. To make sure they were legitimate, I looked for units with long rental histories and lots of reviews. Unexpectedly, I received replies from each of the hosts. They were touching, sometimes heartbreaking, but each reinforced how important this bit of help is to Ukrainians now in desperate need.
Hours, days, weeks — If you have time to donate but not resources, consider doing something you love to raise money to help the Ukrainian people. Get excited and give your family and friends a chance to help, too, by inviting them to become your partners, and your backers!
In just a few examples recently in the news: One woman who lives in Virginia is turning her love for cooking into cash to help Ukrainians, starting with her own family members who still live in Kiev. News reports of the invasion drove her to tears and inaction, but she quickly transformed her grief into something useful — cooking classes for the cause. Sharing recipes for borscht, a favorite Ukrainian beet soup, Slava Dutchak’s’ online cooking classes have so far raised nearly $200,000 to help. Slava’s funds are going to a well-vetted food program for refuges — a lot of mileage for a few beets, potatoes, and Slava’s grit and elbow grease.
A San Antonio bakery donated proceeds from a weekend the owner dedicated to helping Ukraine, and raised $70,000.
A husband-and-wife team living in Montreal started sewing and handing out Ukrainian flags for free for people to fly in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. (I’ve written to them to buy a flag!)
The chef who founded World Central Kitchen (wck.org) is on the ground in Poland helping to feed refuges arriving from Ukraine. He’s fed tens of thousands of people.
And the list of those using their second superpower goes on.
Superpower #3 — SACRIFICE
Thomas Merton, a twentieth century poet and contemplative, wrote, “Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice.” While the sacrifices we will make to save lives and end suffering will pale in comparison to those being made by the Ukrainian people, some will hit close to home. But giving up something for the greater good has immense rewards, both for us and for those we sacrifice for.
Most of us have already felt the sting as the national average for a gallon of gasoline hit $4.32[1] per gallon, the highest we’ve seen in the U.S. The price went up in direct response to the Biden administration’s announcement of a ban on the import of Russian oil, gas and coal, which had bi-partisan support. Sanctions such as this, and especially this particular sanction, are necessary to create the tremendous economic pressure needed to convince the aggressor that the price of war is no longer worth the prize.
The next time you pay at the pump, do it with a new perspective. Smile knowing that the sacrifice you are making to support sanctions will help stop the displacement, killing, and tremendous suffering of the Ukrainian people.
If the cost is too much to bear, and it will be for some of us, there are options — other ways you can flex your third superpower.
If you drive for a living, there’s no getting around the impacts of higher fuel prices. But you can try cutting back in other areas, just for now. More than 56% of Americans dine out multiple times a week and spend an average of $71 for their meal.[2] Try skipping a night out here and there, and delaying other non-essential purchases. It’s not forever, just for now.
For the rest of us, with a little effort, we can cut down on fuel bills by carpooling with friends, taking public transportation, walking, biking, delaying a vacation. You can make these sacrifices joyfully, all the while imagining a mother’s relief as she and her child make it to safety, a young soldier’s life you may save, a child who won’t starve…people who love one another, just like you love someone, reunited at last.
This is an incredible moment, where despite our differences, the world is coming together to support the Ukrainian people, and the cause of peace and self-determination. We each have a chance to be part of this moment, this love force that is palpable as we join in. If we don’t take a stand in our lives, then we stand for nothing. Now is the moment we can take a stand and help stop a war, each of us in our own way.
Find your way to boycott, donate, and sacrifice, and encourage others to do the same.
Flex your superpowers.
Leslie Baer Dinkel is founder of the non-profit organization Local Hope. For three decades, the organization has delivered emergency relief and critical resources to under-served communities in the Guatemalan highlands in support of self-reliance. She is the author of the book Hope Dancing: Finding purpose and a place to serve among the Maya.
[1] AAA March 10, 2022
[2] Fourth survey: https://15xxav2iivcj3m9mto25he05-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/US_White_Paper_Truth_About_Dining_Out_Survey_Report_110119.pdf
