 with Human Rights Around the World on Think Tech Live broadcasting from our downtown studio on Honolulu Hawaii, Moana, New York. I'm your host Joshua Cooper and today we're looking at a global rally for human rights in Ukraine. I'm so fortunate to be able to welcome Anka, who's broadcasting live from Kiev. Anka, thank you so much for joining. Thank you for having me. Hi everyone. What inspired you to get involved to end this war? Well, I was born in Donbass when the war began and I have been living under occupation for some time and I wasn't, I wasn't able to get to my place, to my home, almost seven years. So I'm the most motivated person to try to help to finish this war. And yeah, so this is my motivation. I definitely understand and we can see the passion and the work that you do. Maybe you could share with us a bit about what is unity of Ukraine and what are some of the important initiatives that it's organizing because we know that world opinion continues to rise in favor of democracy and freedom for all with solidarity rising in Ukraine and there's a new standard of rule law and human rights for all. So can you share with us unity of Ukraine, civil society and what you've been able to do with the creation of these important initiatives? Yeah, first of all it's the name of my non-profit organizations here in States, but other than this it's international network of Ukrainians and allies who support Ukraine during this Russian and provoked the invasion. In Ukraine we worked very likely with Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health and others. Worldwide we work with volunteers with businesses, diplomats, governments and media and others. So we're delivering everything to Ukraine, medicine, humanitarian aid, and we advocate for Ukraine and also I'm a coordinator or one of coordinators. We are all equal of a group where all protest organizers in one chat and they're all Ukrainians and they are from all over the world. So this is this is very important and very meaningful for me doing this kind of coordination also. Thank you. Can you share some examples of engagement coordinated through the unity of Ukraine and what impact it's been able to have so far since February 24th? Yeah, I can mention just last one about protests. So there is those countries where actually can be even no protests at all but people still can wear two shots and that's which is saying Russia is a Russia is a terrorist state and we're discussing hashtags what we'll be using next week and we are using our we are sharing our best experiences and life hacks and how to do those rallies protests more regular and to keep everything is going in week by week day by day there is some countries where it's which is has which has like everyday protests like Oslo in Turkey and some countries they're neutral and also for us it's it's a good how to say good case to join our efforts all together all organized to discuss how we can push that push not push how to say it which is better word for this what we could do to move the country or government or people like to our side more on our side to be more involved so and also there's it's a good way to share all visuals and everything so we are trying to save time and money for all of us not preparing those designs for every week just sharing this creative because I'm designer I was a designer before the word began this is my thing but now I see it as a huge help for everyone for coordinators just to be able to have to have everything to be prepared and to spend more much time on thinking what to say and where to send how and yeah not spend time on organizers organizing things you know like coordinating with those relations I don't know the the correct word for this no it it's oh yes it makes a lot of sense and it's great for you to share about unity of Ukraine and civil society and the creation of these rallies to show support for universal values also these powerful powerful positive protests for peace illustrate the ideal for stronger international institutions to promote and protect human rights and more importantly you would also secure support to end the war in the world and to hold the perpetrators accountable for the crimes against humanity and genocide so we understand how you're leveraging your creativity as you said and how it's important to go forward maybe you could share with me some of those examples of engagement how about information exchange although you talked about the t-shirts what are some of the messages on t-shirts that people are wearing and where are they wearing them around the world well it's not just t-shirts you can put your hashtag everywhere in social media on the wall on a billboard wherever your imagination can go and how much money do you have so so sharing information is very important and this is the the most powerful thing that we can do on our rallies because even a small community in small town we can share something like where are donation sites how people can help in their community how they can what they can send to ukraine for example which is first priority second priority for example it is also a good thing for like building community of ukrainian allies and networking and so also we can share information which kind of petitions you should sign right now because this information it's already in internet but sometimes you just need to talk with the person directly to understand how important in this is this for example on some cities we have a table with the letters with examples letters that they can sign exactly on a protest and we're providing them envelopes and a stamp and they can send this letters to representatives and we are getting answers and it's it's a huge thing a lot of people just small amount of time they got there they signed petitions they signed a letter they signed a request everything that they want to say to their representatives and we just send it and yes it's I see the I see the results and people sometimes doesn't know those numbers of those bills that our representatives should vote or should sign or um yeah but we are providing them this information we save you time for them it's also important and with this kind of efforts yes win-win-win situation well it's great and there's a lot that we can get to so first and foremost you were talking about supplies that are needed could you share with us number one two and three right now and how people can do that and then we'll definitely get into the information exchange the advocacy with different parliaments and legislation as well as boycotts and going on the different activities them different ways and levels that people can participate to support human rights in Ukraine yeah um logistic question that was the first one where I began at the beginning over a huge scale of the work I have been living in L.A. and the first my closest donation was in the Nartus and it was so close I came there and a lot of people were packing and searching things it was close it was baby formula it was diapers everything that we thought that's very important there and our storage was full with all of these things but the question how to send it was the most important because people gather in a lot but to send it we we try to find funding and we try to find containers and understand the fastest and the most efficient way how to send it so there's variation of how to do it how we are doing this the fastest of course people are flying with luggage so I was the one who was flying from San Francisco yesterday with 10 bags huge like 50 pound bags just I'm the one person with the 50 bags and volunteers of course who helped me to deliver to airport so I went through chicken they checked in everything I gave them letters that this is how many to grenade this is that organization this organization and we are spreading it to like I'm going to Warsaw and then by car to Ukraine and I'm delivering it to front lines basically like by car or just using our delivery companies like post and everything so yeah so this is the fastest but also very expensive because the price of the bag is very huge we're not getting those bags for free I wish I wish we had this opportunity but second one it's also very like this is first priority goes it's just tactical medicine and mostly it's tactical medicine because it's the weight is so like less it's it's small weight but the value is very big because you can stop for example bleeding with the with the one small tourney cats and it's it's pretend like it's a prevent person from bleeding but for a short amount of time it's very important to have this and we we need it a lot right now especially when we have those liberated cities and we are I can say that we are losing a lot of like three times more people just to try to get our territory back so we need a lot of tactical medicine right now and protective gear also the second way how we can send it is by plane the price for this like higher also higher than container for example but at least it showed amount of time so everything also first priority but heavy things can go by plane by cargo so and the the last that we are using most frequently because it's the cheapest way is to send everything by containers for example I have information that like today for example today there will be container in yura and they have some space for us like four pallets six pallets and we can send it there and it will be delivered the price for container already covered by other donors and we are able to put something else something that very important but we still don't have money to send it um to this container okay in two weeks there will be in one week there will be in Mississippi two containers also I have information there can be some place there and by this containers everything that was donated by for example in a way that was we had a storage in Culver City that was Santa Barbara Firefighter Departments donated a lot uh health department gave us also long which has drug enforcement agency gave us some so that they have like all things on their storage it was amazing we were so lucky to get uh everything that they don't need anymore they don't use it anymore because they have more you know I don't knew stuff maybe I don't know the reason why it's on the storage it was there for a long time and they just giving us to giving it to us and we ascended by container out like why my reason here it's not to fly with 10 bags I'm waiting for container which is already in Gdansk and we will deliver it to Ukraine to the west part of Ukraine and then it will go all over all those front lines the only those hot spots we are not delivering for now to those spots where it's where you can buy something with money so everything that you cannot buy it's those east side like Harkiv, Donbass, Mykolaev, Odessa everyone every like small cities and big cities which is in huge need of those stuff that we are gathering and we are getting from other organizations we are delivering there it's dangerous because it's going by volunteers uh but it's all what we can do right now I think in Ukraine everyone is volunteer right now it's a it's an honor to be a volunteer here in Ukraine and all over actually not just in Ukraine because I feel that volunteers are all over the world right now and a lot of people a lot of people helping us it's true and the spirit's catching on and I'm glad that all your bags came many people lost their bags this summer so it's great at least they didn't lose these bags that's very important and it's also great to hear even an insight into some of the amazing work you're doing picking up the containers as they arrive there and all the pieces that you're putting together really is so valuable and people do appreciate that work that you're doing and it's true everyone is volunteering in their own way and some of the skills you shared earlier could you talk about how you're running boycotts and how you're helping people to know the information so that they don't contribute a single red cent or make sure that how they buy something with their euros it doesn't contribute to buying as even a small bullet or a larger bomb how are you organizing these boycotts because it's great that you're getting the materials there it's great that you're bringing the things but then you're also trying to ignite people's minds to see how they can make a difference with their wallet to end this war yeah good question but first I want to mention there is a lot of me in the stocks but no no no it's not me it's our joint efforts it's a lot of people all over they're in Ukraine they're in states and other countries and it's not me organizing it's not me delivering it's us our efforts some people are finding those donations I can just open the storage and that was my job for example but then I know information where I get money to pay the price for the container it's not my money it's someone's money so basically it's not me it's us it's a huge team of people it's like circles and circles small and bigger so yeah and it's not my organization it's organizations also so I would love to mention all of them but we have just 30 minutes yeah so you mentioned about boycotts yes it's a really good practice it's how to say it like I just have information that people who are who knows about some companies that they still are operating in Russia and they still running businesses there and they're still spending their money there and we know about this company I think a whole world knows about this company but at the end of the day we see that some companies are still there and they didn't shut their offices so small amount of team some small small like small team it can be five people it can be just one person they started a campaign to help these company understand how important for them and for us Ukrainian also to stop operate their business in Russia right now because basically if I'm using something like it can be application on my phone and I don't know I just pay for subscription but I don't know that this money goes to Russia right now and basically you're providing bullets to Ukraine so just using your application you know no one knows that it's it's Russia like the taxes are there in Russia yeah so for me to see this kind of cases it's not one case it's a lot of them it's very huge like I'm I'm just noticing and I'm just admire all those people and those efforts because everyone is on their place I'm not a protest organizer I'm just I just know them I just decided to put them in a chat to say like guys what kind of trouble you have whatever like life hacks we we did this and it was amazing like a flash mob with dancing people it brought brought so much attention at the time when attention went down to those because there's you know some points of time when the media says like less for example so it's another topic so yeah sorry I switched again no problem I think we're doing good boycotts are important and most people don't know the apps so that's crucial maybe one other aspect you can share with us is the advocacy and how you're connecting citizens with their public officials and then how that legislation has a positive impact on contributing to promoting and protecting human rights in Ukraine yeah I'm I'm just part of huge community of non-profit organizations which is operating here in states and all of them who are support Ukraine who are going with democracy they advocating for Ukraine in capital building it's like days days and days in in Washington DC so it's a really good way to talk with their representatives and to explain them where and how they can help share their stories I'm the one who's sharing stories from the ground because I'm flying back and forth to Ukraine it's my third trip already and I can say what exactly happening right now what I see with my own eyes I have everything on my phone and I can show that I had a flag with the signature signature with those soldiers that were signed when I was delivering help just explaining like this is real it's not that kind of far it's just like me I can tell you you can see you can hear those stories through my mouth basically through my emotions yeah so it's it's it's also joined efforts yes so some people more into those terms and into those bills and legislation acts and everything I'm more on emotional side on story side or I don't know but it's I think it's a good team also we had some our musicians there their soldiers were there who was in Ukraine like they they were flying specifically for these events to say like I'm a soldier you can ask me whatever you want to ask and I will be answering all your questions and also I will give you a whole update because everything that government says it's one thing we are saying the same but we can say it from our ground from our perspective from our small union yeah from battalion from small city just from my family as a unit also I can say what is happening and from my friends and from you know different my different views so it's amazing I think we we should spend more time on this also advocating for Ukraine with other representatives here in states and also sharing through this protest coordinators chat we are sharing experience how they can advocate on other countries like Australia and in Germany Europe all over like how they can do it with you using this our experience scaling this how we can join our efforts and and I know messages that we want to share it's true like once you build one example then you can replicate it and as you said scale it up to then make extra pressure in the most positive ways and it is combining how we use our money to contribute to the movement for human rights it's is combining our voice in this case for the voiceless who are busy fighting on the front lines but making sure that we educate and we know you can't do all of it but it's it's connecting people and even accountability so that people could hear from a soldier on the front lines what's going on and to be able to ask any question that's so important and so the people the people exchange is absolutely essential and it's also taking away the media in the middle but allowing everyone to find out what they can do and how with their basic skill set they can even be more strategic to make a great difference going forward can you also maybe share with us even dancing I think you're talking about how we could dance for democracy and have people have come together and done flash mobs so it's not just your wallet it's not just calling it's also moving your body to make a difference yeah it's a very good example how controversial dancing can be you know when it's protest that was in LA for example one of those was in LA and people just gathering together weeks and weeks to to make those you know to train how to move with the that was the Ukrainian song of course and we were dancing together that was also like a building community thing but you know we thought we thought that we are doing right thing right now we want to bring as much as possible attention to protest to everything that is happening in Ukraine even by dancing you know so yeah that was hard to dance of course our faces were sad but look with the smile on the face we had sad feelings because I would love to dance somewhere else not on protest you know but for me it's it was a good really good thing because I got my how to say it like a little bit of movement because I'm sitting like this always with computers or phone in those chats and everything but a little bit of movement everyone is needed like also but to gather a lot of people wearing blue and yellow on an amazing song Ukrainian song which is the way how we are sharing also our culture that to show everyone look guys this is our culture it's supposed to be we need to save it and you're supposed to have help us to save it because it's it's amazing what we have how talented our people how creative we are our Ukrainians are brave and funny and resilient also so yeah so this is a very good way to to share our culture also and to to get this attention even through dance that look there are so many people dancing here and dancing there and there's people that just can record themselves using same moves but also spreading the message that can be any message stand with Ukraine wearing neutral or arm Ukraine now or Russia is a terrorist state it depends so basically delivering message always possible it's everything that we're trying to do spreading information bring more attention more attention because you know where's your attention there's your heart there and your focus and your thoughts so yeah and a lot is happening we know that nine central and east or european NATO members are supporting Ukraine's application for fast track approval into NATO we also know that there's been recovery of Ukrainian grain that Russia has been trying to smuggle so there's people holding them accountable on that level on a wider vast scale we also know there's been advances where we see then north of kerson and also we take into these 50 towns and villages freeing thousands of civilians and we know it's also the flag is flying again over david breed as well just recently as well as some actions in the east and the south so a lot is going on and everyone's making their contribution to try to end this war as soon as possible and make sure that peace can be restored and also that you could go back to your homeland yeah it's true yeah a lot of things happening right now and all had to be used for me of course when i see extra even i see Ukrainian flag on liberated city it makes my heart like beating so fast because i'm thinking like maybe don't boss also will be liberated so maybe Crimea maybe i will go to Crimea soon also but also knowing information from front lines how many soldiers are dying right now because they taking their land back and it's a really big price for this to get those liberated city back to Ukraine so for me it's also controversial so i know what is happening and there is no time no i don't know no space for me to celebrate something like this i can i can smile yes but you know it's also sad very sad moment knowing those numbers and how how those people who are stayed there those occupied territory how they are struggling right now they don't have food they don't have have water electricity medicine everything so for us it's a lot of work for everyone to help to bring everything that it's needed there it's basically like Burning Man you know so there is nothing there and you need to bring everything there so there will be life again i would be Burning Man for the brilliant and the beautiful truly if that can be done and we know you're doing a lot and of course one person can only do so much but it sounds like your circles of compassion are very creative and being able to do a lot of things and as you pointed out there's definitely so much more that needs to be done and as we look as you talked about the people that stayed and remain there but then the human rights violations the crimes against humanity the war crimes really we need an international tribunal of accountability to make sure that perpetrators such as russia know that there's a heavy price to pay and we thank you so much for sharing with us today some of the exciting work of unity of ukraine and we look forward to future shows when we can get into greater detail about specific actions and all the amazing work that you are just a catalyst for social change yeah thank you so much i want to mention one thought that if you're ready to build to rebuild the frontier modern society culture and technology starting in ukraine please join us and go to our website unityofukraine.org and yes be a part of us i will be happy to you know to help you if like how to explain the way how you can help on your place with your time and yeah thank you so much for having me here no it's perfect it's it's what we're trying to do is show what persons can do where they're at with what they have and we see that beautiful message behind you and i think that's what we're just asking people to do and thank you so much yeah the sign says bravery has two colors it's right right and in Kiev it's a huge billboard it's a very good way to also reminding to ourselves ukrainians that don't forget who we are where we are what we are doing and what we are fighting for yeah that will be the word will be over soon i hope so and yeah finally we will do everything as we do always as ukrainians absolutely mahalo thank you so much for watching think tech hawaii if you like what we do please like us and click the subscribe button on youtube and the follow button on vimeo you can also follow us on facebook instagram twitter and linked in and donate to us at thinktecawaii.com mahalo