Starting 2024 on the right foot

Let's be active participants and not simply bystanders in world events

The 2020s have not been good for humanity so far. In 2020, the emergence of COVID-19 and the tragic death of George Floyd set the stage for a tumultuous period. The following year witnessed an insurrection attempt, more COVID-19 deaths, and a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, leading to the resurgence of the Taliban. In 2022, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine shocked the world. As the war continued into 2023, the world was further traumatized by the brutal murders of over 1000 Israelis and by thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza. The year did not end on a positive note. The initial commitment to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” is now being threatened by political fractures. If EU and the US don’t reverse this worrying trend, Russia conquering all of Ukraine is not out of the question, which would be a disaster for the democratic world.

As 2024 begins, two possible attitudes emerge. One is to be a cautious optimist, largely because it cannot possibly get any worse. The other is to extrapolate from the current trends and expect increasingly worsening global conditions. However, neither passive stance is satisfactory. Instead, let's adopt a proactive approach by asking, "What can I do in 2024 to help Ukraine?"

Of course, the tides are powerful. Putin has a firm grip on Russia. War fatigue affects everyone, from soldiers on the front lines to concerned supporters. There’s a tendency to approach world events as though they are TV shows – you pay attention until the show gets boring or a better show comes along. But wars can last for years, and fatigue is dangerous in this case: what’s at stake in Ukraine are not only lives but the future world order. So we have to force ourselves and others to pay attention even if progress seems slow. For those in safer environments, a responsibility to help prevails. The power of collective action should not be underestimated. Mobilizing together, much like voting, can shape the destiny of nations.

Here are four actionable steps anyone can take in 2024 to aid Ukraine:

1.       Read credible sources to stay informed about Ukraine-related developments. Question information of unknown origin or from sources you don’t know. Don’t rely on a single source. Russian propaganda is powerful and has unfortunately influenced even those who have access to more reliable information sources. My favorites remain the daily update from the Institute for the Study of War and The Economist.

2.       Contact your Congressional representatives (or their equivalents in other countries). I have the phone numbers of mine programmed into my phone, and you can find yours here. Find out what they’re doing to help Ukraine win, express gratitude for their effort, and ask them to do more. Slow weapons deliveries have harmed Ukraine’s battle efforts, so encouraging speedy and comprehensive essential weapon deliveries is always a safe bet. It’s especially important to call your representative if they’re not doing much.

3.       Raise awareness. Discuss the situation in Ukraine with others, correcting misinformation when necessary. Publicly show support through various channels like social media, blogs, bumper stickers, or pins. Combat the tendency to view global events as fleeting entertainment, emphasizing the long-term consequences at stake.

4.       Donate financial support. It doesn’t take much time, and it makes a big difference for organizations trying to support Ukraine. My favorite organizations doing humanitarian work (other than Economists for Ukraine, of course) are, in order: Kyiv School of Economics, Razom for Ukraine, and Nova Ukraine. I also donate to the Institute for the Study of War to support their excellent in-depth coverage of the war. Establish recurring donations to provide consistent, fatigue-proof support.

Join me in actively shaping a better 2024!