Street names – to be amused by, at least in my book – yes … this gently tickled me … soft ironic diplomacy …
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Ironic diplomacy can be found ... |
I came across this online campaign … to amend addresses wherever there is a Russian embassy, consulate, or similar … trade mission …
I found the article here … and I'm afraid, in the appalling times of war the Ukrainians are going through, I found it lightly uplifting …
Surprisingly the first country to give the Russian embassy a new address was Albania … the Ukraine Embassy, that of Serbia, also of Kosovo, and so the Russian Embassy all now reside on 'Free Ukraine Street' … in its capital Tirana.
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Free Ukraine Street in Tirana, Albania |
Next came Norway … it changed an intersection address to Ukraine Square … and other countries/cities have followed …
It seems the NYT gave rise to an article on Danish MP, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen's drive for these name changes … and who was quoted as saying 'No Action is too Small' …
… a simple but significant act of symbolic support for the courageous Ukrainian people who defend the values of freedom and democracy from one of the strongest military powers in the world.
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c/o Strange Maps |
The campaign continues on … please see the link …
A rabbit hole I (logically! tba) went down – Mayakovsky Street has been renamed Boris Johnson Street (suits me ... if he's tucked away!) … renamed by the small town, population was about 6,000, to the east along the coast from Odessa ...
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Mayakovsky Street |
I will explain Vladimir Mayakovsky's connection … but this poster he created about 100 years ago … Agitprop – Communist propaganda – occurring in their Revolution 1917 – 1932.
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Soviet Propaganda poster from the Russian Revolution era 1917 - 1932 |
He was a Soviet poet, playwright, artist and actor … born in the Caucasus in Georgia, but after his father died they moved to Moscow.
Changing street names has occurred over the years … as you'll see in the article … but in today's age – these things can happen very quickly …
How frustrating to work for a Russian organisation and find you have to walk down, or across a Ukrainian street to get to work …
… I'm around, but have been involved doing rather a lot … I'll be back soon – so enjoy this bran tub alternative post with its links ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
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