Wednesday 11 May 2022

Bran Tub # 20: Wry Amusement … Act for Ukraine – renaming street addresses …


Street names – to be amused by, at least in my book – yes … this gently tickled me … soft ironic diplomacy …


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.


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.


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 ...


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.



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

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

34 comments:

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
That'll do as a filler! I was aware this was happening - but not of these links. Thanks for that. YAM xx

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's a lot of changed streets for Ukraine!

Joanne said...

That is clever and amusing. Small actions = awareness. Thanks for this little jaunt into your web wanderings on a Wednesday. Hope you are having a good week.

bookworm said...

It's those little acts of defiance/rebellion/opinion that count! Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

Elephant's Child said...

Big, big smiles. Thank you for showcasing the action - and the links.
I hope your busyness is productive - and fun.

Damyanti Biswas said...

Wow, what a change?! I just learned something new today.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I hadn't heard about this, but what a great idea!

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

SOunds like a good idea

Liz A. said...

That's kinda funny. More places should do that. It's not much, but at least it's something.

Nick Wilford said...

I think any act of protest is good and it all adds up. Although I don't think Boris deserves a street anywhere!

Terra said...

Two can play at that game. If it gets too annoying to the Russians, Russia and lots of other countries that are our enemies can rename streets too. Just my two cents worth.

Denise Covey said...

Great post Hilary! I loved it at the beginning of the war where Ukraine had changed a lot of its major highway signs and wrote some rude words instead of place - boiled down to 'Go home Russians!' or 'Do you need a tow?' Sense of humor amidst mayhem.

Computer Tutor said...

That's pretty clever. I hadn't heard of this--thanks for sharing!

retirementreflections said...

Hi, Hilary - I am a big believer in the power fo small actions. Thanks for sharing these links - I am off to explore each of them now.

Pradeep Nair said...

A simple but powerful way!
What's happening in Ukraine is so sad.
I just hope that the agony of the people there ends soon.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Yam – I'm glad you knew about it … and now have the links … certainly made me gently laugh …

@ Alex – yes the world is going to have lots of Ukraine Streets/ Squares/Closes etc …

@ Joanne – as you say … small actions = awareness. I'm happy you enjoyed my web wanderings … all well just busy.

@ Alana – great to see you – it is fun to see different approaches against an awful situation, isn't it …

@ EC – thank you – I'm happy I made you smile. I'm learning in the busyness!! And enjoying it …

@ Damyanti - Wow – yes you're so right … I enjoyed the find, in really difficult circumstances for the Ukrainians …

@ John – glad you enjoyed the find … an amusing tale out of a very difficult and appalling situation …

@ Jo-Anne – thank you …

@ Liz – yes … and I'm sure other places and countries/ towns will follow on …

@ Nick – the Boris street I had to note … as it's so tucked away on the edge of the Black Sea – but actually more relevantly to me on another project I'm working on – nothing like an aide-memoir in the middle of a post?!

@ Terra – yes … but wouldn't the Russians ask why their streets were being renamed …

@ Denise – oh yes … I remember those changes, but had forgotten about them – thanks for the reminder – yes sense of humour amidst the terror and horror …

@ Jacqui – glad you enjoyed reading about these name changes …

@ Donna – you're so right … 'the power of small actions' – have fun exploring the links …

@ Pradeep – yes … simple but powerful – I hope we do more here (if we've done any – our government regulations are somewhat different).
Separately – you're right about the Ukrainian situation, more importantly, like you, I hope their agony eases very soon.

Thanks to you all for visiting … and for commenting … so difficult for Ukraine, but as always war brings out good too – take care - Hilary

Keith's Ramblings said...

I had no idea about this, thanks for enlightening me! A great read to start my day.

Susan Scott said...

Fully in favour of these particular name changes Hilary! I enjoyed this. Though when names like Port Elizabeth get changed to Gqeberha, or there is a thought of changing the Cape Town International airport to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela International airport I get a bit hot under my collar.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Street names are something most of us give little thought to (I know I don't) but I love this idea of changing the names to reflect the current situation between Russia and Ukraine as a demonstration of support for Ukraine. I will have to petition my local council!

Deniz Bevan said...

I'd heard about these name changes but hadn't read about it in detail. Thanks for including the map!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I left a comment, Hilary, but I think it may have gotten gobbled up by reCAPTCHA, as have most of the comments I have left today. This is getting frustrating.

Lynda Dietz said...

That's a creative way to show support! And yes, no action is too small.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Keith - great ... I enjoyed the process of renaming these streets ... and yes - a good read for the day ...

@ Susan - thank you, such fun to find out about. Oh gosh! Gqeberha is an interesting one ... I guess it's possible to master it over time, I struggled with Bezuidenhout ... but then Cape Town airport to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is a handful ... Equally I remember when Keenya became KEnya ... minor, but essential to the Kenyans ...

There will be more of it as time goes on ... good luck!!

@ David - excellent I'm glad you think the idea of including a Ukraine street somewhere in your part of the world would be a very good thought - I must see if we've done something about it here in Easbourne ...

@ Deniz - yes I spotted an article and thought ah ha = a good blog post. The articles are both interesting ...

@ David - I've emailed you saying I rescued it ... we do need to check our spam now in case of wayward comments! I agree it can get frustrating ... but I find once I know it - I work a way round, or forget it ... then the frustration subsides ...

@ Lynda - thanks - it is a creative way to show support isn't it - and any quiet little dig must niggle them a little ...

Thanks to you all - I'm very happy you've enjoyed the post and is contents ... cheers for now - Hilary

Hels said...

I am ambivalent about changing old names of cities or streets into more politically or socially acceptable names. [Of course there is no question about a name that was vulgar, sexist or racist].

But history is an important part of identity. People will indeed adapt to the new names and the next generation won't remember the original names in any case. But if my parents called the city Lemberg, I call it Lvov and my children call it Lviv, do we share the same memories? Not at all.

Dan said...

I would agree that no gesture is too small. These symbolic gestures will remind people of the issue we are supposed to be ignoring.

Nilanjana Bose said...

It's a brilliant idea. Street addresses have a lot of heft, politically, morally, historically... Hope your week has gone well. Have a great, restful weekend.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Hels - well I agree with you about changing names for the sake of it ... but history, and its story, is important as life goes along ... I can see Lemburg/Lvov and Lviv has a very long history covering many nations as they conquered or were conquered over centuries ... while our memories are our social history ...

@ Dan - yes, in the circumstances ... no gesture is too small ... and people will remember Ukraine and the horror of being invaded ...

@ Nila - clever, isn't it ... street addresses will have a lot of heft, politically, morally and historically for decades to come ...

Thanks for visiting, enjoying the post and commenting - cheers Hilary

Anabel Marsh said...

In the days of apartheid, Glasgow had a South African consulate. The square it stood on was renamed Nelson Mandela Square - which it is still called. There is currently a fundraiser to get a statue of him put up there.

Dan said...

It may be a minor gesture, but I think it matters. I think it sends a message from ordinary people/communities.

Deborah Weber said...

Thumbs up for these little awareness solidifiers. I always love your Bran Tubs, Hilary, and this is no exception.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Anabel - yes I nearly mentioned the Nelson Mandela Square - so am glad you've pointed us to it ... oh interesting about the fundraiser for the statue - good to know ...

@ Dan - yes I'm sure they're all minor ... but it highlights and reminds us all about the devastation of Ukraine by Russia's incursion - as you say it sends a message ...

@ Deborah - thank you ... short and relatively sweet posts ... but the Bran Tub posts help in these cases ... just dreadful about Ukraine ...

Thanks to the three of you for being here and commenting - all the best - Hilary

mail4rosey said...

Any support must be better than none. I can't imagine how upended they are feeling at this time. War is always an ugly matter. :(

D.G. Kaye said...

Love the name changes to Ukrainian streets. They will mean a lot more as history progresses too. Hugs <3

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Rosey - yes, even from a huge distance away from Ukraine - we will always remember if we need to cross a street named after Ukraine ... war is just cruel ...

@ Debby - thank you ... and yes they will raise another link to the subject of war in history ... great point.

Thanks to you both - all the best - Hilary