These shots were taken before the quarantine imposed by Swine Flu.
While there is still heavy traffic at rush hour times, it is now not as busy as usual.
This photo is proof that mashrutki (auto buses) are slower than cars!
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Evening In Kyiv
These shots were taken before the quarantine imposed by Swine Flu.While there is still heavy traffic at rush hour times, it is now not as busy as usual.This photo is proof that mashrutki (auto buses) are slower than cars!Friday, November 06, 2009
Thoughts On Fear
Fear is something that touches all of us who are living on this earth at some time or another.
In this day and age with countries all over the world suffering from terrorism, infectious diseases, cancer, bad economies, unemployment and lack of trust in political leaders in one way or another, it seems as if everyone has legitimate things happening around them to make them feel fearful. Turn on the news and watch or listen to it for fifteen minutes and you will have fifteen more things to be worried and fearful about that you had never even considered before. Once you start feeling the grip of fear about one thing, then it seems to start growing inside until it can sometimes feel literally overwhelming or claustrophobic.
God did not give us the instinct of fear to make us unhappy or feel out of control. He gave it to us to help us be aware of things around us that could hurt us so we could seek protection from dangerous situations. He did not create fear so that it would rule over our lives or have authority over us. The only thing that should be ruling over our lives is God.
Are your feelings of fear ruling over your life?
Do you know this verse from the Bible? "For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power and love and a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
Give your fears to God and give him authority over them. He will give you strength, love and an healthy attitude towards dealing with your problems and fears.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Ukraine Flu Epidemic Day 6
We were told that due to the quarantine that food markets would be closed. I saw my local market open on the news the other night so I went there today to buy some eggplants. Can you count the people wearing masks? Can you count the people with the masks hanging under their chins? You might need a magnifying glass!
In Kyiv I saw less people wearing masks on the streets today. The atmosphere felt less tense. Drug stores had signs hanging on the door telling people what medical supplies/medicines they did not have in stock.
While public meetings have been banned, that didn't stop the Dynamo football club from playing last night! There were a few masked fans in the crowds but it looked like most were more interested in the game than in being frightened of the flu. Fans that were interviewed before the game by the TV news said they were not worried because the sub zero temperatures would most likely kill any germs.
The death toll from flu in Ukraine climbed to 95 today.
Doctors who are interviewed about the epidemic on news programs are still encouraging people to wear masks, but medical masks are still in short supply. A doctor interviewed in Western Ukraine said that in his hospital, people were making their own masks out of cloth. These could be washed and worn repeatedly. Another doctor mentioned that they did not have enough medicine and were recommending home remedies to those suffering from the flu.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
World Health Organization Report on Ukraine Flu epidemic
Today is day 5 of the Ukrainian flu epidemic and the atmosphere in Kyiv is still somewhat tense. While I noticed less masks on the streets today, I did notice that nearly everyone who is working directly with the public, restaurants workers, stores workers, policemen etc, are wearing masks. Some are sporting homemade masks made out of gauze. There is constant floor moping going on in restaurants and at metro stations.
The World Health Organization arrived last night and today issued their first report on the flu epidemic. The blog "What's Up Ukraine" shares the report verbatim. The most gripping part is the line, "it can be assumed that most cases of influenza in Ukraine are caused by the H1N1 virus."
So from this official report, it would appear that Ukraine is definitely dealing with the Swine Flu virus.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Flu, Flu, And More Flu, Day 4
Image via Wikipedia
The Ukrainian TV news programs talk of nothing but the flu. Statistics, documentaries, talk shows, news updates. Videos of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko dramatically meeting an airplane at Borispol Airport which unloaded boxes and boxes of Tamiflu. Ukraine has reportedly paid 50 million UAH for the medicine. We have everything we need here for a science fiction movie. As I sit in my flat writing this without any of the normal sounds of life outside my apartment building, I definitely feel a bit like I'm in one.
What might be a bit of a relief to everyone is that the World Health Organization has arrived in Ukraine and is going to be studying the virus that's causing this epidemic. While they are here, they might want to share some statistics on the problem of TB and other infectious diseases which plague Ukrainians prisoners. In the country's panic to have everyone wearing a mask, Tymoshenko has ordered two million face masks to be made by Ukrainian prisons.
The best news is that we have an ending date to the epidemic given by politician Volodymyr Lytvyn. He says the epidemic will end after the Presidential elections in January.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Flu Panic, Day 3
It's Day 3 of the Ukrainian Flu Panic.
Today the streets continue to be quiet. People only seem to be out if they absolutely have to get somewhere.
Mashrutki (auto buses) are running but I noticed that there are only a few people sitting in the seats compared to their usual over stuffed capacity loads.
I only saw one young child on the street. She was held tightly by her mother's hand. Her mother, of course, was wearing a mask.
President Yushenko has called the flu epidemic "A national security threat" and has requested that other countries help Ukraine by sending medicines, supplies and equipment to help combat the problem.
Blogger Moldov Ann related the story on her blog of her neighbor who called the paramedics when his temperature soared and was then told that they wouldn't come because they had no medicine for him anyway.
What is a huge concern to everyone I talk to now, is that markets have been ordered closed. The closures will start tomorrow. These markets are where most people get their fresh meats, fruits and vegetables. Who knows how this will affect an already bad economy. My friend in Western Ukraine mentioned that the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables there had been severely increased over the weekend.
So, the chaos continues.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Flu Panic Continues In Ukraine
Flu panic is continuing in Ukraine with various reports of people catching everything from regular flu to pneumonia to some kind of plague like pneumonia and of course, Swine Flu. Now reports are saying up to 48 people have died from Swine Flu.
The New York Times has an update on the situation and makes a hint in it's article that perhaps the extreme reaction from the government could have more to do with politics than actual alarm. (Banning public meetings means no election campaign meetings.)
Rumors are abounding everywhere about just what is going on in Ukraine. What some people outside of Ukraine don't understand is that there is a history in this country of the government not giving out vital health information (check your history on Chernobyl) and a socialized medical system in which many times doctors do not even communicate to people what kind of disease they have. So it makes sense that Ukrainians are nervous about what is really happening around them.
There were rumors that helicopters and airplanes were going to spray some kind of disinfectant over major cities but that rumor was denied today. However train stations are starting to disinfect passengers.
There are rumors that borders are closed but this seems unlikely.
President Yushenko is working to provide the country with medical masks which are becoming very popular to wear. A local Kyiv government talk show last night had a doctor on the program telling people they definitely should be wearing them.
Prime Minister Tymoshenko is working to make sure the drug stores stay in stock with medicine and do not over charge customers.
President Yushenko also ordered food markets closed. The fresh foods market I go to in Kyiv was open today and I took these photos.
As you can seek, lots of masks. It sure does make me feel creeped out.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Flu Panic In Ukraine
Over 92,00 people have contacted viral flu in Ukraine. Yesterday the government began to share figures as to how bad the situation really was and declared the situation an official epidemic. Reports are different, but some are stating that as many as 37 people have died.
Most of the cases are reported in Western Ukraine but it is reported that the flu is spreading East. These virus' include regular flu plus Swine Flu and pneumonia. Schools have been shut until further notice, public meetings banned and roads between oblasts (counties) have been closed. Last night rumors abounded on the internet and through word of mouth that drug stores supplies of medicines were emptying out in panic and that some kind of chemical combating the virus would be sprayed over the cities by helicopters.
I was downtown last evening with my friend and we noticed a sudden abundance of people wearing medical masks. I also noticed long lines at the drug stores and realized something was up.
On the streets today, many people sported medical masks or used their scarves to cover their nose and mouth. Considering most were handling the scarves with their fingers and as they did this they were touching their noses and mouths excessively, it would seem to me this might not be a good option. But with all the news and the lock down on travel, people seem to be in panic mode.
There are some more good posts on the topic at Ukrainiana, MoldovAnn and Foreign Notes.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Car Show In Kyiv
Last week I ran into a car show that was going on in Kyiv. (No pun intended!)
As is typical with car enthusiasts, what is under the hood is as, if not more exciting than the outside of the car itself!
Drinking beer and admiring the engine capacity seems to be an international thing!
Listening to some of the men reminisce about Soviet era cars was pretty interesting.
Sorry, but this Japanese model is my favorite! Fill in the pot holes and let's take a drive to Liviv!Thursday, October 29, 2009
Maybe you saw my previous post on animal right's activists and their animals protesting in Kyiv. Here are a few shots of the animals they were defending.
Street dog love.
How could I not take his picture? He came over and sat down right in front of me and obviously was posing.
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