Today is the first day of Spring (in the Northern Hemisphere), and the season brings happiness and hope to many people. For one, as people venturing outdoor more, less chance for the Coronavirus to spread (fingers crossed). By extension, our lives may get back to normal or as normal as feasible.
Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine has been going on for four weeks. The shear destruction in this largest country in Europe (not counting Russia) is horrendous. While negotiations are ongoing, difficult to see how a win-win outcome would be possible. After all, Ukraine did not ask for the war. Neither did the Russian people.
If winning at all costs is the aim of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, he has certainly lost it at home and abroad. At best, we can expect is a lose-lose outcome, all the way around. The Russia and Ukraine combined export more than a quarter of the global’s wheat. Unfortunately, the export won’t happen if the farmers can’t plant seeds in the Spring due to the on-going war and sanctions.
Moreover, the war is not only happening at the military and economic levels but also at the information arena, dragging the rest of the world into it. While the West has come to the Ukraine’s aid in terms of weapons and supplies, the question remains what will China do? Will China stay neutral as it is friendly to both the Russia and Ukraine? Only time will tell.
Either way, these challenges have put the 2022 on a rocky path and dwarf my March madness which in comparison can be controlled relatively easy. My sincere hope is that wiser minds will prevail and amicable solutions will arise. Soon.
Stay safe & have a nice week.
Running with Buddha 