NEWS RELEASE
ST. PAUL’S CENTRE
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Many of us have followed the events unfolding in Ukraine in the past weeks. We’ve been horrified by the hourly reports and video footage of carnage and destruction, the bombing of cities, the killing of innocent women, children, and elderly people, and the fleeing of masses of refugees to safety in friendly neighbouring countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.
We’ve also been inspired by the tremendous courage the Ukrainian people have shown in defence of their homeland against the invading armies of Vladimir Putin.
Yet at the same time we find ourselves at a loss for clear, convincing answers to key questions about the crisis: Why did Putin invade Ukraine? Why now? Why is China backing him? What more could have been done to prevent the invasion? Why were those additional preventive measures not taken? Can Ukraine win the war?
How much devastation and loss should Ukraine and Russia have to endure? How far is Putin prepared to go? What has the West done and what more can it do to help Ukraine defend itself? How far can Putin or the Western powers go without triggering a third world war? Will the West come through for Ukraine? What are the global implications and repercussions of the crisis, including to us Canadians?
With a view to helping us sort out some of the confusion and bring a measure of clarity to this very complex and deeply troubling issue in international relations, presentation-discussions on the issue were held at St. Paul’s Centre Orillia on Sunday, May 1, and Double Door Studios and Gallery in early April.
Due to the ongoing war and expressions of interest in more study, a further discussion will take place at St. Paul’s Centre’s Macdonald Hall on Sunday, June 5, at 2 p.m. Admission is free, there is no need to register, and masks are recommended. You do not need to have attended any of the previous discussions to come to this one.
The discussion will be led by Borys Kowalsky, who holds a PhD in political science from the University of Toronto (with a major in the history of political philosophy), taught for many years at the secondary and post-secondary levels, and is presently devoting the lion’s share of his time to researching, writing, lecturing, and giving papers and presentations on a variety of topics in areas ranging from politics through philosophy to the arts.
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