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    Stand Up for Democracy

    Ukraine nightmare: Former Peace Corps worker explains why it's important to speak out now

    Claire St. Amant
    Jan 27, 2014 | 1:38 pm

    Ukrainians are no strangers to suffering in silence. When I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Western Ukraine, I rarely heard my friends complain about issues that would send Americans right over the edge, like not getting a paycheck or having the gas shut off during the middle of winter.

    But the latest actions of the Ukrainian government crossed a line that the people cannot — and should not — overlook. A decade after the Orange Revolution saw democracy take a stronghold in the former Soviet republic, Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych is leading the country back to Russia and away from the European Union.

    Protestors took to the streets in the capital of Kyiv last November, a few weeks before Yanukovych snubbed the EU and signed off on a $15 billion bailout deal with Russia. The demonstrations have been broadcast on news stations across the world, and photos of the increasingly violent police response have flooded social media. Last week, the first known deaths were reported when at least two protestors were shot and killed by police.

    The latest actions of the Ukrainian government crossed a line that the people cannot — and should not — overlook.

    When I spoke to my friend Svitlana in Western Ukraine on Sunday, she was exasperated by the deterioration of her otherwise peaceful country. "Instead of protecting us, our police work against the people," she says. "It's backwards."

    Not so long ago, simply acknowledging horrific acts in Ukraine would have been a huge accomplishment for the international community. In 1932, the Soviet Union carried out a secret famine genocide that killed around 5 million Ukrainians. Before the age of the Internet, Josef Stalin was able to lie to the world without accountability.

    To prove there was no famine, Stalin exported tons of grain, which he'd seized from starving Ukrainian farmers. In his campaign, Stalin amazingly fooled everyone from a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist at the New York Times to the League of Nations.

    The reality of the famine genocide, called Holodomor in Ukrainian, wasn't even officially recognized until 2006. The Ukrainian government seems to be underestimating the resolve of its people, who once waited nearly 50 years for the truth to come out.

    "Our people will stay in Kyiv as long as is needed," Svitlana says.

    The demonstrations in Ukraine, though portrayed as the actions of marginalized radicals, actually represent the interests of everyday Ukrainians. If the closer ties to Russia were as harmless as Ukrainian politicians say they are, then there'd be no need to shoot those who oppose them. There'd be no need to create new laws, as the Ukrainian government did in January, to restrict free speech and the right to peaceful assembly.

    As Americans, we can't go back to Holodomor and right the wrong that was committed. But we can stand up for freedom and democracy in Ukraine now, and we can do more than simply share a story or a photo on social media.

    The House of Representatives is set to hear a resolution on sanctions against Ukrainian politicians on Wednesday. The resolution supports the rights of Ukrainians "to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear." If you believe in the cause of democracy and the value of a free and open society, I urge you to contact your representative about supporting House Resolution 447. It's the American thing to do.

    -------

    Claire St. Amant is managing editor of CultureMap Dallas.

    Men shield themselves from water cannons used by Ukrainian police.

    Protests in Ukraine
      
    Photo by Ilya Varlamov
    Men shield themselves from water cannons used by Ukrainian police.
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    ON THE MOVE

    Houston ranks No. 1 on new list of America's top moving destinations

    Luke Applewhite
    May 8, 2025 | 3:30 pm
    Father and son lifting moving boxes at new home
    Getty Images
    Houston remains the nation's top moving destination.

    Drawn by its vibrant culture and growing job market, nationwide movers have increasingly chosen Houston as their new home. Based on national relocation trends, a new study by leasing company Penske Truck Rental ranks the Bayou City No. 1 among the top 10 moving destinations in the United States for 2024.

    Four Texas cities ranked among the top 10 moving destinations. Following Houston, San Antonio ranks No. 3 with Dallas at No. 4. and Austin at No. 9.

    According to the study, the primary reasons for relocation in 2024 include better job opportunities and a lower cost of living. Movers were also driven by more personal reasons for relocation, such as enjoying a closer proximity to loved ones and more space.

    With thriving job opportunities, no state income tax, and a lower cost of living, Houston offers appealing advantages for relocation, giving residents plenty of reason to take pride in calling the city home. Unsurprisingly, two Florida cities also made the top 10, as the state shares the same tax benefit.

    Recently, Houston was left off British gambling platform Betway.com's list of the 15 coolest cities in America — a ranking based on the number of tattoo shops, record stores, and vegan restaurants. While those factors may contribute to the quality of living, Penske's data suggests economic considerations hold far more sway than kale smoothies.

    Penske compiled the data by analyzing one-way truck rental reservations made through the company website, following up with a customer survey. The report said 69 percent of its customers preferred renting and driving their own vehicle, but didn't state whether that decision was motivated by cost.

    Houston has remained at the top of the list for four consecutive years. The rest of the top destination places were spread throughout the country. This is the complete list:

    • No. 1 — Houston, Texas
    • No. 2 — Atlanta, Georgia
    • No. 3 — San Antonio, Texas
    • No. 4 — Dallas, Texas
    • No. 5 — Orlando, Florida
    • No. 6 — Charlotte, North Carolina
    • No. 7 — Las Vegas, Nevada
    • No. 8 — Chicago, Illinois
    • No. 9 — Austin, Texas
    • No. 10 — Tampa, Florida
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