The rose hip on my balcony hadn't even sprouted new leaves when Russia attacked Ukraine with unprovoked violence and force at the end of February this winter. Now over five months on and half way through summer it strikes my thoughts sometimes several times a day how myself and others around me are going about our daily life -- whilst nothing, absolutely nothing has changed for the better since then. I know we can't feel the same intensity all and every day. I'm just writing this to express what I can't write everyday. The morale outrage that is this deranged war must not be forgotten. Eyes must never be taken off the true nature of russian imperialism. The russo-fascist ideology behind it is bent to destroy what they call Gayropa. The war on Ukraine is an attack on democracy and the rule of law in the wider world. If this succeeds all enemies of free speech and free self expression will be emboldened. russia must not win. Even though it is hard not to in the midst of summer and daily life, I don't want to forget about the urgency of this situation. Hundreds and hundreds of innocent people die every week. I want to let politicians know that I expect them not to give in or up. I want to keep challenging those around me, - closeby or strangers like the taxi driver the other day - who knowingly or unknowingly parrots russian propaganda, like that it is somewhat Ukraine's fault also. ---Thanks for reading and have a good month of August. -- PS, I fully acknowledge that this is not the only war going on right now. There are too many, some of which don't even make it into western news. My solidarity is with all people's struggle for self determination. #standwithukraine #ukraine #rosehip #ribbon #neverforget