How can Vladimir Putin sleep in his bed of a night? Does he have no conscience at all about the fact that he is putting Ukrainian people to the sword and at the same time sacrificing many of his own soldiers.Has he no conscience?

If I had one wish it would be this; Let Putin lead not from behind but at the front leading his troops and not sacrificing them as he stands behind directing traffic. Let him (and all other world leaders they want to fight) be at the forefront of the battle and the 1st to die. There would be a lot less wars and a lot more peace.

You could will argue that there is a disconnect between Putin and bravery.

For those who ask:

“Why does Ukraine matter? “

This is why Ukraine matters.

It is the second largest country by area in Europe, and has a population

of over 40 million – more than Poland.

Ukraine ranks:

1st in Europe in proven recoverable reserves of uranium ores;

2nd place in Europe and 10th place in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves;

2nd place in the world in terms of explored reserves of manganese ores (2.3 billion tons, or 12% of the world’s reserves);

2nd largest iron ore reserves in the world (30 billion tons);

2nd place in Europe in terms of mercury ore reserves;

3rd place in Europe (13th place in the world) in shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters)

4th in the world by the total value of natural resources;

7th place in the world in coal reserves (33.9 billion tons)

Ukraine is an important agricultural country:

1st in Europe in terms of arable land area;

3rd place in the world by the area of black soil (25% of world’s volume);

1st place in the world in exports of sunflower and sunflower oil;

2nd place in the world in barley production and 4th place in barley exports;

3rd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of corn in the world;

4th largest producer of potatoes in the world;

5th largest rye producer in the world;

5th place in the world in bee production (75,000 tons);

8th place in the world in wheat exports;

9th place in the world in the production of chicken eggs;

16th place in the world in cheese exports.

Ukraine can meet the food needs of 600 million people.

Ukraine is an important industrialised country:

1st in Europe in ammonia production;

Europe’s 2nd’s and the world’s 4th largest natural gas pipeline system;

3rd largest in Europe and 8th largest in the world in terms of installed capacity of nuclear power plants;

3rd place in Europe and 11th in the world in terms of rail network length (21,700 km);

3rd place in the world (after the U.S. and France) in production of locators and locating equipment;

3rd largest iron exporter in the world

4th largest exporter of turbines for nuclear power plants in the world;

4th world’s largest manufacturer of rocket launchers;

4th place in the world in clay exports

4th place in the world in titanium exports

8th place in the world in exports of ores and concentrates;

9th place in the world in exports of defence industry products;

10th largest steel producer in the world (32.4 million tons).

Ukraine matters. That is why its independence is important to the rest of the world.

FORBES named Putin as the most powerful man in the world for four consecutive years.

With Ukraine: the fear of Russia means that neighbouring countries will only go for pussyfooting around the invasion. There is no way Ukraine can resist the Great Bear of the north.

The reaction of America and the posturing of Joe Biden, make America (so often a protagonist and aggressor in world conflict) look like a winged eagle.

As for Boris Johnson – can anyone take him seriously!?

Australia’s economic sanctioning actions remind me of a mouse roaring at a lion.

Pity Ukraine. What will happen to this country of 44 million people?

Today I have had the must awful of birthday presents. Russia has declared war on and invaded Ukraine

Ukraine is a country of 44 million people. It is the first of the countries once part of the USSR (United Soviet Socialist Republics) to be coveted for repossession by Russian President Vladimir Putin. My personal belief is that the President wants all the former countries back under a framework of USSR control.

The word ‘power’ is the most awful abd frightening of words, in so many fronts. It’s misuse embraces the world and most of its institutions and organisations.

Gateways shopping centre is setting the gold standard in facilities and atmosphere provided for customers. It is very family oriented.

Casuarina used to be like that but now runs a very distant second to Gateways.

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I am hoping against hope that the government does not abandon QR coding and go free wheeling on the masks policy. Such recklessness would REALLY be letting Covid rip!

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Your Sunday Territorian columnist Joe Hildebrand (19/2) confirms how hard it is for people to separate fact from myth when presented with Covid data. Separating truth from what in many instances are outright lies, adds to the degree of interpreting difficulty.

People often find out that inappropriate text messages and photographs, often sent or taken years earlier, are getting them into severe trouble when revealed. It would be far better if people would desist from photographs and texts taken and sent in the heat of the moment.

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If Federal Labor win the election and form government, Luke Gosling, (who is deeply respected and often consulted by Anthony Albanese) MUST become Minister for Veterans Affairs. There is no man more committed to the needs of returned service people and the portfolio needs an empathetic, humanist in the ministerial position.

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If persons taken to the watch house or into custody spit at correctional services staff or police, they deserve to be restrained and fitted with spit hoods. There are two sides to every situation. For those who are obstreperous to the point of spitting and if they persist, spit hoods should be used.

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POINTS TO PONDER

It is reassuring to know (from reading the paper) that the CLP’s spurning of Senator McMahon will not leave her in an insecure (property) position as she contemplates her future beyond the federal election. We ought also remember and appreciate the fact that she was prepared to put her life on hold and stand for the senate, when other CLP persons were reluctant to step forward and nominate to replace the retiring Senator Scullion.

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It would be wonderful if Labor could win the election and enable Penny Wong to become the Prime Minister. She ALWAYS focuses on issues rather than personalities. She has a level of maturity and realistic approach to dealing with matters not understood or practised by other parliamentarians –

on both sides of the political divide.

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Your Sunday Territorian columnist Joe Hildebrand confirms how hard it is for people to separate fact from myth when presented with Covid data. Separating truth from what in many instances are outright lies, adds to the degree of interpreting difficulty.

The economy is shaky.

Health is in a risky place for more and more of us. Our mental health is in a parlous place. It is hard to feel good about anything. There is no escape from the overarching and overriding influence of Covid.

The major news on TV, in print, on radio and online is about Covid. Without the virus there would be a news vacuum.

People are wanting to escape reality through drugs, alcohol, aeroplane flights – anything to get away. But when you turn around, it is still there.

Covid rules with variant after variant after variant after ….. .

When some Northern Territorians leave home and go visiting other places, they provide for their own transport, meals, itinerary and accomodation. When other Territorians leave home and come visiting, they are deemed to be homeless and must be fully supported by charities and agencies. Why is that the case?

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People often find out that inappropriate text messages and photographs, often sent or taken years earlier, are getting them into severe trouble when revealed. It would be far better if people would desist from photographs and texts taken and sent in the heat of the moment.

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Part of the problem about coping with Covid comes about because we have tens of thousands of experts and those with vested interests, offering myriad levels of advice that become totally confusing. Covid has certainly given birth to the ‘Expert Generation’.

Part of the problem about coping with Covid comes about because we have tens of thousands of experts and those with vested interests, offering myriad levels of advice that become totally confusing. Covid has certainly given birth to the ‘Expert Generation’.

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People often find out that inappropriate text messages and photographs, often sent or taken years earlier, are getting them into severe trouble when revealed. It would be far better if people would desist from photographs and texts taken and sent in the heat of the moment.

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The land clearing and construction developments at Lee Point are driving birds and other animals from what has been their natural habitat for countless decades. Sadly, this displacement is leading to the disorientation and demise of wildlife.