GREAT FAMINE ANNIVERSARY OBSERVED IN WORLD PARLIAMENTS

The 70^th anniversary observances of the Great Famine in Ukraine 1932-33 have taken place in several world parliaments. Among them the following have passed resolutions observing this anniversary: the Senate of Canada, the United States House of Representatives, the Congress of Argentina and the Parliament of the Basque Province of Spain. Additionally, at this time the following are considering resolutions: Australian Senate, United States Senate, Parliament of Spain and the Parliament of Estonia. We urge UWC member organizations that have not yet done so, to initiate similar proceedings within their countries’ legislatures and to inform the UWC accordingly.

MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR FAMINE VICTIMS ON NOVEMBER 15, 2003

The community in New York City in conjunction with Ukraine’s Permanent Representation to the United Nations is organizing a solemn procession to commemorate the victims of the Great Famine on Saturday, November 15, 2003 in New York City culminating in an ecumenical requiem at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The organizers have requested that on that day at noon, New York time, Ukrainians throughout the world, in the Diaspora and Ukraine, break routine and observe a moment of silence honoring the victims of the Great Famine 1932-33. Additionally, Ukrainian churches throughout the world are urged to honor the victims at that time with prayers and the tolling of bells.

UWC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ISSUES STATEMENT ON RUSSIAN AGGRESSION

In connection with Russia’s dam construction on the Kerch Strait linking Russia’s Tamansky peninsula with the Ukrainian island of Tuzla, the UWC Executive Committee issued a statement on October 24, 2003, condemning Russia’s aggression, supporting Ukraine’s diplomatic and other efforts to defuse the situation and urging international support for Ukrainian sovereignty. In addition the UWC urged Ukrainians worldwide to urge their governments’ support for Ukraine and to manifest their opposition to Russian aggression. In connection with the latter, the UWC has urged demonstrations throughout the world at Russian diplomatic mission sites during the crisis. A letter of support was forwarded to Ukraine’s President Kuchma. A complete text of the UWC Statement in ukrainian is enclosed.

UWC EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS SCHEDULED

The UWC Executive Board meeting has been scheduled for December 6, 2003 9:30AM in Toronto.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO HOLD SEPARATE SESSION WITH COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS

The UWC Executive Committee will meet separately on Saturday, December 6, 2003 at 3PM with the chairs of the UWC Councils and Committees to ratify Council/Committee membership and programs for the ensuing term. The following standing councils/committees currently function within the UWC: World Social Service Council, World Coordinating Educational Council, World Scholarship Council, World Sports Council, Conference of Ukrainian Youth Organizations, World  Council of Ukrainian Cooperatives, Council on Culture and Art, the Commission on Human and Civic Rights, UN Council and the newly created Media Council

PULITZER BOARD TO CONSIDER DURANTY REVOCATION

On November 21, 2003, the Pulitzer Prize Board will meet to consider revocation of the award given in 1932 to The New York Times reporter Walter Duranty. This action is largely the result of a campaign initiated by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA) to strip Duranty of this prestigious award posthumously for being, in essence, an apologist for Stalin and the Soviet regime and covering up the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-33. Duranty intentionally distorted news reports about the Ukrainian Famine Genocide while privately he provided information to the British government in September 1933, that as many as 10 million have died as a result of famine conditions during the past year. Earlier, the UCCA and the UCCLA together with other Ukrainian organizations including the UWC, had initiated a postcard campaign to the Pulitzer Prize Board urging revocation. Step two on the eve of the Board’s imminent consideration of revocation, is a similar postcard campaign, directed this time at Arthur Sulzberger Jr., chairman and publisher of The New York Times. The UCCA has set up a mechanism for electronic postcard transmission by logging onto the UCCA’s website at ww.ucca.org.

UKRAINIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS REACH MILESTONES

Two prominent Ukrainian financial institutions in the United States are observing milestones. SUMA (Yonkers) Federal Credit Union with some 155 million US dollars in assets and branches in Yonkers and Stamford completed construction of a new state of the art main office and will mark its 50^th anniversary next year. Festivities were held on Saturday, October 8, 2003. On Saturday, November 1, 2003 the Rochester Ukrainian Federal Credit Union with some 83 million US dollars in assets and branches in Rochester and Sacramento marked its 50^th anniversary. UWC President Askold S. Lozynskyj attended both events and offered greetings.

It is important to note that more than 90% of the UWC’s annual budget comes from the United States and Canada. A sizable portion of this comes from Ukrainian financial institutions such as credit unions. Aside from the churches which function as primary points of congregation for the Ukrainian Diaspora, Ukrainian financial institutions in the United States, Canada and Australia are the Ukrainian Diaspora’s greatest financial asset. They should be supported and emulated.