On the Ukrainian War Wire

What a world / Name supplied – HMP Birmingham

It has been saddening to see the Russian invasion of Ukraine on our TV screens. It kind of throws our own troubles into perspective. We may be in prison, away from our families, but at least we know that nobody will be dropping bombs or firing missiles at them tonight. The Ukrainian people have shown their fortitude, standing strong against the merciless Russian war machine. They are showing the world that it is no longer the 1940’s, no country’s armed forces can just march in and take over without a fight.

My thoughts are with those brave souls, trying to survive, whilst around them their world has turned into a nightmare. 

I am heartened that the majority of the world is with them and showing support, but shame on the Russian forces for bombing hospitals and firing missiles indiscriminately into civilian areas. I see that the Russian people have been lied to by their leader, some of them don’t even know they are waging war, and I hope that one day they may rise against their tyrannical system and seize their country back from the mad and callous people who now run it.

The world should be strong, unite and condemn this terrible modern-day atrocity, and show Russia, in no uncertain way, that we will not accept their unprovoked aggression. I stand with the people of Ukraine, and so should everybody.

War affects us all / Richard R – HMP Whatton

We are now in a period of instability! With Russia invading Ukraine the world economy has been thrown into freefall. If anyone in Britain thinks that this conflict is not going to affect them, they are wrong. Prices of goods were already increasing due to rising energy costs, but this conflict has made the world economic situation extremely fragile. Then we have the cost of oil, which has now gone through the $100 barrier and is still rising. Petrol prices had already been at a record level of £1.50 per litre and will rise exponentially as the barrel price increases. This, in turn, puts up the price of all goods due to transport costs. 

The prison population is severely affected as the money we receive is dire anyway, but with inflation rising many prisoners will not be able to afford the basics. I am not advocating massive increases but just an increase of prisoner’s money to keep up with inflation. In the past five-years I have not seen a single rise in income for prisoners. The pressure is on everyone at present, including the Prison Service, but if the government took on my suggestion, then they would save a substantial amount of the £4billion they are spending on enlarging the prison system. This could then be spent on projects that would benefit the larger population. I hope that this aggression by Russia will be short-lived but if it transpires that it does not then we are all in for a long and costly journey.

Somewhat confused  / James – HMP Whatton

The latest worrying news about the Russians invading Ukraine has got me thinking about the world and I have a lot of pertinent questions. For a start, all very well to criticise Putin for invading his neighbour, but what about England’s 800-year occupation of their neighbour – Ireland? It’s still going on today, we invaded and stole a chunk of the island of Ireland which is still held captive today.

Another pertinent question might be concerning Israel and Palestine. The same people wringing their hands over Putin, say absolutely nothing when Israel treats its neighbours in an appalling and inhumane manner. This has been going on since the 1940’s and the so-called civilised West just turns a blind eye to the Israeli’s using banned weapons and killing children.

And what about all the other wars and invasions that this country has been involved in? Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, etc, sticking our tiny little nose into everyone’s affairs and selling terrible weapons to Syria, Saudi Arabia, and anyone else who has the money to buy from us, like profiteering little sneaks fuelling wars around the globe.

Yes, the invasion of Ukraine is a terrible thing, and my heart is with the Ukrainian people, but politicians in this country should not be able to cherry pick what they are supposedly outraged about. Hypocrites.