Three links with concrete actions

[dolorosa_12]

Two are in support of Ukraine, the third for UK citizens and residents specifically, in support of some university students from Gaza.



sunflower_auction is an online fanworks auction, designed to raise money for nonprofit organizations that help the people of Ukraine fight back against Russia's invasion. The deadline for signing up as a creator is 13 August 2025. You can see more details, including the schedule for signups, bidding, providing proof of donations, at the FAQs post.

Due to a series of postal screw ups, I ended up with two copies of The Power Within, a high quality print magazine of photojournalistic articles by the Kyiv Independent, an English-language Ukrainian media outlet. You can read more about the magazine here; the authors describe it as

a permanent record of Ukrainian resilience three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.

From the front lines of the Donbas to the vibrant cultural spaces of Kyiv, this magazine captures the multifaceted reality of wartime Ukraine – the bravery of those resisting occupation, the sorrow of displacement, and the enduring spirit of a nation refusing to be defined solely by war.

I am willing pay postage costs to send my second copy to whoever offers (and then makes) the highest donation to Come Back Alive. If a lot of people make offers, I'll retrospectively time-limit the period in which offers can be made. In any case, I will contact the highest bidder and we can arrange a way to prove that the donation has been made, and arrange postage.

I regularly donate to Come Back Alive myself, and will match any donation up to £50 (or your currency's equivalent).

(Just to be clear, this whole offer is entirely separate to sunflower_auction, which is for fanworks, not journalistic print magazines!)

With regards to the students from Gaza, this refers to the farcical situation in which around 80 university students have been accepted to study in UK universities, have been approved for visas, but are a) unable to leave Gaza, and b) unable to enter the UK because they need to make a biometric appointment — with, needless to say, no such facilities to do so available in Gaza itself. This is a standard part of visa applications in the UK — I had to do it myself in the British consulate in Sydney when I was first accepted for my MPhil, and then in post office shops for each new visa once I was living in the UK. The whole process of applying for a visa and being an international student is stressful enough, and the situation in which these students find themselves is ludicrous and unjust. If you are a UK citizen or resident (non-citizen residents can still write to the MP in whose constituency they reside), I'm asking you to do as I have: contact your MP and ask them to advocate on these students' behalf, to find a way to facilitate their exit from Gaza, and enable them to have their biometric appointment in a safe third country. You can find contact details for your MP here.

Comments

[yarnofariadne]

Thanks for the links! I've signed up for sunflower_auction and will write my MP about the students.

[dolorosa_12]

Thank you for doing so! I'm glad the links were helpful.

[edwardianspinsteraunt]

Just donated €15 to Come Back Alive! I’d dearly love to give more, but, alas, I’ve got to make my finances stretch until my next stipend payment in October and I’ve had a few large-ish expenses this summer. Thank you for the call to action!

[dolorosa_12]

Thank you — and no need to apologise for the amount of the donation. I often only donate £10 at a time.

You may end up being the recipient of the magazine (if you want it), as I've not heard from anyone else making donations so far. I'll give it a bit longer, and otherwise get in touch.

[edwardianspinsteraunt]

I’d be very happy to receive a copy of the magazine if nobody else wants it/donates!

[dolorosa_12]

That's good to hear. I'll give it until the end of this week to see if more donations come through, and if not, I'll contact you via direct message on Dreamwidth to arrange postage.

[chestnut_pod]

Thank you for these specific actions.

[dolorosa_12]

You're very welcome. I'm glad it was a helpful list.