Editor’s note: The global go community is a small one, and many of us have met Ukrainian go players across the board either in person or virtually. As the war there moves into its second month, I am reminded of how the horror of Hiroshima inspired renowned go master Kaoru Iwamoto to dedicate his life to a more peaceful future, becoming an ambassador for the game around the world to bring people together. In that spirit, here are two ways to take action now to support Ukrainian go players and their families.
– Chris Garlock, Managing Editor, American Go E-Journal
Play Go for Ukraine: Go teacher In-seong Hwang and his fellow teachers at goteachers.org have organized Play Go for Ukraine. “We heard that a group of Ukrainian go families (about 25 people, mostly mothers and kids) escaped their country and participated in the EYGC (European Youth Go Championship) in the Czech Republic a couple of weeks ago,” they write. “However, they couldn’t go back to their country after that event and are now staying in different countries. Therefore, we’d like to help them pay for their living expenses.” Even though “many people feel powerless” against the war, “we can provide entertaining and educational games” while raising money for the Ukrainian go families. Participants make a small donation for each game and all the funds go to help the families. “Please come to enjoy the games and help our Ukrainian friends at the same time!” Click here for details.
Support the European Go Journal: As reported previously, European Go Journal editor Artem Kachanovskyi, a resident of Kyiv, has posted movingly on Facebook about how the Russian war on Ukraine has affected the go community and his own life and work as EGJ editor. When the war started, Kachanovskyi had to leave Kyiv and was forced to stop printing and distributing physical copies of the journal. He plans to continue producing the journal and distribute it digitally as a PDF until he is able to distribute hardcopies again. He takes subscriptions through Patreon and has about 235 subscribers right now. It’s $6.50 a month for a personal subscription to the monthly PDF version of the journal, and he offers a $3.50 per-person club subscription to groups participating in a Go club.
– Spencer Rank.
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