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Kiev. Venezuela. Pray.

As of right now there is an uprising of violence around the world.  To be honest, I don’t understand the issues (I will get more educated on them though), but from what I see they aren’t being effectively handled.

This is a picture from Kiev (via @MichaelSkolnik):

People LITERALLY on fire.  From what I last heard, a truce had been reached.  The police were heading on the bus to leave the protesters territory, but as they were loading up, the protesters attacked them.  I just read that protesters have captured over 60 police officers.

2014-02-20 09.09.54

UPDATED: Just read some info on the situation in Kiev.

Via ABC News:

Three months of largely peaceful protests came to a bloody head this week as thousands of riot police attacked a protest camp in Kiev, Ukraine, resulting in clashes that left at least 26 people dead, including 10 police.

Burning tires and fireworks, lobbed like missiles toward police, lit up the night sky, as stun grenades and reports of gunfire echoed through the city’s medieval streets.

Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko urged more than 15,000 protesters camped out in Independence Square to defy police orders to leave.

Where is Kiev?

Kiev is the capital of Ukraine, a country in Eastern Europe that used to be part of the old Soviet Union but still maintains close political ties with Russia.

VIDEO: Video shows Kiev after a night of violence between police and anti-government protesters.
Drone Gives Dramatic View of Ukraine Chaos

What led to the protests initially?

Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych backed out of a trade deal with the European Union in December. This wasn’t just about a trade deal, it was a symbolic decision about the future of the country: Would Ukraine be allied with Europe or with Russia?

That desire to be part of Europe still exists among the protestors, but their struggle has evolved into outrage at the corruption and cronyism that plagues Ukraine’s government.

Yanukovych has at times met protesters with force since December, but clashes escalated this week.

Why didn’t Yanukovych sign the deal with E.U.?

President Yanukovych was under a lot of pressure from Russia, which in the past has cut off gas exports and banned Ukrainian products when Ukraine does things that the Kremlin doesn’t like. That’s a lot of pressure and the Ukrainian economy is already hurting. Russian President Vladimir Putin called Yanukovych, who has been Putin’s ally, to Moscow for marathon meetings just before the EU deal was called off. It’s believed that Putin pressured him into pursuing a deal with Russia instead.

PHOTO: A protester uses a slingshot during clashes with riot police in downtown Kiev, Ukraine, Feb. 19, 2014.
Kiev Looks Like a War Zone

In the end, Yanukovych pledged to join a Russian-led customs union, which also includes Belarus and Kazakhstan. Russia also pledged billions of dollars in emergency loans. The latest $2 billion payment was made on Monday.

Then, seemingly overnight, violence has broken out of Venezuela.

One may wonder why we haven’t heard anything about this.  Well..

2014-02-20 09.02.15

I just read that Russia is getting involved with the Kiev situation, not sure what’s happening with Venezuela.

Praying that these conflicts end sooner than later for the sake of lives being lost.

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