My Territory

Some Bolshie idiot. (I use the term advisedly, you'll soon get why), parks his car in my driveway. I don't know him & I certainly haven't given him permisson to invade my space. I'm both surprised & annoyed. It's very inconvenient. What right has he got to do that - none whatsoever. 

So I remonstrate. Strongly. But he is very aggressive & belligerent. Its a war - of words. But he is a bully.

All the neighbours can see what is happening & in various ways most support me. I need help from an organisation with clout to enforce the rules - the police. But the police sympathise & just monitor the situation. They don't forcibly remove him or charge him.

So I ask Citizens Advice what to do. They just advise mediation. But the mediation will be just the mediator & the man who has parked in my drive. I will not be invited to attend my own mediation.

It's ridiculous right? It would never happen. There are laws & people have rights that can be enforced.

Well, think again, because that is exactly what is happening between Russia, (the agressor parking his tanks unlawfully) & Ukraine (the landowner trying to defend himself).

If anyone had asked me whether this could happen when I was young I would have simply laughed. But the Jugoslavian war opened my eyes to how ineffectual enforcement of international law is. We have not prepared any better for dictator bullies. We have many leaders who appease rather than confront. We do not act together as a proper international force. 

What is happening shames us all. Ukraine is not perfect. But it is a sovereign state that has defended itself bravely in the face of terrible cost in destruction, injury & death against a very wealthy & powerful aggressor. 

If we are not able to stop this without the aggressor benefitting from his aggression we are all not only shamed but we will open Pandoras Box for future generations.