To Inform Russians About The Reality Of War In Ukraine, Lithuanians Launch ‘Call Russia’ Campaign Aiming To Call 40M Russian Numbers
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War. War never changes.
Truer words could not have been spoken on the topic, voiced by Ron Perlman in many of the Fallout video games—games that aim to reveal the real nature of a full-scale nuclear war.
It never changes as the end result is always the same—death, destruction, and everything in between.
But there is always hope, as there is more than one way to stop the worst from becoming even worse.
An initiative has popped up that aims to bypass many restrictions and limitations and call 40 million Russian numbers in hopes of informing the people of what’s really happening in the world.
More Info: Call Russia | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Donate To Ukraine
An initiative called Call Russia has been launched in hopes of reaching 40 million Russian phone numbers with a message of truth and peace
Image credits: Just Click’s With A Camera
Call Russia is a digital information campaign that was launched today, Tuesday, March 8th, 2022, that aims to personally connect Russian diaspora volunteers with up to 40 million phone numbers in Russia in a bid to help end the war in Ukraine.
“Censorship and the information blackout in Russia is becoming tighter every day. There is less and less possibility for Russian citizens living in the country to know what is really being done in Ukraine in their name. Real events happening in Ukraine are blurred by the fog of propaganda for the Russian population”, elaborated the project’s initiators in an interview with Bored Panda.
“We believe that Russians speaking to Russians directly is one of the only ways to share what is really happening in Ukraine and is a very important step in seeking to end the war and suffering. Russians in Russia have few sources of real, objective information, and #CallRussia aims to solve this problem.”
The platform will generate phone numbers for Russian-speaking volunteers who will call Russian citizens and engage in non-confrontational dialogue
Image Credits: Call Russia
The Russian Federation has for quite a while now been mostly in charge of the information-scape among its people. And its control has been growing aggressively. If you’re in the loop of things, you might have heard of the independent Russian TV broadcaster Dozhd stopping its operation due to the recent law the Russian government passed that allows them to put anyone spreading ‘fake news’, a.k.a. info that doesn’t fit their agenda, in prison for up to 15 years. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.
In light of the sad informational situation that is developing in Russia, the Call Russia initiative was born, that aims to bypass Vladimir Putin’s propaganda and information blackouts by employing Russian diaspora volunteers around the world to get in touch with the Russian people directly and provide them with facts and information about the Russian President’s war on Ukraine.
Tech, ad, and communications professionals around the globe have compiled the campaign’s database of around 40 million Russian phone numbers and created a platform which will generate numbers and give non-confrontational guidelines to Russian-speaking volunteers that sign up for the project.
The aim of this campaign is to ultimately stop Russia’s war against Ukraine by circumventing censorship and propaganda in Russia
Image Credits: Call Russia
Image Credits: Call Russia
“#CallRussia has one simple purpose—to connect Russian-speaking volunteers directly with Russians for peaceful conversations that provide verifiable facts about Vladimir Putin’s brutal and illegal assault on Ukraine,” continued Call Russia founders.
“One conversation cannot overcome Putin’s evil propaganda, but 40 million might, and that is our goal. Russians empowered with truth and compassion are the only ones who can stand up against Putin’s lies and end this war.”
“These conversations are incredibly difficult, considering the massive propaganda and authoritarian information blackouts Russians are subjected to, but direct conversations are the only way to spread the truth and end this war.”
Image Credits: Call Russia
Image Credits: Call Russia
While the world is doing quite a lot to avoid any more bloodshed, all the while supporting Ukraine in its efforts in ensuring their freedom, it is also important to include the peace-loving people of Russia as well, empowering them to stand up against these atrocities and to forge a path of peace.
The campaign not only provides a platform to get in touch with Russians, but also gives guidelines on how to approach the issue. The conversation is based on mutual respect and understanding, so introducing yourself and being transparent about why you’re calling, sharing your concern and connection with the issue, avoiding verbal attacks at all costs, and most importantly, listening are some of the key points volunteers should keep in mind while on the call.
“These conversations are incredibly difficult […] but direct conversations are the only way to spread the truth and end this war.”
Image Credits: Call Russia
Image Credits: Call Russia
Image Credits: Call Russia
Image Credits: Call Russia
Because the campaign was launched today, there is no official statistic just yet, but according to Call Russia representatives, they are monitoring site usage and interactions (the calls made), and have plans to report the progress periodically.
Nobody said it’ll be easy, but the heart is in the right place with the goal being to stop senseless bloodshed happening in Ukraine. Reuters estimates that the war has already led to over 13,000 deaths since it started, with over 400 civilian and thousands of soldier deaths in just these past few weeks. On top of it all, it has displaced over 1.7 million people who fled to neighboring countries.
The site also provides clear guidelines on how to approach each phone call
Image Credits: Call Russia
Lastly, we’ve asked the people behind the Call Russia projects to share what more people ought to know about the current Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and they had this to say:
“The most important thing to understand is simple: Russia has launched an unprovoked attack on a neighboring country. Russia’s actions and attacks on civilians are causing suffering and displacement for millions of Ukrainians. Each one of us needs to do whatever we can to stop the suffering of innocent people.”
“There are many ways to help the Ukrainian people at the moment. People who have suddenly become refugees need all kinds of support. Also those who stayed and are facing danger every day. For those who want to help, we encourage people to donate, volunteer, simply reach out to people who are suffering.”
“Non-Russian speakers can also share our campaign to help us reach Russian speakers around the world to share the truth as widely as possible.”
So, if you’re a Russian-speaker who would like to actively join the cause and help push away the tide of propaganda and censorship in Russia, sign up for Call Russia now. Or you can alternatively donate to refugee relief efforts in Lithuania here, or directly to Ukraine here.
And you can always share your thoughts and support in our comment section below!
I think this is a great way to connect and inform people. There may be failiures and nonbelievers but if you can handle it emotionally, it CAN actually have an effect. And as a caller you may receive a Better insight too. Knowledge is Power. Sadly i can't speak any russian. And i think this is very important, because These are the people who won't get any other than Putin censored Information. Plus, it is a connection, a base for trust.
Talk, don't hate. The best way ever to spread the truth. The Russian people are being lied to, they are not the enemy. In reality, their politicians are the enemy of every Russian. I wish people in America would realize their fellow citizen who didn't vote like they did is not their enemy and stop the hate. We need to spread the talk, the listening, care for each other and understanding, that is how the world changes.
I don't think that claiming that western media doesn't lie because it's free is a good argument because it's not actually true. The vast majority of Western media followed biases and propaganda of the foreign policy of Western nations. This said, Western media is still way more free than in Russia (especially now in 2022), where protests might get you jailed, and overall freedom of speech is way higher too on social media compared to Russia. I think this might be a better argument because it's more true.
I can't speak Russian so how can I help? I have already made donations but wish to help further.
You can use a site called http://1920.in/. Buy a prepaid card and you can send pretyped messages to random russian numbers, pretty much the same thing as here. You can also use this translator https://www.deepl.com/ to convey your own message, it's better than google translator.
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Since the Russian government has blocked most social network services (we can use Twitter, Instagram and others only with VPN), is closing independant media and even made up a law about "fake news" that can put you in jail up to 15 years, it`s getting harder and harder to learn about how things are truely going on in Ukraine.
This reminded me, Roskomsvoboda (organization against censorship in Internet in Russia) has published a statement "in connection with foreign IT companies' sanctions against russian Internet users": they say that such practice only hurts russians' access to free informatio and other possibilities, and hurts the most progressive and world-oriented part of russian society. This just makes government's censorship work easier.
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There are enough adequate people in Russia. You can't imagine how ashamed I am of what is happening in Ukraine. I already quarreled with all the relatives - I tried to explain to them what was happening and who was to blame. What to do: - you live in a Nazi country; - there is no way to go anywhere; - there are no legal methods of struggle; - no weapons. You have no idea how lousy it is to be a hostage in your own country.
I called. Second number someone answered. But I can't speak Russian so had to hang up!!!
maybe use google translate... it gives the roman characters below.
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This is so deluded and hopeless, I want to cry. There is no way to stop Putin now. He will wreck the world and go down with it 😔
eh, sir/ma'am/whatever, you realize that putin is losing? i mean, his tanks are running out of fuel in the middle of the battle, we ARE stopping him.
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Are you serious? Syria received 32 billion usd from UN alone. Lots of European countries sent aid too. Even some Middle East countries, including Israel. But then some notable MENA countries ignored them,not their problem. And is very hard to help a country where a dozen different factions are fighting each other,and where aid is being misdirected for military . Ukraine is different, there aren't different factions, everyone fighting the same fight
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Why do you keep aligning yourself w putin? Are you a Russian troll? There have been a few on here. They've been banned. The only people that can stop this war is your Russian friends and your Russian soldiers. If you want nuclear stand in front of the nuclear power plants your soldiers are bombing.
Load More Replies... I think this is a great way to connect and inform people. There may be failiures and nonbelievers but if you can handle it emotionally, it CAN actually have an effect. And as a caller you may receive a Better insight too. Knowledge is Power. Sadly i can't speak any russian. And i think this is very important, because These are the people who won't get any other than Putin censored Information. Plus, it is a connection, a base for trust.
Talk, don't hate. The best way ever to spread the truth. The Russian people are being lied to, they are not the enemy. In reality, their politicians are the enemy of every Russian. I wish people in America would realize their fellow citizen who didn't vote like they did is not their enemy and stop the hate. We need to spread the talk, the listening, care for each other and understanding, that is how the world changes.
I don't think that claiming that western media doesn't lie because it's free is a good argument because it's not actually true. The vast majority of Western media followed biases and propaganda of the foreign policy of Western nations. This said, Western media is still way more free than in Russia (especially now in 2022), where protests might get you jailed, and overall freedom of speech is way higher too on social media compared to Russia. I think this might be a better argument because it's more true.
I can't speak Russian so how can I help? I have already made donations but wish to help further.
You can use a site called http://1920.in/. Buy a prepaid card and you can send pretyped messages to random russian numbers, pretty much the same thing as here. You can also use this translator https://www.deepl.com/ to convey your own message, it's better than google translator.
Load More Replies... Since the Russian government has blocked most social network services (we can use Twitter, Instagram and others only with VPN), is closing independant media and even made up a law about "fake news" that can put you in jail up to 15 years, it`s getting harder and harder to learn about how things are truely going on in Ukraine.
This reminded me, Roskomsvoboda (organization against censorship in Internet in Russia) has published a statement "in connection with foreign IT companies' sanctions against russian Internet users": they say that such practice only hurts russians' access to free informatio and other possibilities, and hurts the most progressive and world-oriented part of russian society. This just makes government's censorship work easier.
Load More Replies... There are enough adequate people in Russia. You can't imagine how ashamed I am of what is happening in Ukraine. I already quarreled with all the relatives - I tried to explain to them what was happening and who was to blame. What to do: - you live in a Nazi country; - there is no way to go anywhere; - there are no legal methods of struggle; - no weapons. You have no idea how lousy it is to be a hostage in your own country.
I called. Second number someone answered. But I can't speak Russian so had to hang up!!!
maybe use google translate... it gives the roman characters below.
Load More Replies... This is so deluded and hopeless, I want to cry. There is no way to stop Putin now. He will wreck the world and go down with it 😔
eh, sir/ma'am/whatever, you realize that putin is losing? i mean, his tanks are running out of fuel in the middle of the battle, we ARE stopping him.
Load More Replies... Are you serious? Syria received 32 billion usd from UN alone. Lots of European countries sent aid too. Even some Middle East countries, including Israel. But then some notable MENA countries ignored them,not their problem. And is very hard to help a country where a dozen different factions are fighting each other,and where aid is being misdirected for military . Ukraine is different, there aren't different factions, everyone fighting the same fight
Load More Replies... Why do you keep aligning yourself w putin? Are you a Russian troll? There have been a few on here. They've been banned. The only people that can stop this war is your Russian friends and your Russian soldiers. If you want nuclear stand in front of the nuclear power plants your soldiers are bombing.
Load More Replies...
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