Dan Roddy

Training and technology specialist | road/mtn biker, runner | love learning | Google's leading reviewer of UK car parks

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

Whenever I am feeling nostalgic for the internet of 2008 I can log on to the @CIPD InsightHub and fondly remember tiny monitors and limited interaction. I seem to remember the internet of that era having more content though.

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

@tier_mobility your app is the most frustrating one I've had to deal with in a long time. It's forced me to register three times, each time forgetting my details and conveniently losing the free rides I had. Think it will just be easier to get on buses. Great work.

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

@grantshapps nice whatabouttery. "Going down a rabbit hole" you started digging. Stop deflecting on the @BBCr4today and talk about the topic at hand.

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

@CSkidmoreUK hey Chris, my dad leafleted for you at previous elections. Given that the current leader of your party has lost his senses could you drop him a line telling him to save his vote next year?

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

@RoryStewartUK @campbellclaret it's not that we have too few mayors in Bristol, it was that we ended up with too many! We also have @votedannorris who is the peer of the two Andys as our regional mayor.

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

Double speak from @RishiSunak, a prime minister who demeans the office. Like Trump, he accuses others of what he himself is doing - watering down vital climate change commitments as he seeks to shore up support from his denialist base.
https://t.co/6OVYsedM4T

[Tatarigami_UA @Tatarigami_UA]

To address one of the most common questions from ordinary citizens living abroad regarding how they can contribute to supporting Ukraine, I've compiled this guide

Please note that while I aim to provide a comprehensive guide, there may be some important organizations and steps I may have forgot to add. Nevertheless, I hope that it will be helpful nevertheless, featuring only organizations with which I have personal experience or have heard consistently positive feedback.

I'll structure the guide into three main sections:
-Donations;
- Democracy in Action;
- Informational Support and Economic Boycott;
- Leveraging Influencer Power.

1. Donations

Here is a list of foundations that I highly recommend. While this may not be an exhaustive list, these are the organizations with a proven track record of delivering consistent results, based on my personal experience:

ComeBackAlive (@BackAndAlive) - Widely regarded as the most reputable organization in Ukraine dedicated to supporting the military. They have been functioning for many years and have established an excellent reputation. The organization is managed by Taras Chmut (@TarasChmut), who is also the founder of Militarnyi (@militarnyi_en), an excellent source of information in English covering developments in military technology, procurement, and significant updates in the Ukrainian Defense industry.

Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation (@CharityPrytula) - Another highly regarded and reputable charity foundation created by @serhiyprytula. This foundation is highly recommended and has procured a substantial amount of equipment for our military, including a satellite. Follow them as they frequently organize valuable fundraisers and have a good reputation among many individuals whom I personally trust and know.

The Liberty Ukraine Foundation (@LibertyUkraineF) is a remarkable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, represented by the dedicated Ukrainian veteran @Teoyaomiquu. It's an excellent option, particularly for those residing in the US. I can personally attest to the swift and timely delivery of essential life-saving equipment to several brigades at my request.

While there are indeed many more organizations, such as United 24, I haven't included them in this list as I lack personal experience with them.

2. Democracy in Action

While some may occasionally question the efficacy of democracy in the Western world, there's no denying that it works; otherwise, politicians wouldn't invest millions of dollars in every election to persuade you to vote for them.

What actions can an everyday citizen take?

Make it clear that when it comes to foreign policy, Ukraine is a deal-breaker for you. This can be accomplished through various means, such as sending emails, making phone calls, utilizing personal connections, or participating in support rallies. Public support is what drives assistance for Ukraine. Without your daily voices, your frustration over delays, and your requests for continuous help, Ukraine would never have received aid on such a significant scale. Whether it's through Facebook or Twitter, displaying the Ukrainian flag on your balcony or social media profile, or joining rallies in support of Ukraine, your voices can save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. Be vocal, and your message will be heard.

3. Informational Support and Economic Boycott

This section serves as a natural extension of the previous one but emphasizes a slightly different aspect:

The relentless spread of aggressive Russian propaganda and disinformation across the internet is designed to erode support for Ukraine. To effectively counter this, it's crucial to identify these propagators and expose their false narratives and hidden agendas.
It's important to remember that engaging with small trolls and individuals without a significant following can inadvertently amplify their message, so it's often best to ignore them. However, when dealing with individuals who have a substantial following, it becomes important to counter their misinformation and provide additional context, much like appending community notes on X (Twitter).

Furthermore, consider actively participating in economic boycotts against companies that continue to conduct business in russia. It's essential not to remain silent about your actions; don't hesitate to post about why you've chosen not to buy certain products or support specific businesses, such as refraining from purchasing Pepsi products, for example. This transparency can help raise awareness about the importance of economic pressure as a means of discouraging companies from supporting russian actions, ultimately contributing to the effort to protect Ukraine.

4. Leveraging Influencer Power
If you happen to be an influencer on platforms like YouTube or any other social media, consider dedicating at least one episode or post to Ukraine within your field of expertise. For instance, if you're a historian, you can create an episode about significant historical events, much like the course of lectures by Professor Timothy Snyder (@TimothyDSnyder). If literature is your forte, introduce your audience to Ukrainian authors. If you're involved in the arts, set aside a day to talk about Ukrainian art. If your content revolves around IT or GameDev, use an episode to highlight Ukrainian contributions in these fields. This is of paramount importance, as Russia persists in its imperialistic policies with the objective of erasing any mention of Ukraine or its accomplishments, while denying its status as an independent nation and country.

While this guide may not be exhaustive, I hope that it can serve as a valuable reference point for ordinary citizens worldwide to contribute towards Ukraine's victory. Don't forget to like and share this message to help with algorithms

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

@jamesrbuk Has @Noahpinion seen this?

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

@andrew_mueller I can't work out what the hell is going on today, Andrew. I trust you will be providing us an explainer on this topic this week?

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

@Wiggle_Sport Can't really imagine what else you would use bike wheels and tyres for. Shame we couldn't be a tad more specific here - like maybe on or off-road at the very least.

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

@Wiggle_Sport

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

@googlemaps how can I convince Maps that my parents' home is an apartment block and not a school? I keep submitting an edit and it is repeatedly rejected without basis.

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

Tom and Dominic, on balance are "lads, lads, lads" more likely to fall on the hero side or the villain side? #RIHLive

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

Dog ownership is making me soft. Nearly made myself cry relating the tale of Gelert and the wolf, the prince and his sword. 😩

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

Dull compliance training is a bane no matter where you are, apparently. Source: Communist Party members must study Xi Jinping’s thinking from TheEconomist https://t.co/zLTlVe7FcC

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

Got to recommend this book. Just arrived following a recommendation by @leonardhoux at last week's @learningnetwk event and it's brilliant. So much solid, evidence backed theory. Get it and boss that next meeting with your SME or that awkward commissioner of learning projects...

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

Great reflection of a tawdry event. Well done @GaryLineker, you bloody hero
https://t.co/FUKIwUBgSt

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

@bristol247 We should use this opportunity to convince web developers NOT to insist on making citizens of the city and county of Bristol choose between Somerset, Gloucestershire or the infernal "Avon" when entering their address.

[Dan Roddy @danroddy]

Puns in @TheEconomist headlines are common enough, but this one for their podcast is a real doozy