Chicago has a Ukrainian connection. There are more than 45,000 people who identify as Ukrainian in Chicago and they have a rich history in Chicago, in West Town and Ukrainian Village, including a Ukrainian national museum. As the clash between democracy protesters and government forces heats up, there are ways to watch what is happening, even if you are stuck in Chicago’s winter weather.
Three livestream channels from the Ukraine, supported by Ustream for Change, have collectively garnered more than 50 million viewers while attracting hundreds of thousands of loyal social media followers. On the livestreams, you can view the clashes between police and protesters in the capital city of Kiev as they are unfolding.
Below, you can see Spilno.tv, a platform created, according to its founders, ” … for sharing open and uncensored information in a highly oppressive media landscape.
Maxim Prasolov, Head of International Viche Maidan Center of Splino.tv. wrote that “We have been successful because we have refused to stop pushing for what we believe: that people deserve to know the truth.”
According to Ustream, they are supporting broadcast channels that are part of Ustream for Change which stream live from the Ukraine. Ustream for Change has provided nearly $900,000 of in-kind support to these channels so they can webcast live footage in support of the Ukranian democracy movement.
Ustream for Change aims to inspire citizen broadcasters, and encourage people anywhere to “harness the power of live video,” according to Brad Hunstable, Ustream’s CEO and founder. He believes that the technology offered by the company is a means of “achieving transparency on both sides of the camera.”
Ustream for Change is led by a volunteer-based internal committee within Ustream’s San Francisco and Budapest offices.
The Chicago Tribune has a Facebook page for Ukrainians Chicago and there is a Ukrainian consulate in Chicago.
